A Hall-of-Fame career takes center stage
Orgill’s Ron Beal, chairman and CEO of the Memphis, Tennessee-based hardware distributor, entered the Home Channel Hall of Fame during the Golden Hammer Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas. Dedication to the home improvement industry is one criteria for entry into the Hall. Inductees are also difference-makers for their companies, their colleagues and their customers. Finally, they represent the best of the industry. (For the list of inductees since 2004, visit homechannelnews.com.)
Some of Beal’s colleagues, customers and suppliers had generous things to say about the newest member of the Hall:
“Ron Beal has been a friend of mine since the late 1970s, when he worked for and became president of the S. B. Hubbard Company in Jacksonville, Florida. I have often wondered about his career path from Georgia Tech, an engineering school, to the president and CEO of the largest independent hardware wholesaler in the world. Ron has always made me feel that he had a genuine interest in me, my family and my business, which has always been a strength of Orgill; they care about their dealers. Ron’s background has paid off as he and his team have transformed a sleeping giant into the premier company in the industry, in my opinion. Under his leadership, Orgill has grown from what I consider a southern wholesaler to a national and international player. This growth has helped my business expand by offering many more product choices, and the buying power to make me more competitive.”
— Mark Bates, Bell & Bates Hardware, Quincy, Florida
“Ron believes in finding win-win solutions. He did so with me at Marvin’s, and he’s done it with us at CNRG. The more you get to know Ron, the more impressed you become. His leadership has driven Orgill to be the fastest-growing distributor in the industry for over a decade. Additionally, you won’t find a nicer guy in the industry. It has been my pleasure to work with him over the past 14 years. His recognition in the Golden Hammer Hall of Fame is well deserved.”
— Boyden Moore,president, CNRG
“In my 46-plus years in the hardware industry, I can think of only a few people I would consider as having Hall of Fame careers. Ron Beal is one of those select few. His success in the growth of Orgill has been well-documented in the trade publications. Ron has guided Orgill from a Mid-South regional wholesaler to a worldwide distribution powerhouse, in less than 10% of their 167 years in business. It was a great honor for Glen Gevaart and me to present Ron Beal with the plaque, honoring him as this year’s Home Channel Hall of Fame recipient; a well-deserved recognition of one of the best in this or any industry.”
VP sales, — MikeMartin, Midwest Fastener Corp.
“It has been my pleasure to have worked with Ron for almost 30 years now, the last 10 in his capacity as CEO of Orgill. During those 10 years, sales have doubled and market share has increased even more. Ron’s approach embodies Orgill’s mission statement: ‘Help our customers be successful.’ Having spent his entire career in the distribution industry, Ron has a keen understanding of it, and his ‘low key’ management style has provided great leadership for Orgill. In addition, he has developed an outstanding management team, thereby ensuring a bright future for the company director, that Orgill he Inc. leads.”
— Joe Orgill, director, Orgill Inc.
“During the 20 years I’ve known Ron, he has consistently demonstrated a tireless commitment and passion toward the success of retailers throughout the hardware and building materials channel. I have heard him described by many as a genuine southern gentleman, and he is certainly well respected. By developing a strong team and encouraging a collaborative approach to all projects, Ron has not only taken Orgill to a new level but has positively impacted the industry as well. His poise and humility are genuine attributes and are a real reflection of his character. He is well deserving of his induction into the Hall senior of VP Fame.”
— Brett Hammers, senior VP merchandising and marketing, Orgil