Spahn & Rose names new regional sales director

Spahn & Rose, the Dubuque, Iowa-based pro dealer, has named Mike Erickson as its new regional sales director.

Erickson joined Spahn & Rose on June 22 and arrives with more than three decades of experience in the building materials industry.

Originally from Elkader, Iowa, Erickson started working at a lumberyard when he was 16. Since that early beginning, the pro dealer said that he has done just about every job a lumberyard offers: driving a forklift, loading lumber, truck driver, dispatcher, outside sales, assistant manager, and most recently serving as a general manager.

As Regional Sales Director at Spahn & Rose, Erickson will help drive sales to stores and assist general managers and outside sales representatives as they work to boost sales. 

“Even with all the technology and Amazon, people still buy from people,” Erickson said. “I firmly believe in treating customers the way I want to be treated, following through and doing what I say I’m going to do.”

Erickson will be working with the Spahn & Rose Iowa locations in Cresco, Decorah, Dyersville, Edgewood, Independence, Jesup, Monticello, Reinbeck, Waverly and West Union. 

Additionally, Erickson will help increase the contractor and builder business for stores in Byron, Pearl City and Stockton, Warren Illinois and the Prairie Du Chien in Wisconsin.

Spahn & Rose operates 24 retail lumber and building-material stores in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, along with a lumber-distribution facility in Independence, Iowa.

“Spahn & Rose is very professional yet feels like a family,” he says. “Everybody is available and helpful and passionate about their jobs.”

Looking ahead, Erickson noted that technology continues to grow its presence in the industry while the pool of skilled workers has lessened.

“Technology is starting to play a bigger part in the business, especially with younger workers,” he said. “More and more, estimating programs will make it easier, and there might be fewer people in the business who have swung a hammer or carried a board.”