New role for retail chief: Spirit of Life
The hardware and homebuilding industry’s tradition of gathering in support of City of Hope will continue Jan. 18 on the eve of the International Builders’ Show.
A world-famous California-based cancer research and treatment facility, City of Hope will honor Orchard Supply Hardware president Bob Tellier as its Spirit of Life Award honoree. In an interview with HBSDealer, Tellier said he was somewhat reluctant to accept, at first.
“It’s a huge honor,” Tellier said. “When they asked me three or four months ago, I said, ‘No way, this is too big for Bob.’ The quality of the past honorees is mind-blowing.”
Among the names: Arthur Blank, Bernie Marcus, Pat Farrah, Robert Strickland, Leonard Herring, Maggie Hardy Magerko, to name a few.
The 2016 honoree has strong credentials of his own. He was promoted to the position of president of San Jose, California-based Orchard Supply in February of 2015 after having previously served as the senior VP merchandising and marketing since October 2013. As president he leads the development and execution of the company strategy as a separate, stand-alone division of Lowe’s.
He joined Orchard in June of 2011 as the VP merchandising and global sourcing.
Previously he was a divisional VP at True Value Company in Chicago since 2005. His background also includes several years as a management consultant, preceded by 14 years of progressive management roles in finance and operations in consumer product manufacturing.
In 2015, he accepted the HBSDealer Retailer of the Year award on behalf of Orchard Supply. And when he accepts the Spirit of Life Award in January, he says it will also be on behalf of the company that has supported City of Hope for many years. Orchard Supply has raised more than $7.5 million for City of Hope through 13 events held over the past 16 years
The Spirit of Live Award Reception will take place Monday, Jan. 18 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Spa in Las Vegas.
Since it was founded in 1982, City of Hope’s Hardware/Homebuilding Industry has raised more than $150 million for lifesaving research, treatment and education programs
“I take it very seriously,” he said. “Not only for me, but for Orchard Supply. Our associates had always supported the City of Hope. Our slogan is neighbors helping neighbors, and what better way to support our neighbor in Southern California, the City of Hope.”