Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
As part of its ongoing commitment to the next generation of independent home improvement retailers, Midwest Fastener recently donated $7,000 to the North American Hardware and Paint Association’s (NHPA) Retail Management Certification Program’s (RMCP) Pay it Forward Scholarship Fund.
The donated funds from Midwest Fastener were the proceeds from the annual Mike Martin Memorial Golf Tournament, which was held Sept. 26, 2025, in Paw Paw, Michigan. Martin, who formerly served as vice president of sales for the Kalamazoo-based company, was a long-time supporter of RMCP and ongoing industry education.
“Mike never really had a memorial service, so we wanted to do something for him,” says Michael Northrup, sales coordinator at Midwest Fastener. “It then turned into this huge event where people wanted to help, wanted to give and wanted to be part of it.”
The first outing brought people from across the country.
“Everybody knew Mike. You’d go to a show with him, and you wouldn’t get back to your booth for two hours because everyone stopped to talk to him,” Northrup says. “Mike was the hardware industry.”
The scholarship began from one of Martin’s passions, supporting future leaders through RMCP.
“We wanted to impact the industry with the money from the memorial,” he said. “The future of the channel was important to Mike. The industry was his life.”
Northrup says next year’s outing will be bigger.
“It’s not really about the golf. It’s about all of us getting together in the same room and talking about the future of the industry, having Mike still be part of it,” he says.
In addition to donating the proceeds from the memorial golf outing, Midwest Fastener also provides an additional $6,250 a year in scholarship assistance for the program, as well as being an annual sponsor for NHPA’s Young Retailer of the Year recognition program.
“Midwest Fastener’s donation to the Pay It Forward Scholarship Fund is a powerful example of honoring the legacy of those who built this industry while investing in the leaders who will carry it forward,” says Cody Goeppner, director of education and training at NHPA. “Their generosity doesn’t just fund education—it fuels opportunity and reinforces the culture of excellence that defines independent retail. Their support reaches far beyond sponsorship—it’s stewardship. They’ve stood beside this program for years, ensuring that the next generation of retailers inherits the same spirit of excellence and innovation that’s always defined our industry.”
The funds will go directly toward scholarships for future RMCP students, helping independent home improvement retailers invest in leadership development within their business.
“Midwest Fastener has been a consistent and passionate partner in developing leaders through RMCP,” Goeppner says. “Their support reaches far beyond sponsorship—it’s stewardship. They’ve stood beside this program for years, ensuring that the next generation of retailers inherits the same spirit of excellence and innovation that’s always defined our industry.”
Midwest Fastener’s continued support reflects its long-standing commitment to the independent home improvement industry, Goeppner says.
“My relationship with the Retail Management Certification Program has come full circle—from being a student to mentoring participants to now leading the program,” he says. “Through every stage, Midwest Fastener has been there, championing the development of retail leaders. Their continued support is a testament to their belief in this industry’s future and the people who drive it forward.”
The RMCP Pay it Forward Scholarship Fund was created to raise funds from industry partners, including manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and retirees who are still involved with the channel, to provide needed financial assistance for students who would like to attend RMCP but who need assistance with tuition expenses. One hundred percent of donations received are awarded to program applicants who apply for a scholarship. For more information, visit YourNHPA.org/RMCP.
