Springfield Electric Celebrates 2016 Circle of Excellence Awards Recipients
Springfield Electric Supply Co. celebrated the 2016 manufacturer and representative recipients of its Annual Circle of Excellence Awards with a dinner banquet inSpringfield, Illinois, where its corporate offices are located. The Circle of Excellence celebration is the eighth annual recognition by Springfield Electric for outstanding performance and supportive efforts of manufacturer representatives and partners.
Circle of Excellence Manufacturer Representative Award recipients were John White, Panduit; Frank Adduci, FISHCO Group; Jeff Riemer, SICK Inc. and Bob Weinstein, representing FEIS/Monte Carlo. Circle of Excellence Manufacturer Partner Award recipients were Seagull Lighting, SICK Inc., Arlington Industries, RAB Lighting and Appleton.
Gross Electric Celebrates 50 Years in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Fifty years ago, Gross Electric moved into an industrial building on a dead-end street with nothing around it. The company created a display of lighting fixtures and lamps and became an instant hit. Throughout the years, it has become a staple of the Ann Arbor community, continuing to grow and expand as the area has grown.
Gross Electric began in downtown Toledo, Ohio in 1910 selling gas mantels. As electrical products developed, so did the company. At one time, Gross Electric bought electrical parts and manufactured its own fixtures, so when the company advertised “direct from the manufacturer,” the company meant it. Gross Electric also wired houses, installed fixtures and sold lamps, lighting fixtures and small appliances such as radios, phonographs, mixers and toasters. It also sold electrical supplies to contractors.
As a University of Michigan graduate, Dick Gross had always been interested in the Ann Arbor market. Builders would come to the Toledo store and tell him that he needed to have a location up there. In 1966, the opportunity came to buy out a small showroom on South Industrial Highway, so Gross jumped at the chance. The closeout sale in early 1967 was so successful that the company had to lock the door and let customers in as others left. Then, Gross moved its fixtures into the store and opened Gross Lighting Center, a division of Gross Electric.
The showroom did well with builder customers and when it became the only other location in Ann Arbor to trade light bulbs for Detroit Edison, consumers loved it because they could come in on evenings and Saturdays.
The lighting business continued to grow as Ann Arbor grew. Then, in 1978, Gross’ daughter, Laurie, also a University of Michigan graduate, moved back to Ann Arbor to run the operation and helped develop the Ann Arbor electrical supply and builder business. South Industrial, attached to Eisenhower, Briarwood Mall, opened and Gross Lighting needed to expand. So, the company bought the building next door at 2232 South Industrial Highway in 1985. As part of the move, the company expanded the showroom and opened a separate electrical supply counter, which meant it was time to adopt the corporate name, Gross Electric. It doubled the size of the building by adding an 8,000-square-foot warehouse onto the back. And in 1996 it doubled the size of the showroom by taking over part of the old warehouse.
As the oldest, independent, locally-owned electrical distributor in the area, Gross Electric has the knowledge and experience to help individuals choose the right lighting and electrical supplies for their homes and businesses. Gross Electric’s showroom staff can help with lighting design, lighting control systems, LED bulbs and decorative lighting selection. The supply division offers energy audits, value engineering capabilities and electrical distribution and lighting products for commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. The company also offers a vast selection of door and cabinet hardware.
In addition to the Ann Arbor store, the company has stores in Toledo and Woodville, Ohio. Gross Electric is proud to be a third-generation family-owned and operated business.
To learn more about Gross Electric, visit grosselectric.com.
Cincinnati Enquirer Names F.D. Lawrence Electric Co. a Top Workplace
The F.D. Lawrence Electric Co. has been awarded a 2017 Top Workplaces honor by the Cincinnati Enquirer. This achievement marks the fourth year in a row that F. D. Lawrence Electric has been recognized with this award, and just last year was additionally recognized as a topranked employer in the category of work/life balance. The Top Workplaces lists are based solely on the results of an employee feedback survey administered by Workplace-Dynamics LLC, a leading research firm that specializes in organizational health and workplace improvement. Several aspects of workplace culture were measured, including alignment, execution and connection.
