About Retailer Edge

For executives and professionals, owners of closely-held businesses and other clients requiring expert assistance with managing the challenges that result from growth and increasing competition, Brian Chesbro brings a wealth of experience. For more than 25 years, he has earned a reputation for providing skilled and practical guidance as an executive and business consultant.

Prior to starting his own consulting firm, Brian was an executive for over 20 years with jerry’s home improvement centers. His areas of expertise include: Retail store planning, Inventory control systems, Merchandising staff training and development and Gross margin management systems.
 

Art Freedman

As a Corporate trainer, Art is known for his highly motivational, inspirational and effective presentation style. He has reached thousands of retailers presenting to over 500 retailer groups in the United States and more than 20 Countries. Art also provides individual coaching and teaches Retailer Edge's a four-day intensive Retailer School. His experience is drawn from 40 years on retail front-lines owning and operating ACE Hardware stores in Northern California. Currently he is working with the ACE Hardware Corporation to provide, “In the trenches,” training across the United States which is available to all ACE Hardware owners.

Rich Lawrence

Rich is the owner of Emigh Ace Hardware and Emigh's Casual Living in Sacramento, California, which has been in business for more than 100 years. As the owner operator for more than 40 of those years, Rich has helped Emigh, a fourth generation family business, to become one of the most successful local hardware retailers in Northern California. His Hardware store and separate lawn and garden center are known for their high customer loyalty, product selection and community involvement. Rich is also one of the founders of the NorCAL ACE Retailer Group.

Mickey Scott

Mickey Scott is the General Manager for NorCAL ACE, which serves 54 ACE Hardware stores in Northern California, Nevada and Idaho by handling their marketing, advertising and training needs. Her success is evident; the region’s largest paper The Sacramento Bee Reader Survey acclaimed ACE Hardware as the third most recognized brand in Sacramento. Prior to NorCAL, she developed a deep understanding of the corporate side of the business, because her background includes twelve years working for ACE Corporation in areas such as Human Resources, Customer Service and the Ace Supply Chain.

Tom Werner

Tom is the owner of Lake of the Pines Ace in Auburn California, Granite Bay Ace and For All Seasons-Outdoor Decor and More in Granite Bay, California. He has been active in retail for 41 years, and runs all three retail locations. He is also on the Board for the NorCAL ACE Group a position he has held for 17 years. NorCAL ACE, coordinates training, marketing and advertising for 54 ACE Hardware stores in Northern California, Nevada and Idaho.

Meredith Wharton

Meredith Wharton is the General Manager for Retailer Edge. Her expertise is in Marketing Communications, Management and Sales. Her background includes working for Intel Corporation as a Marketing Communications Manager and she held a similar position for Sacramento County Water Quality Division. As the General Manager for Retailer Edge, Meredith uses her background to design marketing campaigns to help retailers drive more footsteps in to their stores.

Doug Wright has a true passion for retail. He has  27 years of retail experience, and is currently the General Manager and Trustee of Mountain Hardware and Sports, an Ace Hardware affiliate, in Truckee and Blairsden, California. Among his many accomplishments while managing these stores, Doug has successfully transitioned Mountain Hardware into an “Employee Owned Store,” by shepherding the three store founders through the ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) process. This has greatly improved the store by giving employees a greater stake in the business.