Executives / Officers

Ray Griffith
President and CEO

Ray assumed his role of President and CEO in April 2005. He joined Ace in 1994 as a Director of Retail Operations for the Western Division. He was promoted to Vice President Retail Development and Marketing in September 1997 and was named Vice President of Merchandising in September of 1998. In October 2000, he was promoted to Executive Vice President Retail and in April 2004 was named Executive Vice President and COO. He then became President and COO in January 2005. Prior to joining Ace, Ray was president of Coast to Coast. He is a 1975 graduate of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill., where he earned a bachelor of science degree in business.

Dorvin D. Lively
Chief Financial Officer

Dorvin joined Ace as Chief Financial Officer in March 2008 to oversee all financial-related activities of the company, including treasury, retailer financial services, general and operational accounting, budgeting and forecasting, tax, insurance, payroll and audit services. He came to Ace with extensive financial and accounting experience from leading private and public retail corporations. Most recently, Lively served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Maidenform, Inc., where he enhanced its financial reporting process and managed cost-saving initiatives surrounding gross margins from supply chain. From 2000 to 2004, he held the position of senior vice president and corporate controller at Toys “R” Us, Inc. Other positions include vice president and corporate controller at Reader’s Digest (1998 – 2000); vice president, chief financial officer and secretary at Silverado Foods, Inc. (1995 – 1998); assistant controller at Pepsi Cola International (1992 – 1995); professional accounting fellow at Financial Accounting Standards Board (1990 – 1992); and senior audit manager at Arthur Andersen, LLP (1980 – 1990). In 1980, he graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor of arts degree in accounting.

Rita Kahle
Executive Vice President

As Executive Vice President since October 2000, Rita is responsible for the Merchandising, Finance, Human Resources, Administration and Strategic Planning for the company. She joined Ace in 1986 as an Assistant Controller. In June 1988, she was promoted to Controller, and in December 1991 was named Vice President, Controller. In December 1993 she was named Vice President Finance and in September 1997 was promoted to Senior Vice President Wholesale. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Rita earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1978. Before joining Ace, she worked for Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., where she spearheaded the audit team from 1978 to 1986.

Mike Elmore
Vice President Information Technology

Mike joined the Ace team as Vice President Information Technology in November 2005. Mike has positioned the IT organization to be able to respond to the varying needs of our wholesale and retail businesses with particular focus on our Supply Chain management and store systems capabilities. Mike came to Ace with extensive information systems experience with industry-leading retail companies. Most recently, he served as chief information officer for Pep Boys. Prior to Pep Boys, Mike worked from 1994 to 2004 for Lowes Companies, Inc., where he held various positions. From 1990 to 1993, Mike worked for the corporate offices of Wal Mart Stores, Inc., as a strategy manager, UNIX Systems Engineering. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in computer science.

Lori Bossmann
Vice President, Merchandising, Marketing and Advertising

Lori Bossmann was named Vice President Merchandising, Marketing and Advertising in November 2005, overseeing all of Ace's buying and inventory management departments, as well as the Advertising, Marketing and Communications/Public Relations teams. She joined Ace in October 1986 as General Accounting Manager, handling the budgeting process and financial reporting activities. She was named Assistant Controller in 1990 and four years later was promoted to Controller. In September 1997, she was promoted to the position of Vice President Controller and in October 1999 was named Vice President Finance. In October 2000, Lori was named Vice President Merchandising. Prior to Ace, Lori was employed at KPMG Peat Marwick. She earned a bachelor of science degree from Northern Illinois University.

Ken Nichols
Senior Vice President, Retail Operations

Ken Nichols was named Vice President of Retail Operations in October 2000, overseeing Ace's retail operations and new business field teams. Ken first joined Ace in 1978, holding several field positions including District Manager, Market Development Manager, Retail Sales Manager and Group Retail Support Manager from 1978 through 1992. He rejoined Ace in September 1994 as Director of Retail Operations. In 1998, he was promoted to Vice President New Business, and in 1999 was named Vice President Retail Operations – West. Ken received a bachelor of science degree in communications from State University College of New York in Brockport, N.Y.