“The significance of this recognition is that it is based solely on input and comments from our employees as measured against those of almost 38,000 employees from other companies in the region who took the same survey,” said Scott Lepsky, marketing manager at F.D. Lawrence. “There is no blue ribbon commission or certification board to check boxes on a form. This is an award based on the feedback of people much more important than that—the team members who are the backbone of F.D. Lawrence. For a 113-year-old company we do a lot of things right. The F.D. Lawrence Electric Co. is consistently recognized as an industry leader. We have many employees with 30 and almost 40 years tenure. These things speak highly of an organization that
battles daily in a competitive market.”
“The Top Workplaces award is not a popularity contest. And, oftentimes, people assume it’s all about fancy perks and benefits,” said Doug Claffey, CEO of WorkplaceDynamics. “But to be a Top Workplace, organizations must meet our strict standards for organizational health. And who better to ask about work/life than the people who live the culture every day—the employees. Time and time again, our research has proven that what’s most important to them is a strong belief in where the organization is headed, how it’s going to get there and the feeling that everyone is in it together. Without this sense of connection, an organization doesn’t have a shot at being named a Top Workplace.”
For more information, visit fdlawrence.com.
Summit Electric Supply Reorganizes Sales Divisions by District
Summit Electric Supply, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has announced a realignment of its sales operations from a two-region model to a more efficient four-district model. In addition to the territorial reorganization, Summit announced the creation of four new district vice president roles to lead the sales teams in those new districts.
The Louisiana District is led by Vice President Chip Shows from Summit’s Gonzales, Louisiana service center. Shows will also direct the sales efforts for the company’s Louisiana locations in Broussard, Sulphur, Houma and New Orleans.
The North Texas District is led by Vice President Todd Bockenfeld out of the Irving, Texas service center. In addition to the Irving location, Bockenfeld will direct the sales efforts of service centers in Fort Worth, Texas; Waco, Texas; Abilene, Texas; Midland, Texas and Waynoka, Oklahoma.
The South Texas District is under the direction of Richard Landry in the Houston service center. In addition to the Houston location, Landry will be responsible for Texas service centers in La Porte, Beaumont, Clute, Bryan-College Station, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Victoria.
The Desert Southwest District is comprised of service centers in Phoenix, Arizona; El Paso, Texas and three New Mexico locations in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Farmington. A Desert Southwest District Vice President will be named at a later date.
In a company-wide presentation, Summit Electric Supply President Kevin Powell shared the rationale behind the reorganization. Powell cited increased responsiveness to local market demands, strengthened relationships with manufacturers and their representatives, improved communications and a stronger voice for associates throughout the organization.
For more information, visit summit.com.
Coburn Supply Acquires Spring Hill Lighting
Coburn Supply, of Beaumont, Texas, recently announced the acquisition of Spring Hill Lighting, of Mobile, Alabama. Both companies are members of IMARK Group.
“It is with great pleasure that we announce our association with Spring Hill Lighting,” said A.J. Maloney, executive vice president of Coburn Supply Co. “Spring Hill Lighting has reached a milestone of 50 years of service in Mobile, Baldwin and surrounding communities. Fortunately, we can offer to Spring Hill Lighting customers additional business capabilities and opportunities.”
Moving forward, the transition for customers will be relatively seamless. The Spring Hill Lighting family of familiar faces will continue to assist current customers, but now, with Coburn Supply infrastructure behind the scenes, will offer a superior shopping experience.
Spring Hill Lighting will be doing business as Spring Hill Lighting, a Coburn Supply Co.
Coburn is an 83-year-old family-owned and operated business with more than 50 stores serving Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and now Mobile, Alabama. The company remains true to the ideal that the number one reason it is in business is “our customers.”
For more information, visit coburns.com.
