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The Wolf Organization Restructures Leadership
Building-materials distributor announces return of long-time CEO
The Wolf Organization announced that Tom Wolf, who had served as the company’s president from 1985 until 2009, will return to guide the company.
The Wolf Organization operates Wolf Distributing Company, the largest distributor of kitchen cabinets United States and a leading distributor of decking and railing materials, fiber cement siding and other building products. Wolf’s service area stretches from New England to North Carolina.
Tom Wolf will assume the titles of Chair of the Board and CEO of The Wolf Organization, succeeding George Hodges as Chair and Ron Blevins as CEO. Wolf, who until November 2008 served as secretary of revenue for Pennsylvania, was exploring a run for governor of the state, but ultimately decided to return to The Wolf Organization.
Blevins will move into a new position, Vice Chair of the Board and Treasurer, and will be responsible for the administrative functions of the company.
Wolf’s return has resulted in other changes to the company’s management structure.
- Dave Confer will become Vice Chair of the Board, General Counsel and Secretary of The Wolf Organization. Confer will manage the company’s fixed assets and oversee its legal and human resources functions.
- Craig Danielson will become President of the Wolf Organization. In this role, he will be responsible for the financial success of the company.
- Brad Kostelich will assume the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In this role he will be responsible for the operating success of the company.
- Jim Groff will become Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. He will continue to be responsible for all Wolf marketing activities.
- Michael Newsome has been promoted to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Wolf Organization. He will be responsible for the accurate and timely monitoring and reporting of the company’s financial results.
Corporate Profile
The Wolf Organization, based in York, Pa., is the parent company of two business entities, each of which focuses on the construction and building materials industry.
The Wolf Organization’s roots stretch back to 1843, when company founder Adam Wolf opened a single store selling dry goods and lumber on the banks of the Susquehanna River in rural Pennsylvania. Today, Wolf’s one store has matured into an enterprise with 225 employees and nearly $200 million in annual sales from two operating divisions:
- Wolf Distributing Company, a two-step building materials distributor, serves retailers in the eastern U.S.
- Baublitz Advertising, a full-service marketing firm, serves building-industry clients across the country.
These businesses are guided by a common management team and bound together by mutual focus, goals and objectives. The Wolf Organization’s longevity has been built on a foundation of several core principles that have inspired the company for more than 165 years:
Customer Service The Wolf Organization focuses on developing long-term customer relationships. To that end, it created a unique, company-wide policy: Wolf empowers all employees to act on behalf of the company to solve problems quickly - within 24 hours - and in a manner that is satisfactory to the customer.
Quality The Wolf Organization strives for quality in all its processes. Each division carries the ISO-2000 stamp of international quality, a prestigious certification earned through rigorous independent inspection. In addition, the company pursues a policy of continuous quality improvement.
Innovation Wolf believes strongly in the power of innovation and technology to drive growth and improve service. One key example: since 1999, the company has run on SAP, the leading enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. SAP automates orders, tracks shipments and manages customer needs, resulting in dramatically streamlined processes and measurable gains in productivity, efficiency and delivery speed.
Community Service The Wolf Organization and its employees are dedicated to serving the communities where we live and work to make them better places for all people. For many years, Wolf has led by example through its resources, influence and the generosity of its employees. The company actively supports and encourages employees who volunteer their time and talents.
The Wolf Organization remains focused on the future, with ownership now shared by members of the Wolf, Zimmerman and Hodges families, the company’s management team, and a private equity firm. The company’s priorities remain the same: offer continuity to employees, customers and suppliers, create ownership opportunities for employees, and attract the best resources for future growth.
Business Units
The Wolf Organization’s management team employs a unified approach and vision to guide the efforts of two discrete divisions.
Wolf Distributing Company is the largest distributor of kitchen cabinets in the United States and a leading distributor of decking and railing materials, fiber cement siding, and other building products. Wolf handles up to 65,000 kitchen and bath orders per month from its 320,000 square-foot kitchen and bath warehouse in York, Pa., which holds the largest single inventory of assembled cabinets in the country.
The division’s 110,000 square-foot building products warehouse in Allentown, Pa., offers dealers in eight states a range of interior and exterior products: decking, railing, siding, housewrap, and more.
Wolf Distributing Company partners with select national and regional brands, actively promoting and merchandising products through the distribution channel. Because of its deep inventory, logistics model and leading technology, Wolf Distributing Company has the ability to guarantee customers next-truck shipment of in-stock orders. For more information, visit www.wolfdistributingco.com.
Baublitz Advertising is a full-service marketing firm that has served clients in the building materials and construction industry since 1976. Based in York, Pa., Baublitz Advertising blends a depth of industry knowledge with expertise in research, creative, branding, media buying, Web, and public relations, among other services.
Baublitz Advertising also focuses on the emerging green building movement. The company remains one of only the few marketing firms that belongs to the U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC), an affiliation that enables Baublitz to interact with the industry’s leading companies in support of sustainable building products and practices. In addition, the company participates in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) training, which provides Baublitz with the latest information on national standards for green buildings. For more information, visit www.baublitz.com.
History
The Wolf Organization has built a reputation for service and excellence over 165 years. This timeline provides a snapshot of key developments in the company’s history:
- 1843: Company founded by Adam Wolf, who opens one store selling dry goods and lumber on the banks of the Susquehanna River in rural Pennsylvania.
- 1935: Operations moved to York to serve growing population and demand for housing.
- 1955: Wolf Distributing Company founded as one of the area’s first wholesale distributors of building materials.
- 1976: The Wolf Organization launches Baublitz Advertising, a full-service marketing firm specializing in the building materials and construction industry.
- 1996: Through extensive employee input and adherence to industry-leading best business practices, The Wolf Organization achieves certification from the International Standards Organization (ISO) in recognition of the company’s commitment to quality and continuous improvement. The first, and still among a very few, in the building materials business, The Wolf Organization maintains its certification through rigorous adherence to the highest quality standards.
- 1999: The Wolf Organization adopts SAP, the leading enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. The move leads to measurable improvements in customer service, efficiency and automation in nearly every facet of the company’s operations.
- 2009: Initiation of a succession plan that transfers leadership and ownership to members of the executive management team and outside investors. Family members retain 60% ownership in The Wolf Organization. The move was designed to offer continuity for employees, customers and suppliers; create opportunities for employees; and attract resources for future growth.
The Wolf Organization at a glance:
- Headquarters: York, Pennsylvania
- Founded: 1843
- Employees: 225
- Annual revenue (2008): $200 million
- Operating Divisions:
- Wolf Distributing Company — Building materials distributor; serves dealers from Maine to the Carolinas
- Baublitz Advertising — Full-service marketing firm; serves the building materials industry across the continental United States.
- Quality: Each of the company’s divisions has earned ISO 2000 certification - an international recognition of quality practices and processes.
- Technology: The company runs SAP, the world’s leading enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. Though a financial commitment to SAP is unusual for a company of its size in its industry, The Wolf Organization’s commitment to SAP has lead to significant process and service improvements.
- Media contact: The Wolf Organization works with trade, business and consumer media outlets. Members of the firm’s management team routinely serve as sources of comment or background information for reporters. In addition, they publish articles on topical marketing issues in the building materials industry.
To arrange an interview or to discuss possible topics for a story, feature, or submitted column, contact:
Jim Groff, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
The Wolf Organization
groffjc@baublitz.com
(717) 852-4842 (direct dial)