Veterans in the ranks of home improvement
The connection between the military and the hardware and building supply industry is drilled into the foundation of these United States.
From the tools that supplied the soldiers of the Revolutionary War to the lumber that the Army Corps of Engineers or the Navy Construction Battalion (better known as the “Seabees”) used to expand or fortify positions at home or around the globe, this industry has played an oversized role in support of the armed services.
General Grant himself worked at his father’s hardware and leather goods store in Galena, Illinois, before the start of the Civil War. And thousands of soldiers have followed that path, serving customers, and then their country in times of peace and hostility.
In recent weeks, HBSDealer reached out to readers and collected examples of industry professionals whose careers were shaped in one way or another by their experiences in the armed services.
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And speaking of the Navy Seabees, Adam Hendrix served in this specialized branch from 1989 to 1996. Today he’s the president of Chic Lumber serving the Saint Louis area, and in 2018 he accepted the award as HBSDealer and National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association’s Independent ProDealer of the Year.
He shared this:
“I was a builder (carpenter) in the Seabees and deployed to Desert Shield and Desert Storm while attached to Amphibious Construction Battalion 2. The Navy instills team work as well as responsibility: A school taught me the construction trade and as Seabees, we build and we fight.
“I was taught many different construction types from concrete and block walls to finish carpentry which serves me still today in the lumber and hardware business. Having building experience means that I understand the needs and concerns of builders. In addition, the Navy provided me with the tools that I use daily: communication skills, time management, and accountability. Everything in my professional career I owe to what I learned in the military.”
Referring to the famous Seabee expression, Hendrix added:
“’Can Do’ is more than a motto — it is a way of life.”
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Before he became an employee of Osterville Hardware, in Osterville, Mass., Ed Phillips served in the United States Air Force, and later as a civilian police officer. In both cases, he served with man’s best friend.
Phillips, a retired Master Sergeant of the US Air Force Reserve, has three decades of great stories, but says he is “trying to keep it short.” He shared the following:
“I served in the USAF from 1982-2004. About half active duty and half reserve. I was recalled to active duty in early 2000’s in support of the events of 9-11. I am now retired from USAFR.
“My service was as a Military Working Dog Handler in the Security Police. I have done bomb dog support for three presidents and I continued as civilian police officer in central Florida.
“I am proud of my service as a police officer, and I have always been drawn towards creative projects, no matter where I am in life. One example would be a kennel renovation project in the late 80’s. We were working in a war area kennel and we completely updated it through self-help projects.
“Years later that base got a state of the art facility all due to our efforts and input on the future design.
“I have several jobs that were glad to support my reserve career: Oviedo Police Dept., Home Depot, Lowe’s, Lifetime Cabinetry, Superior Stone, City of Deltona Parks and Rec. My service and civilian jobs have led me to where I am now, happily semi-retired in Cape Cod working for a great little family run hardware store.”
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Life and Death at Abbey Gate
Mikael Cook's experience in Afghanistan from 2016 to 2022 included heroic achievement and deadly tragedy. The harrowing account of his efforts, along with a network of other veterans, to rescue Afghan allies from the enemy is chronicled in his book: “Life and Death at Abbey Gate: The Fall of Afghanistan and the Operation to Save our Allies.”
Today, Cook is a key account manager for FastenMaster, and he manages the fastener company’s business with The Home Depot.
He shared the following description of the lasting impact of the experience.
“This experience has helped me greatly in my leadership responsibilities at work. Being able to establish and lead a team to execute a life or death mission for our allies at a moment’s notice was an experience that translates well to any leadership position working alongside others to achieve a common goal.”
Rick Adams is currently a senior director of technology for Lowe’s, supporting merchandising technology. He served in the Air Force for 13 years, during which time he bore a heavy responsibility.
“During my time in service I was entrusted with ensuring our ground-based nuclear deterrent force was always on alert, and our up-and-coming airmen were properly trained and equipped to be vigilant with that mission. Through that lens I developed a key sense of honor, trustworthiness, and dependability both within myself and others. It takes great people to accomplish great things, and without investing in others and hold ourselves accountable to excellence we will fall short of our goals no matter what the stakes are.”
