Ace Hardware welcomes new directors

Ace Hardware Corporation's board of directors has refreshed its roll call following the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 7.

The newest member is Kristin Grunder, 44, who is the president and co-owner of Rome Ace Hardware, a single Ace store located in Rome, New York.

Grunder currently serves on numerous Ace Hardware committees, including an input team that influences decisions surrounding Ace’s paint business; she also serves as an Ace Retail Group Leader. Grunder serves on the board of directors of the Rome Hospital Foundation and as a member of the board of trustees of the Jervis Library.

Two existing members were also re-elected for their second terms.



Amy Kaplanis, 46, owner and president of Country Ace Hardware in Granby, Colorado, will serve her second term.

Kaplanis previously worked for Accenture in its Consulting and Services practices for nearly 10 years. Additionally, she worked for Black & Decker for six years. Kaplanis serves on numerous committees, including an input team that influences corporate communications at Ace.



So was Stewart Elliott, Jr., 58, president of Elliott Ace Hardware, a four-store Ace chain located in the western suburbs of Milwaukee. He's been in that role since 1988, but prior to returning to the family business, Elliott held a leadership sales role with Amerock, a vendor serving the convenience hardware industry, for six years.

Ace's board of directors is made up of 11 individuals, nine of whom are Ace retail store owners (or member directors). The other two are external business professionals.