Southern Mill Creek Products CEO Tom Evans Retires; Will Remain an Active Partner

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Southern Mill Creek Products recently announced the retirement of its CEO Tom Evans from his active role at the company, effective April 30. Evans will remain in place as the company's vice chairman, and will continue to lend his industry knowledge, contacts and expertise to the management team, according to a press release from the company.

Doug Ashbridge will retain his current title as the company's president and Carl Hinderer willl assume the title of chief operating officer. Sam Hartwell, a principal at Austin Capital Corporation — and a representative of the company's majority shareholder — will assume Evans' title as chief executive officer.

"These are exciting changes," Evans said. "This transition ensures that Southern Mill Creek Products will continue serving its loyal customer base with its traditional brand of 'Southern Mill Service' while bringing a new vitality to the mix."

William Conway, the company's chairman, thanked Evans for his years of service. "The company could not have gotten where it is without Tom's leadership and vision. We wish to honor him for his commitment and we wish him all the best in this next phase."

Evans joined Southern Mill Creek Products in 1981 and built the company into a major regional inidustry product distributor. Under his vision and leadership, the company expanded from its modest base in Cleveland, Ohio to become a regional player with 11 other locations in the eastern U.S., ranging from St. Louis, Mo. in the Midwest to Brooklyn, N.Y. in the East and Plantation, Fla. in the Southeast.

"Tom will remain an active partner in the buisness," Hartwell said. "Tom is a respected industry leader as well as a shareholder and we are counting on his continued energy and enthusiasm to help drive the business forward. We are delighted he will remain on board to offer guidance."

"I want our customers, our people, our suppliers and our industry partners to know that our unwavering commitment to service, quality and value remains as strong as ever," Evans said. "Doug, Carl and I welcome the opportunity to combine our traditional values with some outside perspectives."

"I see this transition as a win-win-win — a win for Southern Mill Creek, a win for our customers and other industry partners, and a win for Tom personally," Hartwell added. "We wish him well."

Evans' colleagues attending the United Producers, Formulators & Distributors Association (UPF&DA) Spring Conference in San Antonio, Texas last week, while surprised by the announcement, wished Evans well in his retirement.

"I'm very happy for my good friend Tom, who I have enjoyed working with for more than 45 years," said Roland Rhodes, owner of Rhodes Chemical Co., Kansas City, Kan. "I wish him my best."

"Tom is a larger than life character that has been a positive force in our industry for many years," added Tom Wright, president, B&G Chemicals and Equipment Co., Dallas, Texas.

"I consider Tom to be one of the most knowledgeable people in the industry and he was the first distributor rep I met coming into the industry in 1981 when we attended a Whitmire conference," said Tommy Reeves of Oldham Chemicals Co., Memphis, Tenn. "Tom will be an icon for the past, present and future of the pest control industry."

Valera Jessee, who worked closely with Evans for many years in her role as executive director of UPF&DA, said, "You could always count on Tom to tell it like it is, but also to be a true gentleman who always exhibited absolute integrity."

Southern Mill Creek Products provides pest control chemicals and supplies to the pest management industry through 12 branches in the eastern half of the United States.