Phoenix-area retailer joins Ace's 10-person board

Ace Hardware retailers Jim Ackroyd and Gina Schaefer, and financial executive Jeffrey Girard were re-elected to Ace Hardware Corp.’s board of directors at the hardware co-op's annual stockholders meeting June 14 at its corporate headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill.

Ace retailer David Karsten was elected to his first term on the board. Ackroyd, Girard, Schaefer and Karsten each will serve three-year terms on the 10-person board of directors, which sets strategic policy and direction for Ace management.

Ackroyd, 55, was elected to his second three-year term as a member director. He serves as the CEO of Vision Ace Hardware, a 10-store chain based in Naples, Fla. In addition to his work with Ace, Ackroyd has previously held CFO positions and managed real estate development companies.

Schaefer, 40, was elected to serve a second three-year term as a member director.  Along with husband Marc Friedman, she owns and manages Logan Hardware, the parent company of seven urban Ace Hardware stores in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Schaefer, who has won numerous business and entrepreneur awards, is also heavily involved in community organizations.

Karsten, 47, joins the board for his first term as a member director. He opened his first Ace Hardware store nine years ago in the Phoenix area after serving as a trader at the Chicago Stock Exchange. Since then, Karsten has expanded his business, opening two additional Ace stores with a strong focus in niche merchandising.

Jacksonville, Fla., resident Girard, 63, was elected to serve a second term as a non-member director and is qualified as an “audit committee financial expert” for SEC purposes based on his CFO tenure at two Fortune 500 companies. Girard also serves on the board of Winn-Dixie Stores.

“We’re drawing from some of the most innovative and experienced Ace retailers, as well as other outstanding industry professionals to help lead Ace’s strategic initiatives in the years ahead,” said David Ziegler, Ace retailer and chairman of the board for Ace Hardware. “I’m extremely proud of the diverse points of view and experience on our board of directors; it is a direct representation of the distinctiveness of our unique Ace retailers.”