Celebrating 70 Years of R.S. Hughes!

Taking Pride Makes the Difference

Contributed by Bobby Redd, R.S. Hughes Director of Customer Care, 15 years

Developing Relationships

When I first started with R.S. Hughes 15 years ago, I found myself in a pretty unique position. I was part of the Portland team which, included four people with 100 years of combined experience working for the company. I was incredibly fortunate to learn from them. Their knowledge and training truly helped shape my career.

That's what has kept me with R.S. Hughes all these years and what I've grown to love about the company–the people. I've developed great working relationships that have turned into friendships. That sense of camaraderie has been a central part of my success.

Taking Pride in My Work

One story that sticks out from my time in Portland involved a specific customer who painted airplanes. They operated 24/7, and every so often, they'd make a mistake that required urgent attention. I can't tell you how many times I'd be on the treadmill on a Saturday, get a call from them, have to drop everything, head to the office, stock my car with the supplies they needed and then personally deliver it.

Those little moments of going the extra mile not only built lasting relationships with customers but also demonstrated the commitment we have as a team.

There's a sense of pride in what I do and in my career as a whole. I want to be successful not only for myself but also for my peers. Demonstrating leadership and setting a positive example has always been important for me.

How R.S. Hughes Helps Me Succeed

Over the years, I've been fortunate to have many leaders who became role models for me. Watching and learning from them has had a such an impact.

One thing that stands out about R.S. Hughes is the open-door culture. I can easily pick up the phone and call someone like John Mathis to bounce ideas off or seek leadership advice. Marc Eddings, who hired me back in 2009 and was my manager for over a decade, has been an incredible role model, too. He's always been someone I could talk to after hours or get advice from.

Advice For Anyone Joining R.S. Hughes

To put it simply, we've got a lot of moving parts and we're all juggling multiple priorities. It's crucial to know how to prioritize effectively, but equally important is maintaining a sense of urgency and pride in what you do for the customer.

When a customer has a hot order, don't treat it like just any other task. Sometimes, you need to shift focus, drop what you're doing and put your attention on what is urgent. A strong sense of urgency and pride in your work can make all the difference, and when everyone embraces that mindset, we are all more successful.

Creating Opportunity at R.S. Hughes

Contributed by Matt Regoli, R.S. Hughes Regional Sales Manager, 14 years

Finding My Start

I've been with R.S. Hughes for 14 years, starting out in the SDR program. I got my start in the LA office, hired by Jon Baeder, who was the operations manager there at the time.

Funny enough, I only became aware of R.S. Hughes through a chance encounter with an old friend, Jeff Taylor. We had worked together at Enterprise Rent-A-Car right after college, and I ran into him at a restaurant a few years later.

As we caught up, he mentioned he was now working at a company called R.S. Hughes and suggested I check it out, saying I might be a good fit for the outside sales team.

He passed along the contact info for a local recruiter who helped him get hired, and after reaching out, I landed an interview—and the job shortly after.

Creating New Opportunities

A few short months after being hired, I was gearing up to pursue new territory work that was open in LA. But I'll never forget the day the rep for the LA territory I really wanted came in and put in his two weeks. That same day, I went to Baeder and said, “I'll do whatever it takes. Just tell me what I need to do to get a shot at that territory, and I'll make it happen!”

He appreciated the initiative and drive. That's something I've always found true at R.S. Hughes—if you work hard and put yourself out there, you can create your own opportunities. You have the power to shape your future here.

So, I took the shot at the outside sales role and started growing the territory rapidly. It was a game-changer for my career.

Making the Most of Where I'm At

After three years of working for R.S. Hughes, I was already being considered for sales management positions in different divisions across the country. But, being born and raised in Southern California, with all my friends and family here, I wasn't eager to move.

I noticed we had another rep in our division who had been with the company for 20 years and was doing well financially while staying in the same role.

Seeing that, I thought, "I'm okay where I am." I knew staying put might limit my chances of moving up, but I felt confident I could grow my territory enough to be in a good spot financially. I was content with that.

Finally Making Management

Around year five at the company, an unexpected opportunity arose. At the time, Martin Knight, the sales manager in LA—which was one of the largest divisions in the company—was considering stepping back.

It was almost unheard of for a rep to jump straight into a sales management role in such a big division without first managing smaller ones. Typically, you'd have to climb the ranks through smaller and mid-sized divisions before getting a shot at managing a territory as big as LA.

But after discussions with Martin Knight, he was open to taking a step back, and the company offered me his position.

Making Even More Opportunities

Around year eight or nine, things took an even more exciting turn. Both John Mathis and I had been proving ourselves in our sales management roles, and as the company often does, it recognized our hard work and opened up new opportunities.

I received a call to attend a dinner in Orange County, and when I learned Mathis was going as well, I had a feeling something big was happening. When I arrived at the dinner, I met with a handful of important people from the company, including Pete Biocini, Bob Defusco and Jon Baeder.

Pete kicked off the evening and shared the news: both John and I were being promoted to regional sales managers. Bob was ready to pass the torch to me for the Pacific Southwest, and Mathis would take on the Pacific Northwest. It was a really special moment, a culmination of years of hard work and dedication.

For me, working at R.S. Hughes has always been about opportunities arising through hard work. If you're willing to put in the effort and prove your capabilities, the sky's the limit here.

That's something I've always found to be really special about this company.

The Power of Relationship Building

Contributed by Mario Amengual, Senior Representative, Outside Sales, 24 years

Taking a Leap of Faith

After a 20-year career with Graybar Electric Supply, I made the leap into industrial product sales for the first time. I haven't looked back since joining R.S. Hughes on August 14, 2000. Despite my newness to the world of industrial and safety products [at the time], I was confident in my ability to develop relationships and hoped that would help carry me through as I adjusted to my new role.

