PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Oak Brook, III.-based Ace Hardware tapped John Sommers Jr. as its new VP of merchandising, effective July 10. Sommers is a 23-year veteran of The Home Depot and has held various roles in merchandising, store environment and new-store development. He replaces Frank Carroll, who left Ace to take the CEO spot at Broan-NuTone in May. Most recently, he was VP of merchandising for The Home Depot and was directly responsible for the flooring division.

McCoy’s Building Supply promoted a “homegrown” manager to the role of corporate controller: Joshua Whitley, a 17-year McCoy’s veteran, began as an accounts payable clerk while attending Texas State University.

The Window and Door Manufacturers Association presented two industry veterans with the James C. Krahn Lifetime Achievement Award at the Technical and Manufacturing Conference. Steve Johnson, retired codes and regulatory manager for Andersen Corp., and Jeff Lowinski, WDMA VP of technical activities, were honored with the award. Mills Fleet Farm has ended its hunt for a CEO. The Midwest retailer announced the appointment of Derick Prelle as president and CEO, succeeding Wayne Sales, who has been serving as interim chief since January. Sales was given the position following the departure of Duncan Mac Naughton, who left to become president and COO of Family Dollar. Prelle joins Mills Fleet Farm from KKR Capstone, which acquired the formerly family-owned Mills Fleet in January 2016. He has worked closely with Mills Fleet in his role working with KKR’s portfolio companies.