Summit Electric Supply Names Richard Landry to Lead South Texas District
Summit Electric Supply, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, recently announced that Richard Landry has joined the company and will serve as the leader of the company’s South Texas District. Landry was previously a location manager for an international wire and cable distributor. He will report to company President Kevin Powell and be based out of Summit’s Houston, Texas location.
Landry will be responsible for the development and execution of sales initiatives in the company’s newly created South Texas District. The district includes service centers located in Houston, La Porte, Clute, Beaumont, Bryan-College Station, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Victoria.
After graduating from Louisiana State University, Landry began his career in sales, where his early successes in growth strategies soon led to more demanding and responsible management roles. In addition to sales development, Landry has earned experience in personnel development, vendor relationships and operational logistics.
For more information, visit summit.com.
Long-Time IMARK Supporter Retires from IMARK Member JH Larson
After 26 years, Ed Chesen has announced his retirement from JH Larson, of Plymouth, Minnesota. He served the company in many capacities, primarily in the roles of vice president and general manager.
“I enjoyed a wonderful career at JH Larson,” Chesen said. “One of the things I’m most proud of is the role I played in helping the ownership identify and prepare the next generation of leaders at JH Larson. The company is in great hands.”
According to Bob Smith, IMARK president and CEO, “Ed is widely recognized as being one of the most versatile executives in the IMARK Group. Though he came to JH Larson with primarily an accounting/finance and auditing background, Ed shared his overall knowledge of business and management as part of the following IMARK boards, committees and task forces: IMARK Board of Directors, Marketing Committee, Credit Committee, Banking Committee, Audit Committee and the Post-Merger Supplier Task Force. I can think of few people who were more generous with their time and effective in their support of IMARK Group than Ed was.”
All IMARK members have benefited from Chesen’s support and leadership.
“Those of us who know Ed recognize that he is a highenergy person with a wide set of experiences,” said Steve Ruane, IMARK vice president of marketing. “Fortunately, Ed will remain active in the industry and is looking forward to offering his expertise to IMARK members who would benefit from his experience in the following areas: acquisition assistance, management team mentoring, outside board participation, strategic/long-term planning assistance and mentoring of nextgeneration owners.”
Chesen can be reached at echesen@gmail.com.
Granite City Electric Opens Delivery Hub
Granite City Electric Supply Company (GCE) has opened a new, state of the art 80,000 square foot distribution center, and relocated its Springfield, Massachusetts retail counter service to 451 Meadow St., Chicopee, Massachusetts. This state-of-the-art distribution center will provide best-in-class service to the western Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York markets, and further enhance its exclusive GCE Night Train Delivery Service.
“Our new state-of-the art facility incorporates leading edge innovations in material management, and leverages the latest advances in automation and LEAN practices. We have implemented best practices of class leading enterprises from several industries to give us a highly efficient and scalable platform to best serve the current and evolving needs of our customers. This will allow us to continue to be at the forefront of our industry, and to solidify Granite City as the leading local provider of electrical supplies throughout New England,” said Adrian Grundy, GCE’s chief operating officer. He also noted the capacity and operational efficiencies of the new facility will support expanded inventory levels to better serve all customer needs.
“For GCE, it’s ‘customer first,’ and we have equipped the new location with many innovations and customer-centric enhancements,” Grundy continued. “The new indoor service bay allows customers to drive indoors. For example, large pipe orders can now be loaded indoors, out of the elements. The enclosed storage facility prevents rust and damage to material traditionally stored outdoors. Innovative and automated picking lanes allow for faster, highly accurate order fulfillment to get product to customers faster. The new Chicopee facility will offer greatly expanded wire inventory, including colors and pulling head options.
“We will deliver more to more customers as the Chicopee location affords an expanded delivery footprint for our GCE Night Train Delivery Service, ensuring accurate and more efficient order fulfillment. The GCE Night Train allows customers to avoid waiting at the counter, or wasting time in traffic to pick up electrical supplies. Granite City Electric has provided customer’s access to our exclusive GCE Night Train Delivery Service for more than 16 years. Place an order before 6 p.m. and the order will be delivered to your jobsite, office or home before 6 a.m. the next morning.”