M A R K E T INN S I G H T S P EO P L E continued from p a g ge e 2 5 clear model. And our vendors that we deal with, they get that.” B ill B r u ne ellle Independent We Stand When Mike’s Hardware and Supply of New Orleans cel- ebrated its 10 years of business after Hurricane Katrina, it offered $1,000 to the local St. Roch Booster Club. Behind the donation, and many others around the country was the Independent We Stand movement, led by Bill Brunelle. The organization, co-sponsored by Stihl Inc. and FCA US LLC, has picked up associate sponsors PPG Pittsburgh Paints, Tire Pros and Do it Best Corp. in 2016. And everyday it’s encouraging consumers to take a pledge to shop local. At last count: 136,339 have done so. “The more successful these inde- pendent stores are, the more they reinvest and the bigger economic impacts they will have on their com- munities,” he said. J o hn n M or ik i s ori CEO, Sherwin- Williams “I want to make something explicitly clear,” said Sherwin- Williams President and CEO John Morikis, shortly after the announcement of the company’s $11.3 billion acquisition of Valspar Corp., “we do not buy com- panies to dismantle them. Valspar has a really talented workforce, and they are a huge component of making this transaction a success.” In addition to recognizing talent, Morikis recognized 26 an opportunity to accelerate growth strategies and deliver more products to more customers. And that’s not the only deal keeping Morikis and his team busy. The company opened 55 net new store locations in the Paint Stores Group in the first nine months of the year. J e nn ni f e r S c an nl o n a true legacy brand in the Midwest and one that I have grown up with since my early days in Wisconsin,” said Mac Naughton. The executive move followed the Brainerd, Minn.- based retailer’s sale to global invest- ment firm KKR. S tev v e S y nn no t t , CEO, PRO Group CEO, USG When USG CEO James Metcalf an- nounced his re- tirement earlier this year, the building product giant had a plan in place, and an executive groomed for the job: Jennifer Scan- lon. The former IBM executive had spent 14 years in various leadership positions at USG, including one in which she was credited for returning to profitability the distribution divi- sion L&W Supply (being sold to ABC Supply): “I am excited to take on the role of president and CEO at USG, an outstanding company with innovative products, dedicated employees, clear growth prospects and a solid finan- cial foundation.” D u n c a n M a c N a u g h t o on n CEO, Mills Fleet Farm With 35 loca- tions across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North Dakota, Mills Fleet Farm promotes itself as a quality retailer with small-town values. Into that mix comes a CEO with key experience at the world’s largest retailer. And now Duncan Mac Naughton, former Walmart chief merchandising and marketing officer, is coming home. “I am honored to lead Mills Fleet Farm, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 HARDWARE + BUILDING SUPPLY DEALER This was a big year for Steve Synnott. He oversaw a merger that brought PRO Group and Reliable Distributors together under one roof, forming an entity with an increased competitive advantage and a larger presence in hardware distribution. The companies announced the deal in October, which will add 74 distribu- tors to the PRO Group network and $2 billion in volume. Synnott became CEO in 2003. Since he purchased the privately- held company from Gary Cosgrave in 2012, he has been working to deliver added value to the company’s mem- bers. Now, he has high hopes for the merger’s ability to reduce infrastruc- ture and channel costs for member suppliers, distributors and customers. Additionally, the merger will expand the variety of suppliers and distribu- tors and the synergies among them, boosting purchasing power and prod- uct selection in the same breath. All right, you’ve seen our list. Now tell us: Who did we miss? We really want to hear your thoughts and give credit where credit is due. Let us know at: n e w s @h b s d e a ler r.cc o m @hb er HBSDealer.com