Do it Best Corp. CEO Bob Taylor accepted the Home Channel Hall of Fame award during the Golden Hammer Awards at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas. Safety Works VP safety sales John Shields introduced the inductee.

As the National Hardware Show kicks off in Las Vegas, the Golden Hammer Awards program enters its 28th year.

Wednesday morning at the show, the Home Channel News Golden Hammer event will honor the best of the best among home improvement suppliers and recognize outstanding achievement in the retail field. A twist for 2012: A Golden Hammer panel discussion with the working title: “The recovery: Is it real? And what to do about it?”

In 1999, Bob Taylor achieved a feat accomplished by no other home improvement executive in the annals of business journalism.

He was compared with “Bonanza” character Adam Cartwright and U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush — in the same article.

We’ll explain later.

First things first: Do it Best Corp. CEO Bob Taylor is to be congratulated for his selection as the 2012 inductee of the Home Channel Hall of Fame.

Do it Best Corp. has named Gary Furst its VP human resources, general counsel and corporate assistant secretary, effective immediately.

As VP human resources, Furst will oversee all HR programs for Do it Best Corp., including compensation, benefits, employee recruitment, training and development. In addition, as general counsel, he will be responsible for management of all internal and external legal matters pertaining to Do it Best Corp.

New products and new-product-knowledge took center stage earlier this month at Do it Best Corp.'s New Product Expo held in Woodburn, Ore. 

Do it Best Corp. added to its leadership team at its Fort Wayne, Ind., world headquarters.

The co-op promoted Scott Liggett to Application Development Manager within its Information Technology division. Liggett will guide the company’s continually expanding efforts to enhance their offerings of mobile applications and technological efficiencies in supply chain management.

Fort Wayne, Ind.-based hardware co-op Do it Best Corp. announced Wednesday a changing of the guard as two longtime executives will retire effective June 30.

Dave Haist, executive VP and COO, and Dave Dietz, VP finance, will be replaced by Dan Starr and Doug Roth -- Starr as executive VP and COO and Roth as VP finance.

Currently, Starr is VP human resources, while Roth is director of financial reporting.

At the 2011 Do it Best Fall Market in Indianapolis, the co-op distributed $105.8 million in combined rebates to member dealers. It was the eighth straight year that the distribution exceeded $100 million. 

Fort Wayne, Ind.-based co-op Do it Best Corp. named company veteran Randy Rusk as its new communications director.

In the position, Rusk will help develop and implement the Do it Best Corp. communications strategy and manage all internal and external communications efforts, including video, education and training initiatives, creative development and campaign execution, as well as media and public relations.

The Do it Best October Market will return to Indianapolis Oct. 8 to 10, with some things remaining the same, and some things changing. 

“We really believe this market will be like no other that our members have seen or experienced,” said Do it Best CEO Bob Taylor. “With the continued momentum of our Extreme Growth initiatives, along with outstanding purchasing opportunities in an expanded convention center and top-notch slate of events and speakers, we’ve got a lot of very exciting things in store for our members."

With locations in Baton Rouge and Denham Springs, La., Do it Best Corp. member Holmes Building Materials operates two home centers, both with about 10,000 sq. ft. of retail space, supplemented by full lumberyards out back and powered by a 22-truck fleet. One location is heavily commercial, the other is heavily retail-oriented, and both operate a store-within-a-store Holmes Windows Doors & More.


Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest differences. Then again, sometimes it’s the big things.


The Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Do it Best Corp., fresh from its October Market in Indianapolis, is advancing a slate of initiatives both large and small. Projects range from reprinting its field staff’s business cards to building what it calls a digital World Class Commerce Center. And as CEO Bob Taylor sees it, they are all in service of one overarching goal: serving the members. 


Let’s start with the big plans first.