Unsure of what the future would hold or even what he wanted his future to look like, Kane Wilbanks turned to the military, joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 2017. “The unknown really drove my motivation to join the Marines,” …
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Always ready. Always there. The venerable motto of the United States National Guard is what Tim Kromholtz lived out during his time in the Washington Air National Guard and in his executive role in the independent home improvement industry. Kromholtz’s …
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With the vision to create a successful wholesale hardware business, W.B. Whittaker, S.M. Holtsinger and D.M. Wallace chartered the Whittaker-Holtsinger Company in 1922 in Morristown, Tennessee. In 1932, D.M. became president, and in 1944, he changed the name to the …
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After watching his father serve in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years and growing up in the military community, Andy Horton was determined to follow the same path for his own life. While he achieved his dreams of serving …
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Bringing the independent channel together in Orlando, Florida, the 2025 Independent Home Improvement Conference (IHI Conference) combined learning and leisure, sending attendees home with best practices on retail operations and insights to address current market conditions. Attendees of the event, …
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Students in the 2025 Retail Management Certification Program (RMCP) recently completed the first site visit of the year in Fishers, Indiana. Designed specifically for store owners, regional supervisors and managers, the program blends strategic leadership training, hands-on business improvement projects …
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A dream since childhood, Joe Rawson always knew he wanted to be in the military. Rawson served in the U.S. Air Force starting in 1998. He served on active duty until 2004, and then full time in the Pennsylvania Air …
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From a legacy of military service to finding a new home at Do it Best, Cole Atwood’s journey from the U.S. Army to the independent home improvement industry was marked by dedication and teamwork. Growing up, Atwood was surrounded by …
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