Get to know Jarrod Bowren, National Sales Manager

Houston’s welcomed Jarrod Bowren (Bore-in) to the family as a Regional Manager on February 20th, 2006, to grow and cultivate current and new customers for the company. He is based out of Derby, Kansas and began working with a region that included 4 states, which eventually expanded to 8 states, and on up to 17 states at a single time.

Jarrod is now the National Sales Manager, which means working with Houston’s 6 Regional Managers and all other departments to continuously service our customers while striving to increase revenue and profits.

When asked what his favorite thing about working with Houston’s is he said, “Having fun with our teammates. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to work with some great teammates who have become great friends. I was lucky enough to have teammates help me evolve and improve as both a man and a sales rep, now I have the opportunity to carry on this tradition and help our current team grow as both people and Houston’s employees. And of course we have fun while we work and improve!!”

Outside of work, Jarrod enjoys spending time with his family, which includes playing dress up with their two daughters. He also loves hunting for whitetail deer with a bow and fishing for bass. “I love these activities because they are challenging, outdoors, and I can take a break from technology and get to teach our daughters.”

When asked for a random fact about himself, Jarrod said, “I played three sports in high school- Cross Country, basketball,

Jarrod Bowren, National Sales Manager, enjoy hunting and fishing in his off time

and baseball. I received a baseball scholarship my senior year and decided not to play basketball so the swim team asked me to dive. I ended up taking second in our city league in diving. There were only two divers. This was fun and very humbling experience. It was also the first and last time I wore a speedo.”

Other little facts about Jarrod “Born to sell” Bowren- his favorite book is Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, “This book represents combining knowledge and one’s gut feeling to assess situations quickly. I use this strategy daily and this book helped me realize how I was doing this without realizing it.” He also loves all genres of music, “it just depends on the environment.”
Next time you see Jarrod in the office or warehouse, be sure to say hello!

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Sherman Dodd

As a supervisor, part of your role is working to elevate the employees you over-see. To help them grow in their jobs and as an individual, while helping the company around you grow as well. As the First Shift Supervisor in our Kansas City warehouse, Sherman Dodd does just that. He takes pride in training and working closely with other employees to contribute to Houston’s overall success, gaining a sense of satisfaction in seeing employees he has helped train go on to tackle more advanced assignments and roles.

In addition to training employees, Sherman is very attentive. Paying close attention to details helps minimize mistakes. As a testament to his leadership skills and dedication, “He [Sherman] is very proud that his first shift team had no pick errors for the month of July,” says Robert Jones, Kansas City Warehouse Manager.

Away from work, you’ll often find Sherman spending time with his wife, or taking care of his mother, who lives next door. A couple times each year Sherman enjoys participating in Civil War re-enactments, spending a whole weekend “fighting” for both sides, and then sharing “war stories” around the campfire. You may not know, every holiday season for the past twenty-five years Sherman has dressed up as Santa Clause for his local community. He now sees grown adults who sat on his knee as a child bringing their children to see him as Jolly Old Saint Nick, allowing Sherman to reminisce about the many years worth of Christmas wishes.

Another aspect of the supervisor role is to assist and cover for managers while they are away from the facility. “I can always count on Sherman to make sure things get done as needed in the Kansas City facility,” says Robert. Sherman’s hard work and commitment to employee training an the paying attention to the small details has made his crew a force to be reckon with.

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Angie and her husband Dan

This month we would like to introduce Angie Buffetta, Cash and Carry Supervisor in our Portland Warehouse!

Angie started at Houston’s in August of 2002 as the weekend shift Warehouse Supervisor, and continued in the position for eleven years. Angie now works days, and has been the Cash and Carry Supervisor for the past four years. She also helps out with transfer assigning, and in the FedEx Department as needed. Her favorite part of her job is the schedule – “Being able to start early and leave at 1:30pm and have most of the day left to enjoy time outside of work is fantastic.” When asked what she likes about Houston’s as a company she replied, “All the people I work with, and that Houston’s is growing while still keeping it’s small family feel”.

During her free time she loves the outdoors. Walking, jogging, and hiking allow her to enjoy nature, which she finds peaceful and stress relieving. Angie also completed the Portland to Coast run two years in a row! While she enjoys running and the outdoors, her favorite hobby is, “What most women love to do. And that is to shop and spend time with my girls!”

Angie and her husband Dan, a member of our HTrans team, met at Houston’s thirteen years ago. The couple has a very exciting event coming up this September – the arrival of their granddaughter, making Angie a first-time Grandmother! Congratulations to Angie, Dan, and their family on their coming bundle of joy!

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Get to know Brandy Schrantz

This month on “Getting to Know You…” I’d like to introduce Houston’s Inside Sales Manager- Brandy Schrantz!

March, 2010 – Brandy got her start at Houston’s in Accounts Payable and from there moving to Purchasing before taking her accumulated skills and putting them to great use in our Customer Service department. She then used those skills to train and develop the department in ways to apply this information to current situations. This allowed more responsibility to be taken on and by doing so growing the team into what we now call the Inside Sales Team.

Brandy, along with her team, work to make the impossible happen; they get deliveries to customers in time for big events, and introduce customers to new and amazing products. When asked what her favorite part about working for Houston’s is, Brandy said, “I love how close knit the company is; everyone treats each other like family.”

When not at work Brandy loves spending time with her husband, two children, two German Shepherds, and Tabby cat. The family is very active in their congregation and they also love to spend time at home relaxing, doing house projects, hiking, camping, and checking off travel locations on the family bucket list! Brandy was even able to check off a personal item on her own travel list last year when she enjoyed a vacation with family in Scotland and Paris! She also has a love for coffee and British TV (Doctor Who being a favorite).

Make sure to say hi to Brandy the next time you see her and enjoy getting to know your managers!

Brandy and her kids hiking Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park

Brandy at the top of the Arc de Triomphe soaking in the beautiful city of Paris

Brandy grew fond of this parrot during her visit to Mountainside Lavender Farm

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When he isn’t traveling to visit customers or working coffee shows, Doug enjoys his down time by getting up early to have time for himself and spending time with his family. His hobbies include strategic and historical board games (chess being a favorite), playing guitar, and listening to heavy metal music. He loves to delve into American colonial history, feudal era Japanese military history, or any other military history. He puts this passion into practice by making his own period correct clothing and equipment for “Living History Presentations.” When asked to elaborate on these presentations, Doug enthusiastically explained, “I’m a living history presenter, colonial era (1758-1780). I like to teach people about Carolina history, and how to track animals/people.” Teaching colonial survival skills to students, who come to the presentations and competitive black powder competitions (muzzleloading rifles), are also a part of his love of history.

Next time you speak to Doug ask him about his latest “Living History” experience or jam session and enjoy getting to know your regional!

Inside of the Indigent Hut. Photos courtesy of Doug

Indigent Hut, “basically lodging for people passing through, or people who weren’t soldiers but were under the protection of the fort during times of war or raids. It could also house merchants, clergy, or other tradesman who couldn’t stay in the barracks.”

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