News release from Do it Best Corp.:
Do it Best Corp. Announces Retirement of Bob Taylor, Names Dan Starr President and CEO
(August 3, 2015) – Do it Best Corp. announces the retirement of President and CEO Bob Taylor, effective January 4, 2016. The co-op also announces that current Executive Vice President and COO Dan Starr will succeed Taylor as President and CEO.
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Taylor’s retirement will cap a highly accomplished and successful 40-year career in the home improvement industry, including serving the past 13 as President and CEO of Do it Best Corp. Taylor joined the co-op in 2001 and led the launch or expansion of numerous key member-focused programs during his tenure, while also strengthening the co-op’s outstanding financial standing and overseeing an unprecedented period of consistently high industry-leading member rebates.
Taylor has also been recognized as a key leader and volunteer by a number of regional and national civic organizations and his example of servant leadership has further enhanced the culture of the company. While living in Virginia Beach, VA, Taylor served as chair of the Virginia Beach Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Beach Vision, the local United Way campaign, and the Better Business Bureau.
He continued his civic and charitable activities in Fort Wayne with involvement locally on Corporate Council, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, the Regional Chamber, the Foellinger Foundation and United Way. He also chaired the Fort Wayne Downtown Blueprint Plus and Baseball Plus committees and served for nine years on the national board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Taylor also serves on the Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. Board, the Indiana State Chamber Board and was appointed by Governor Daniels and again by Governor Pence to the board of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Throughout all of these service opportunities Taylor has encouraged and supported the entire Do it Best Corp. team in their efforts to positively impact their local communities as well.
“Today is bittersweet – it will not be easy to leave the outstanding employee team I’ve worked with and incredible family of member-owners I’ve served,” said Taylor. “At the same time, I am proud of what we’ve accomplished during my time here, and I am very excited to see Dan step into this role, one for which he is ideally suited.”
Prior to joining Do it Best Corp., Taylor served as President of Taylor’s Do it centers in Virginia Beach, VA, and as a member of the co-op’s Board of Directors for six years, including two as Board Chairman.
“As a former member-owner, Bob understood the unique challenges independent entrepreneurs face, and he ensured that we have a full menu of flexible, scalable, affordable and customizable programs to help us grow our businesses,” added Jim Lehrer, Chairman of the Do it Best Corp. Board of Directors. “Perhaps his greatest legacy will be in the committed, members-first employee team he leaves behind, which positions the co-op and its member-owners for continued success.”
Starr will become only the fifth President and CEO in the co-op’s 70-year history. He’s served as Executive Vice President and COO since 2012. During his time as EVP and COO, Starr has worked closely with the co-op’s Board of Directors and leadership team on a number of key strategic and operational initiatives and programs. He joined Do it Best Corp. in 2005 as the Director of Human Resources and General Counsel and was named Vice President of Human Resources the following year.
“I am fortunate to have worked alongside Bob so collaboratively these past ten years,” Starr said. “It’s humbling to think about how rare a transition like this is in our co-op’s long history – I am honored for the opportunity to build on Bob’s many successes as we continue to help our members grow and achieve their dreams.”
About Do it Best Corp.
Based in Fort Wayne, Ind., Do it Best Corp. is the only U.S.-based, member-owned comprehensive and fully integrated hardware, lumber and building materials buying cooperative in the home improvement industry. With annual sales of nearly $3 billion, Do it Best Corp. is the second largest co-op in the industry, serving more than 3,800 member-owned locations in the United States and in 54 other countries. For more information, visit https://www.doitbestonline.com/ and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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