Kane Calamari
Vice President, Retail Operations

Kane rejoined Ace in May 2008 as vice president of Store Operations. In this role, Kane will be responsible for managing and developing programs that assist store operations. Kane joins Ace from Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, where he was the senior vice president of sales, N. America, since 2006. He worked for Ace from 1990 to 1998 as a retail marketing manager. Kane holds a bachelor of science degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.

John Venhuizen
Vice President, Business Development

John was named Vice President, Business Development in September 2006. He joined Ace Hardware from a small advertising agency in 1992. With Ace, he has served in a variety of regional and corporate-based marketing, merchandising, advertising and business development positions. Prior to his position in the Marketing Department, John launched and managed Ace’s category management initiative. In Marketing, John lead the Corporate Brand Identity, Research and Development, E-commerce, Ace Gift and Credit Card and Ace’s Customer Relationship Management program called the Helpful Hardware Club. Most recently as the Director of Business Development at Ace Hardware, John worked with the field staff in leading our aggressive, proactive growth strategy until he was promoted to Vice President, Business Development where he now leads Ace’s aggressive initiative to open over 800 stores in the next 5 years. Venhuizen is a graduate of Trinity Christian College and holds a business administration degree and a bachelor of science degree in Marketing.

Jimmy Alexander
Vice President, Human Resources

Jimmy was named Vice President Human Resources in September 2001. He joined Ace in June 1979 as an inventory analyst and was promoted to assistant buyer in 1981 and buyer in 1985 in the Merchandising department. Two years later, he was named department manager and in 1997 was promoted to group department manager. Later that same year, he was promoted to merchandise manager, overseeing special accounts and retail initiatives within Merchandising. Prior to his most recent promotion, Jimmy served as general merchandise manager, responsible for Ace's category management process, customer service and special projects for the company. He is a graduate of Bradley University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in marketing.

Dan Prochaska
Vice President, Supply Chain

Dan was named Vice President Supply Chain in February 2005, responsible for the performance of the corporate supply chain and for leading the development of supply chain strategy and innovation for the company. Prior to this role, Dan served as vice president retail support - east since September 1998, overseeing Ace's eight retail support centers in the Eastern half of the country. Dan joined Ace in 1995 as retail support manager for the Dallas RSC. One year later he was promoted to director of distribution, responsible for Ace's distribution systems and engineering, as well as corporate traffic and logistics. Prior to Ace, Dan worked for May Department Stores Co. and Payless Shoe Source Division in Lawrence, Kan., where he served as senior distribution center manager. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration and a master of science degree in industrial psychology from Emporia State

Bill Bauman
Vice President, Retail Support

Bill was named Ace Vice President Retail Support in February 2005, responsible for Ace Hardware's network of 15 retail support centers strategically located throughout the country. Prior to his latest Ace appointment, he had served as vice president retail support - west since September 1998. Bill joined Ace in September 1975. In 1984, he was promoted to systems and program manager. Three years later, he was named distribution center manager at the Ace Yakima RSC, and in 1988 he moved to Los Angeles where he served as retail support manager. Bill then served as retail support manager for the Prescott Valley RSC and Gainesville RSC. In 1994, he was promoted to director of retail support for the western division, a position he held until his latest Ace appointment.

Art McGivern
Senior V.P., General Counsel & Secretary

Art joined Ace in August 2004 as Vice President General Counsel & Secretary. In this role, Art serves as chief general counsel to the Board and Officer teams. He also serves as Secretary to the Board. Art most recently served as Chief Financial Officer - Retail for First Union Securities from 1996 to 2001. From 1996 to 1998, he held the position of Senior Executive Vice President, Corporate Development for EVEREN Securities. From 1991 to 1995, Art worked for Kemper Corp. as Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Senior Vice President, General Counsel. From 1986 to 1990, Art worked for Beatrice Co. as Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Secretary. For 12 years prior to that position, Art was a partner at the Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz law firm in Chicago. He began his career as a staff accountant from 1969 to 1971 at Price Waterhouse & Co. Art holds a law degree from the Northwestern University School of Law, and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Xavier University.