As it turns out, my relationship-building skills were more valuable than my product knowledge because they enabled me to foster genuine connections with customers. I'm proud to say that even 24 years later, I still maintain many of those relationships, and it has been incredible for my career with R.S. Hughes.

My First Big Break

Even though I have many stories to share, one stands out that I'll never forget because of its lasting impact. It was 2001, and I was trying to connect with a new prospect—a high-end fine art lamp manufacturer in Miami Lakes, Florida. Each time I called, I connected with the purchasing agent, who wouldn't give me the time of day. I knew I needed to speak with someone else at the company who would be willing to talk.

Another day came, and I decided to try to call again. I didn't know that luck was on my side that fateful day. When my call was answered, it wasn't the purchasing agent's voice this time. It was the voice of someone who sounded very familiar. I said, “Where do I know you from? What's your name?” He answered, “Jimmy,” I knew Jimmy from an account I used to work with at Graybar! We had a fantastic relationship.

I explained to Jimmy that I had been trying to get into the plant and meet the team in person for quite some time. Jimmy introduced me to a bunch of people and opened every door I needed to open without hesitation. His willingness to help me because of our great relationship has benefitted me with this customer throughout the years.

I knew only of the Miami Lakes plant initially, but I soon learned they had three or four others in different locations. Jimmy also connected me with key people at each of those locations. Gaining such traction with a new customer early on in my career with R.S. Hughes really was an answered prayer.

Over the following eight months, my three reps and I started calling the plants to discuss specific needs and solutions. We ended up converting them and gaining plenty of new business. One part of the business we gained was for belts. That took several months to test while we demonstrated the cost benefits of our solution to the team—and we still have that business today.

Around the same time we were ramping up our business with this customer, I became very good friends with the lead engineer. Every single year, he would call me to help them with an application—many times, it involved working with Loctite. Over two decades later, I still have that business with Loctite, as well as this customer's belt and abrasive business.

So many people have come and gone over the years, but there is still a core group of guys who I've worked with since the beginning.

Working With the Best

R.S. Hughes is truly the best company I've ever worked for because I've always felt enabled and seen. Sometimes, I think back to my time at Graybar and how different my experience was there. Leaders didn't care to get to know your name or anything about your life or your family. It was an impersonal experience.

At R.S. Hughes, it was a 180-degree change. Leaders who built this company, like Pete Biocini and Bob McCollum, all greeted me by my name. They knew about my family and they cared. Mike Page, in particular, is the most beautiful person I know. He changed my life, and I appreciate him so much. Mike trusted me from the beginning, which is one of the reasons our division has been so successful.

I'm honored to have worked with company legends and talented coworkers and customers. I couldn't imagine a better place to have built my career than with R.S. Hughes!

Reflecting on My Journey with R.S. Hughes

Contributed by Larry Loomis, Specialist, Order Management, 33 years

Early Beginnings in Sunnyvale

When I first joined R.S. Hughes, I was lucky enough to start in Sunnyvale, California. Being surrounded by incredible veterans like Ken McCormick, Pete Biocini and Dennis Branagh was an extraordinary experience. My time in Sunnyvale was marked by memorable interactions with these pioneers. Colleagues weren't just colleagues – they were mentors and friends who offered invaluable advice and support. That's just not something you see in other companies nowadays.

I always feel like we had a bit of an advantage back then in Sunnyvale because it was an excellent opportunity to build relationships with the higher-ups. Having the company president, Bob McCollum, in that office was a unique experience. Bob was always personable with everyone in the office.

I remember a day when Ken McCormick told me that Bob McCollum was outside waiting to take me to lunch. At that time, I'd only been with the company for a couple of months, so it was quite unexpected. Bob and I had a great lunch, and he took the time to get to know me, offering advice and showing genuine interest in my future. It was a gesture that spoke volumes about the company's commitment to its employees.

Formative Mentorship in Chicago

Several years later, I took the knowledge I had learned from the Sunnyvale folks and moved over to the Chicago branch. There, I paired up with Joe Vargas, whose wealth of experience made him a tremendous partner.

It was inspiring to work alongside someone who had been in the industry for decades. His knowledge of the industry had such an impact on me as I tried to absorb all the information he had accrued through his years of work with R.S. Hughes. To this day, I still use some of the tips that Joe taught me.

Remembering Rich Umphrey

Rich Umphrey was another notable individual with whom I had the pleasure of working. Rich was a consummate professional and always had ideas on how best to move forward. His passing was a hard loss for not only the company but for me, personally, as a friend.

The way we all rallied around Rich and his family after his passing was a testament to the family-like values at R.S. Hughes. The company even paid for many people to attend his funeral in Atlanta, Georgia, showing just how deeply we care for our own.

Strengthening Bonds and Growing Into the Future

Reflecting on those moments, it's clear that R.S. Hughes has always been about people and relationships. Both in Sunnyvale and Chicago, we've maintained strong ties with our vendors. It's always been more than just business – it's about building solid relationships. Even after retiring, many vendors still stay in touch, coming for regular visits and even joining our Christmas parties. This enduring connection is a testament to the positive environment we've fostered.

As the company moves forward with new leadership and technology, it's exciting to see the direction we're heading. It's a mix of feeling grateful for where we've been, and excitement for where we're going, watching the new generation take the vision of our founders and carry it to new heights. I'm looking forward to seeing how the company continues to grow and adapt as we forge a path into the future.