DSG Announces New CEO, Celebrates 150 Years at Lacrosse Location
Dakota Supply Group (DSG) has hired Paul Kennedy as its CEO. Kennedy will lead DSG’s management efforts and oversee the company’s business operations. He will be based out of DSG’s Plymouth, Minnesota office, but will also spend considerable time at DSG’s 33 locations throughout Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Before joining DSG, Kennedy most recently served as president and chief operating officer of First Supply. Prior to that, he spent 20 years in progressively senior management roles with Westburne Supply, Ferguson Enterprises and Woseley in Canada. His career began as a Navy intelligence officer, then shifted to management of a plumbing and HVAC contractor in Minnesota. He’s been part of the trade industries ever since.
“This is an exciting time for DSG,” said Tom Ferree, chairman of DSG’s Board of Directors. “Paul is not only a strategic visionary, he is also very effective at putting those ideas into action. This is exactly what our customers and our employee owners require.”
DSG in La Crosse, Wisconsin, a branch that originally opened as W.A. Roosevelt in 1868 and was acquired by DSG in 2012, commemorated its 150th anniversary with open house events for invited manufacturer-partners in July. The events celebrated both W. A. Roosevelt’s history and DSG’s future.
“Our manufacturer-partners have played a big role in our success over the last 150 years,” said Todd Eber, director of marketing and analytics at DSG and former president and owner of W. A. Roosevelt. “Our customers are also their customers, so this is a wonderful way for both of us to celebrate 150 years of business and having such great customers.”
W.A. Roosevelt was originally established by William Albert Roosevelt, a local riverboat captain, La Crosse mayor and cousin of President Teddy Roosevelt. Now a part of the DSG family, it is an employee-owned company. DSG is one of the Midwest’s leading distributors of innovative plumbing, HVAC/R, electrical, utility, communications, waterworks and automation products. It has more than 700 employeeowners and 33 locations throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
For more information, visit
dakotasupplygroup.com.
Crescent Electric Appoints Derek Schmidt as CFO
Crescent Electric Supply Co. in East Dubuque, Illinois recently announced the appointment of Derek Schmidt as senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). In his new role, Schmidt will direct and oversee the financial activities of the company, replacing Jim Etheredge, who announced his retirement after serving as Crescent’s CFO since 1985.
Schmidt comes to Crescent Electric from HNI (formerly known as HON Industries) where he served as vice president and general manager, transactional business. In this role, Schmidt led HON’s transactional office furniture business with oversight for strategy, product development, marketing and multi-channel sales execution across national accounts, wholesalers, independent dealers and e-tailers. His previous roles span more than 20 years of finance, CFO and senior management positions with global companies.
Schmidt is a certified public accountant (inactive) and a certified management accountant. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, as well as an MBA from the University of Minnesota.
For more information, visit cesco.com.
Springfield Electric Supply Announces Acquisitions
Springfield Electric Supply Co., headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, recently purchased the assets of Valley Electric Supply, an electrical wholesaler in southwestern Indiana. Valley Electric Supply will keep its name although it will serve as operating locations of Springfield Electric.
Springfield Electric has also acquired IMARK member Tri-State Lighting and Supply in Evansville, Indiana. Tri-State Lighting and Supply will become a branch of Springfield Electric, but will operate under the same name until further notice.
Springfield Electric also signed a letter of intent to purchase the assets of Hannan Supply Co.’s Owensboro, Kentucky location. The Owensboro location will change its name to Springfield Electric Supply Co.
For more information, visit springfieldelectric.com.
Mayer Electric Supply Has New Look, New Name
Mayer Electric Supply in Birmingham, Alabama is now known as Mayer.
“As a business, Mayer has become faster, more modern and digitally integrated to deliver measurable value beyond distribution,” said Wes Smith, president of Mayer. “It is vital that our brand’s look and feel reflect these transformational changes so that we remain the first choice of our customers, associates and suppliers.”
Mayer’s brand evolution includes a modernized, sophisticated new logo and mark, a fresh color palette, updated brand positioning and company messaging and a shorter name. The new design and overall aesthetic pay homage to Mayer’s history, while also aligning with the company’s upward trajectory.
“Mayer is and always will be a family company that deeply respects its associates and holds true to the strong traditions, culture and values that make us who we are,” said Nancy Goedecke, chair and CEO at Mayer. “With this continued commitment in mind, our new, evolved brand honors our legacy and empowers our future.”
For more information visit mayerelectric.com.
IDEA Elects Phil Hale as Chairman of the Board
Phil Hale, chief information officer of Elliott Electric Supply, is the new chair of IDEA’s board of directors after his election at IDEA’s board meeting. The new board of directors includes four members from distributor companies, four members from manufacturer companies and two overseers.
The other members from distributor companies are:
- Rick Gigliotti (secretary), vice president, sales operations, WESCO Distribution Inc.
- David Rosenstein, president and CEO, ConneXion
- Larry Stern, president and CEO, Standard Electric Supply The four board members from manufacturers are:
- Ted Crandall, senior vice president, control products and solutions, Rockwell Automation
- Brian DiBella, president, electric wiring systems, Legrand North America
- Andrew Quinn (treasurer), president, ILSCO Corp.
- Bill Waltz (vice chair) group president, electrical raceway, Atkore International
Hale has made his position clear about his ambitions for IDEA in the coming months. Once IDEA Connector and IDEA Exchange are up and running, he is looking to pursue other opportunities in vertical markets. “I see IDEA as being the single primary source for data to distributors in multiple vertical industries,” Hale said. “I see IDEA having the IT systems in place to respond to market needs faster and able to adapt to competitive situations more quickly.” Hale believes the new board will carry IDEA in the right direction not only to respond to customers’ needs, but to respond effectively to the demands entering into new verticals will pose.
For more information, visit idea4industry.com.
Franklin-Griffith Announces Retirement of Bill Goodwin
Franklin-Griffith Electric Supply Co. Inc. in Trenton, New Jersey recently announced the retirement of Bill Goodwin. Goodwin served as president of Griffith Electric Supply Inc. for 18 years prior to Franklin Electric purchasing the company in 2016, at which time he became executive vice president. Goodwin has served in the electrical industry for 40 years. Prior to Griffith Electric, he worked for Cusick Sales, a local manufacturing representative, and as a senior sales representative for Osram Sylvania. He was always active in the electrical industry and served on the IMARK Supplier Committee for the past five years.
For more information, visit griffithelec.com.
Jim Warshauer Matches RAB Lighting Inc.’s Impact Grant
Warshauer Electric Supply in Tinton Falls, New Jersey recently announced that President Jim Warshauer nominated the Student Farm at Rutgers University Gardens to receive an impact grant from RAB Lighting Inc. to help fund a designated project.
As a result of the nomination, the Student Farm at Rutgers University Gardens was awarded a $10,000 impact grant from RAB Lighting Inc., as well as a RAB sponsorship. The RAB sponsorship provides RAB employee-volunteers for onsite volunteering, skills-based volunteering or grant-related volunteering. Scott Buckley, director of marketing at RAB Lighting Inc., is “proud to support the educational programs and social outreach associated with the Student Farm at Rutgers Gardens.”
The Warshauer family matched RAB Lighting Inc.’s $10,000 grant, resulting in Rutgers Gardens receiving a $20,000 donation to spend on the project.
For more information, visit warshauer.com.