Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Honoring a family legacy of military service, John Azaltovic served in the U.S. Navy from 1995 to 2004 on a submarine as a culinary specialist. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who served in the Navy as a SeaBee during Vietnam and both of his grandfathers who each served in the Navy during World War II on small gun boats.
During his time in the Navy, John served on the USS James K Polk, a slow approach Navy Seal delivery submarine, and the USS Montpelier, a fast attack submarine, both of which served out of Norfolk, Virginia.
As a Petty Officer First Class (SS), John says he loved getting to travel to other countries as part of his military duties.
“My favorite part of my time in service was the lifelong friends I gained,” John says.
After getting out of the Navy, John started his career with Best Buy, helping them open three new stores in North Carolina, South Carolina and Pennsylvania over his nine-year stint with the company. From there, he followed a recruitment call to Dick’s Sporting Goods where he spent another five years as a hardlines manager, merchandising multiple departments of the store and leading customer service.
“Then an opportunity came along to work for a very well-known hardware chain in central Pennsylvania that I had always loved shopping at,” John says.
He took the leap of faith and joined the Cole’s Hardware family, starting out as an assistant manager and customer service manager at one of the stores.
“I just loved that when you work for Cole’s Hardware, you don’t feel like a number; my input actually mattered,” John says.
After about a year, John took over as the store manager of the Danville location, which is where the company started back in 1883 under the guidance of J.H. Cole. Cole’s Hardware is still family-owned and now has 12 locations, stocking over 15,000 different branded items.
“I am very proud of the company I work for, it is that same proud feeling I had from my service in the Navy,” John says. “I love my job and the people I work with and for.”
One of the biggest lessons John has transferred from the military is how to be an effective leader and bring people along for success.
“I am not a boss, I am a leader,” John says. “My team knows not to call me their boss, but rather, I want to be known as their co-worker who just has a higher pay grade.”
Along with leadership attributes, John says military veterans bring a number of other employee skills to the independent home improvement channel.
“Veterans show dedication, reliability and pride in self,” he says. “They also have the ability to adapt and overcome any number of obstacles, all important qualities in this industry.”
Learn about the other Helmets to Home Improvement honorees here.
