Forward-Looking Vision Shared During General Manager Meeting

General managers from Spahn & Rose’s 23 locations met at Grand River Center & Grand Harbor Resort in Dubuque, Iowa, February 22–23 as part of the company’s leadership conference.

During the meeting, Spahn and Rose leadership worked together to develop strategies to fulfill the company’s mission of providing the products and services that make it easier for contractors and builders to operate their businesses efficiently and profitably.

“This general manager meeting has taken place each year for the last 114 years,” said Jacque Arensdorf, Director of Marketing. “It’s an amazing opportunity to put our heads together and develop new ways to make our customers’ jobs easier. The time together to learn, bond and grow as the leaders of our company is priceless.”

General managers gleaned a wealth of information during the two-day conference.

“The meeting gave us a lot of material to help our salespeople succeed,” said Eli Swift, general manager of Spahn & Rose’s Decorah store. “We were able to share knowledge to be a better company.”

Along with presentations about human resources, information technology and marketing, general managers also shared details about store operations and upcoming company changes, such as the creation of four regions and the addition of two regional managers. Attendees also heard a presentation from Iowa gridiron legend Chuck Long, a College Football Hall of Fame quarterback, who shared inspiring stories from his recently published book, Destined for Greatness: The Story of Chuck Long and Resurgence of Iowa Hawkeyes Football.

“It was an inspiring meeting, and really good to meet and be on the same page,” said Kelly Anderson, general manager of the Osage store. “Having this kind of communication helps with change, and it was exciting to see what will happen with the company going forward.”

One of the major takeaways from the meeting was the company’s desire to grow. “We’re not the hunted, we’re the hunter,” Spahn & Rose President Dave Davis said. “We’re continually looking at ways to expand and improve our business.”

General managers and company leadership frequently conveyed how Spahn and Rose is poised to share expertise and service with other communities. With well-informed general managers and a forward-looking management vision, Spahn and Rose is in a strong position to step forward in the coming years.