Last year, the original 50 Home Channel News Hardware Store All-Star honorees established a high bar and a hard act to follow. But the 2012 crop rises to the challenge. This year’s Hardware Store All-Stars, one from each of the 50 U.S. states, have at least one thing in common: Ask them what makes them special and you can bet they’ll include “excellent customer service” in the answer. From there, every path to stardom is unique.

Dublin, Calif.-based Epicor has made available mobile versions of its software solutions for manufacturing, distribution and retail.

Developed by the dedicated Epicor mobile development team, Mobile Manager for Catalyst and ECS Pro allows storeowners and managers to get more done by serving them real-time information on their Android or Apple smartphone or tablet. Managers can respond to customer inquiries, track the health of the business and make informed decisions with their mobile device.

LBM dealers trying to deliver building materials into New York are wondering if they haven’t become a new source of state revenue, given the stepped-up enforcement of linkage laws by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Although the issue is being addressed in the New York State legislature by a bill brought forth by the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA), lumberyard delivery drivers are playing cat and mouse with state troopers while their bosses are fighting $1,000 citations in court.

Ashland City, Tenn.-based maker of water heaters and boilers launched the A.O. Smith Warranty Check app for contractors and plumbers for use in the field. 

"The iPhone and Android have created a huge demand for on-the-go information from homeowners and professionals," said Matt Southards, senior manager of digital marketing and strategy for A.O. Smith. "As an industry leader, we want to provide our plumbing professionals with easy access to critical information from remote locations."

Starborn Industries, the Edison, N.J.-based fastener manufacturer, has hired Scott Nowatzki as its new national accounts manager. Nowatzki will be responsible for developing new business opportunities, expanding relationships with existing clients, and training customers and employees nationwide.

A San Diego-area man convicted of killing a Home Depot manager during a robbery attempt will face lethal injection after a judge upheld a jury’s death sentence recommendation, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times.

ABC Supply, the nation’s largest distributor of roofing, has promoted Mike Boggs to director of operations, a newly created position. In his new role, Boggs is responsible for championing, developing and implementing critical operational initiatives, including continued improvement of the company’s Customer Service Delivery System (CSDS), inventory management, fleet optimization, outside sales management, response to storms, and the leveraging of technology to enhance internal service quality and customer service. 

Honolulu-based City Mill Company named Ron De Leon as general merchandising manager, responsible for all merchandise sold at the eight-store home improvement company.

De Leon is a former merchant at All American Home Center in California. 

Do it Best Corp. promoted two new regional managers who will focus on building and strengthening member relationships in the eastern and southern United States.

The company named David Enmark regional sales and business development manager for a large portion of the southern United States. Also, Do it Best Corp. named Rob Schmiedel regional sales and business development manager for the northeastern United States.

Kent, Ohio-based Carter Lumber has announced the promotion of Mark Smith to district manager for central Indiana.

According to Carter Lumber, the move comes as the company continues to broaden its customer base across all areas of the company.

Smith has been with Carter Lumber since 1998, where he started in the yard and eventually assumed all positions within the store, and has served as a manager in Centerville, Ind., and most recently Richmond, Ind.

Anderson, S.C.-based Delta Power Equipment Corp. named four regional sales managers: Joe Brakhage, Northeast, Rick Carr, Midwest; Dennis Mickelson, Western; and Curt Thomas, Southeastern.

Carr started with Rockwell International’s power tool division in 1977 as a district sales manager and worked his way up through the Pentair Tool Group to become hardware channel national accounts manager from 1999 to 2003 with responsibilities for a number of their brands, including Delta. Most recently, he was hardware channel national accounts manager with Senco Brands. 

According to an article in the Shawangunk Journal, a manager of an Ace Hardware store in Ellenville, N.Y., stands accused of stealing $14,000 from the store over a period of about six months.