Also from Lowe’s, 11-year military veteran (Army Green Berets) Kevin Mullen is currently a senior director of digital engagement, supporting the Pro customer from a digital perspective. He commented:
“Army Green Berets thrive in austere and demanding environments by building and leveraging key partnerships, becoming subject matter experts on mission-critical tasks in short fashion, and by adapting their teams to the needs of the mission.
“Army Special Forces routinely operate in the ‘grey’ in similar fashion to the Home Improvement industry where the solution to a given problem is difficult to identify, holistically comprehend, and solution against.
“The motto of the Green Berets is that ‘humans are more important than hardware,’ which easily translates to the world of Home Improvement.”
Lowe's veteran Anthony D. Ripley —“Rip”—is currently a Lead Product Manager for Lowe’s Digital. The military career of the Naval Postgraduate School graduate and retired Marine Corps officer spanned from 1995 to 2019.
He served at the Pentagon as the Science and Technology Lead for The Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy Office, developing cutting edge technologies.
“I worked in construction growing up and during my military service, so I bring the perspective of a DIY and a Pro customer to our business. My military service as the Science and Technology Lead for Marine Corps Energy at the Pentagon specifically prepared me in that I collaborated with many different organizations such as DARPA, ARPA-E, the Office of Naval Research, Research Labs, Industry, and academia to take technologies from an idea to testing them in the field.”
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Michael Revis is operations manager for Builders FirstSource in Jacksonville, Florida. He was inspired by love of country to join the U.S. Army, where he served from 2012 to 2015. As an ammunition specialist, he said his training and focus served as ideal preparation for the lumber and building material distribution business. He shared:
“My branch of service’s mission was to supply logistics, to bring the fight to the enemy or to be the best support operation that we could be. Specifically in my unit, our goal was reconnaissance. It was all about delivering that fight forward and getting the most out of it with the most knowledge. That translates to my role here.
“We try to set ourselves as number one to be the best, and I think at all the military service branches, that’s always our goal — to make our nation the best. And that’s a similar mindset to what we have here at BFS.”
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At The Home Depot’s Store Support Center in Atlanta, Georgia, there is a wall display saluting the service of the tens of thousands of veterans and military spouses who work at The Home Depot.
The inscription on the display reads, “Service members, veterans and military family associates have always been an important thread in the fabric of our culture. We are honored to have them as part of our team.” The display also features a monitor that drives awareness of various company military focused events, associate support policies, and veteran and military spouse spotlights.
As an example of a special event, the world’s largest home improvement retailer last month took its Kids Workshops program to more than 100 families at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla. Parents helped their children make Christmas crafts after they gathered for the holiday tree lighting ceremony. There was also a Kids Workshop at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California.
“We’re grateful to partner with Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Camp Pendleton to bring the magic of Kids Workshops directly to military families,” says Erin Izen, senior director of workforce programs and military relations at The Home Depot. “The Home Depot is committed to giving back to the military community, especially those families who may not be together this holiday season.”
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A veteran of the earlier Persian Gulf War, Todd Skaggs was stationed aboard the USS Pratt DDG-44, out of her home port of Charleston, South Carolina. Skaggs today is Vice President, West, for BlueLinx Corp. He shared the following about his experience:
“Serving in the US Navy during the Persian Gulf War gave me a great appreciation on how to be prepared for both the routine but also the unexpected.
“Also, how to lead and motivate in a tense and difficult environment and how to raise my level of performance in order to achieve team goals and objectives. It truly changed my life and I see it surface every day in some shape or form.”
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Terence Burgess, a 15-year army veteran served the United States in a variety of roles, including Cannon Fire Direction Specialist and Single-Channel Radio Operator. Burgess has been a territory sales representative for Saddle Brook, N.J.-based Arrow Fastener since 2019. The voices of other military veterans are echoed in his comments:
“The building products industry values and appreciates the culture of the military and as a veteran, I am grateful for that. I bring those positive qualities learned during my time in the Army — teamwork, discipline, accountability and dependability to my job with me every day.”
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Do you have a story that connects the hardware and building supply industry wiith the military? Let us know at [email protected].
