Hospeco Promotes Snow to Senior Director
Hospeco Brands Group, a full-line manufacturer of cleaning and protection products to serve the janitorial, industrial supply, foodservice, healthcare and hospitality markets, has promoted Brett Snow to the new position of senior director corporate accounts – janitorial/sanitary and foodservice. Snow, a 30-year jan/san sales veteran, will be responsible for growing high-profile food service accounts.
Snow has deep experience in national accounts, crisscrossing the continent and developing connections that result in mutually beneficial relationships. In his previous role as Hospeco’s corporate account manager for jan/san, he routinely fostered relationships resulting in exponential sales growth – by as much as 1,000+ percent in just a few years’ time. This includes increasing overall sales of existing products with key customers as well as driving new product adaptation – growing account penetration from a handful of SKUs to hundreds.
“Ultimately, my job is to be a listener,” said Snow. “Hospeco Brands Group offers breadth of line, competitive pricing, distribution from both coasts, and exemplary sales support. It becomes a matter of gauging customer needs and matching them with our quality solutions.”
Snow’s belief in Hospeco’s product offering and relentless, never-say-die attitude have earned him a reputation for results. “I appreciate that Hospeco has entrusted me with this position,” said Snow. “When I returned to the company in 2016, my goal was to accomplish great things, and now I’ve been given a broader palette to continue doing it.”
Snow previously served Hospeco as a regional sales manager in an earlier tenure with the company. He began his career at an Ohio-based firm that provided PPE and other products to foodservice, making this new position a professional homecoming of sorts.
Snow will spend much of his time on the road, as he intends to meet in-person with his accounts each quarter.
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‘Modern-Day Supper Club’ Grace by Nia Opens in Boston
Three of Boston’s award-winning business leaders in the hospitality and entertainment sector — Nia Grace, owner of Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen and The Underground Café & Lounge and Ed Kane and Randy Greenstein, owners of Big Night Entertainment Group — have joined forces to open Grace by Nia, a modern-day supper club for which Eastern Bank is providing financing. Opened on May 11 in Boston’s Seaport District, Grace by Nia puts a new twist on the supper club concept, featuring over 5,000 square feet of restaurant and live entertainment space, a Southern soul-infused menu and a stage for live jazz music. Eastern Bank provided the term loan for the lease-hold improvements to support the build-out of the space.
Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen and Big Night Entertainment Group have been customers of Eastern Bank, and this newest financing helps to expand the reach of their business owners in one of Boston’s most dynamic and thriving neighborhoods.
“With this latest concept, Nia and Big Night Entertainment Group are reinventing a part of the local hospitality and entertainment sector and importantly expanding diversity of business ownership in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood,” said Bob Rivers, CEO and chair of the board of Eastern Bank. “We are proud to support these leading entrepreneurs as they break down barriers and bring greater diversity, inclusivity and vibrancy to this area of Boston.”
Grace said, “Eastern Bank understands the value of supporting women business leaders whose different perspectives create greater innovation and diversity in our economy, and we appreciate the time their team has taken to deeply understand what we are launching and to support me as one of the first women of color to open a hospitality business in the Seaport.”
Kane said, “Through the years, we have worked with Eastern Bank for financing our restaurant and entertainment concepts across the region. They’re always available to talk through ideas and loan scenarios, and we are excited to work with them again as we launch Grace by Nia.”
Eastern Bank provides a range of commercial financing offerings to help companies across many industries to improve cash flow, increase efficiencies and build for the future. Commercial lending solutions include working capital/lines of credit, equipment/term loans, real estate loans, acquisition financing, asset-based lending and employee stock ownership plan-related financing.
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Vollrath’s Bartelt Retires; Lampe to Join as CEO, President
After successfully navigating the global supply chain challenges and having a record-breaking year of sales in 2022, Vollrath Company President and CEO Paul Bartelt has decided to retire after leading the organization for over 15 years.
Erik Lampe will join the company in March to assume the position of president initially and then take over as CEO in June. He comes to Vollrath with a background in general management, strategic growth, innovation, and operational performance for industrial companies. He spent the majority of his career working for Oshkosh Corporation and McKinsey & Company, where he served in a variety of strategic leadership roles. For the last year, he worked as a principal for Comvest Partners’ Operating Advisory Group, where he served as a leader for the firm’s privately held companies, guiding them through the recent dynamic environment.Bartelt says: “There comes a time for all of us to move on, and I feel confident that this is the right moment for me to transition to the next phase of my life. It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to be the President and CEO of this great company, and with Erik, I am confident to leave the organization in the most competent hands.” Bartelt will remain on the Vollrath Board for the foreseeable future and will continue to provide support for the company and the new CEO.
“Given Vollrath’s family-held history and long-term orientation into the future, I am proud to be a part of the company’s next chapter as it surpasses the 150-year anniversary,” says Lampe.
Additionally, VP of Finance and CFO Steve Heun has also decided to step down after being with the company for over 15 years also.
Tina Kreidler, the current director of finance & controller at Vollrath, will be promoted to VP of Finance and will work closely with Heun until his departure this fall.
Danielle Kohler, Chairwoman of the Vollrath Board, said: “The family wants to thank Paul and Steve for doing a tremendous job over their 15-year tenure. They have built an incredible company and team. We are also grateful they will both be with us for a smooth transition into the next chapter of the company. We are confident that Erik Lampe, who is stepping into Paul’s shoes as our next CEO, is highly qualified and will fit well into our culture as our new leader.”
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