Brent R. Grover is the founder and managing partner of Evergreen Consulting, LLC and an NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence Distinguished Fellow. He serves as an advisor to the distribution channel on strategic planning, profit improvement and acquisitions. He also serves on the boards of several distribution businesses and is a popular speaker at wholesale distribution industry events.
Mr. Grover’s 20 year operating experience includes leading National Paper & Packaging Co., a specialty packaging distributor, where he was the CEO and co-owner. In 1999 he led the sale of his company to SupplyOne, Inc. In addition to packaging products, Mr. Grover has significant hands-on experience working with distributors in sectors such as motion control, power transmission, material handling, fuel and lubricants, perishable goods, building materials and supplies and electrical products.
Prior to National Paper, Mr. Grover was a visiting Professor at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management and a manager at Arthur Andersen & Co.
Mr. Grover is the author of many articles related to distribution and logistics. His books include The Acquisitive Distributor: Four Keys to Success When Buying a Wholesale Distribution, The Official Guide to Wholesale Distributor Financial Success (3-volume set) and More to the Bottom Line: Customer Profitability Analysis Tools for Distributors.
Mr. Grover is a member of several non-profit Boards and served as Chairman of three organizations including the National Paper Trade Association.
Mr. Irby’s operating company experience includes over 20 years of leading Irby Construction Company, a power line contractor. Irby Construction Company, based in Jackson, Mississippi, built construction projects in forty-five states as well as in Central America, Africa, and the Far East. Irby Construction Company was sold to Quanta Services, Inc, (PWR) in 2000.
Mr. Irby operated IRBY Corp, a real estate development and investment company, from 1998 to its sale to Stamford Capital in 2002.
Mr. Irby formed Irby Investments, LLC, a private investment company, in 2002 and remains active as Manager. Irby Investments’ portfolio consists of public stocks, bonds, hedge funds and private equities.
Mr. Irby and Irby Investments were the majority shareholders in Stuart C. Irby Company. Mr. Irby served as Chairman of the Board of this electrical distribution company which was sold to Sonepar in 2005. Stuart C. Irby Company is one of the largest and most widely recognized electrical products distributors in the United States. At the time of its sale, Stuart C. Irby Co. had forty branches in nine states.
Mr. Irby earned his M.B.A. and B.B.A. from the Southern Methodist University.
Jeff Germanotta is a former Principal of William Blair & Company, a Chicago-based, global investment banking firm. Jeff’s more than 30 years of experience in investment and commercial banking and corporate planning include working with supply chain service, distribution and logistics organizations for nearly 20 years, as both an investment banker and equity analyst. While at Blair, Jeff was Co-head of the Supply Chain Services practice within the Corporate Finance Department and Group Head for the Equity Research Department’s Business Services Practice.
As an analyst, Jeff was consistently recognized in the Financial Times/StarMine “World’s Top Analysts” listing. He has been an author and/or a contributor to over 150 published articles since 1994 relating to investments, supply chain management, and wholesale distribution.
He holds a B.A. in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an M.B.A. from Marquette University. He’s served on boards of several for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
David Camiener founded Pragmatic Materials, Inc., a distributor of regulated materials and high purity biochemicals to the Pharmaceutical and Life Science industries. Mr. Camiener is President of CBG Biotech, Ltd., Co., a manufacturer and distributor of recycling equipment and distributor to the laboratory, hospital and industrial markets.
Prior to founding Pragmatic Materials, Mr. Camiener was President of AMRESCO Inc., a leading distributor and manufacturer of high purity biochemicals to the Life Science industry. With Mr. Camiener’s direction and vision, AMRESCO grew significantly, with the company being successfully acquired by VWR International, LLC – a global distribution company.
Previously, Mr. Camiener was in the accounting industry, served with Coopers & Lybrand, an international accounting, taxation and consulting firm. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Camiener is a member of Vistage, an internationally renowned organization of Chief Executive Officers.
He serves as a Director for University Hospitals, is an inaugural member of the JumpStart mentoring program, previously was Director for the Solon Chamber of Commerce and maintains a role on other private enterprise Boards of Directors. Mr. Camiener also participates, consults and/or supports select Private Equity funds, private entities and various Real Estate activities through Board participation, project work and consultation.