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Management Team

True Value guides its retailers by providing solid direction and programs proven to increase their retail sales. Our people are True Value's greatest asset. They're at the core of our brand and exemplify what our name is all about. With experienced leadership in place, profitable retail growth drives the entire organization. It's why we're in a solid position to help our customers achieve success and deliver a competitive advantage to all independent hardware retailers.

 

Chris Kempa

Chris Kempa

Chief Executive Officer

Chris Kempa serves as True Value's Chief Executive Officer. Kempa joined the Company in November, 2019 and previously served as Chief Commercial Officer, where he rapidly implemented and executed an integrated merchandising, sales and pricing go-to-market strategy.

Kempa has a long track record of successfully leading businesses in the retail channel and has over 25 years of experience in the product distribution sector. He comes to True Value from ORS Medco, where he most recently served as chief executive officer and group president. Prior to that he was an officer at Grainger with responsibility for its international business.

Kempa holds an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, as well as a master’s certificate in project management from George Washington University.

 
 

 

Cathy Anderson
 

Deborah O'Connor

President and Chief Financial Officer

As President and Chief Financial Officer, Deborah O’Connor oversees Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal and Operations. She joined True Value in May of 2015 and previously served as Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer and led the IT organization.

O’Connor has been an instrumental leader in transforming the business and accelerating investments to further support all independent hardware retailers. Having worked in various finance roles at wholesale/retail and service companies, O’Connor has a wealth of distribution and retail experience. Since 2018, she has been a member of the Menasha Corporation audit committee and board of directors.

Before joining True Value, O’Connor was the senior vice president of integration and finance at Office Depot, playing a critical role in the operational and financial implementation of the merger with OfficeMax.  Prior to the merger, O’Connor was at OfficeMax serving as both interim CFO and senior vice president and chief accounting officer. O’Connor was also with ServiceMaster, as senior vice president and controller, where she oversaw numerous acquisitions including Terminix, TruGreen/ChemLawn, American Home Shield and Merry Maids.  She started her career with Arthur Andersen, working in the firm’s audit division.  O’Connor holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Arizona State University.

 

William Donahue

William Donahue

Vice President of Human Resources

As Vice President of Human Resources, William Donahue is responsible for the development and execution of the Company’s human resources and people strategies to support business and functional needs. Donahue began his work with True Value in February 2016 as the Senior Director of Human Resources over distribution, manufacturing and corporate functions. He joined True Value after serving more than 10 years in multiple roles including Vice President, Human Resources and HR Shared Services with Essendant Inc., a wholesale distributor of office products, janitorial, sanitation and industrial products.

Prior to his time with Essendant Inc. Donahue held human resources roles including Vice President, Talent Acquisition with Gap Inc., Vice President, Corporate Human Resources and Vice President, Recruitment and Staffing with Sears. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Western Michigan University.

 David Elliot

David Elliott

Senior Vice President of Marketing

David Elliott joined True Value Company in April of 2017 from Mitre 10, the leading hardware and home improvement co-op in New Zealand. Elliott possesses over 25 years of global marketing experience. He is highly respected for his ability to develop growth strategies in support of independent hardware retailers.

As the general manager of marketing, Elliott led a re-launch of the Mitre 10 brand, enhanced the company’s digital and traditional advertising, revamped the consumer loyalty program and implemented an omni-channel strategy, including the development of a robust social media presence.

Prior to Mitre 10, Elliott was the general manager of distribution and marketing for the New Zealand Racing Board, where he was responsible for increasing the marketing and sales performance for brick-and-mortar stores as well as online channels. Additionally, he has served in various retail marketing roles for Chevron International and Caltex International across diverse geographies.

Elliott holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Stirling in Scotland.

Chico Gersappe

Chico Gersappe

Vice President of Pricing and Sales Operations

As Vice President of Pricing and Sales Operations, Avynash (Chico) Gersappe is responsible for optimizing True Value’s pricing strategies for all merchandising categories and customer segmentations. His role includes leading the sales operations team as well as managing modeling, analysis and reporting of sales data, retail execution and customer service operations.

Gersappe is an experienced leader in delivering tangible value through strategic revenue growth and value exchange initiatives. He joined True Value in 2019 from USG Corporation, where he oversaw revenue models, strategic price moves, rebates and incentives as Senior Director for Pricing, Analytics & Sales Operations. Prior to USG, he held the role of Senior Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers for 12 years, advising on go-to-market transformation including new revenue and costing models, sales force and channel reorganization. Chico holds an MBA in Strategy and General Management from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a member of the Professional Pricing Society (PPS).

Paul Green

Paul Green

Senior Vice President, Merchandising

Paul Green joined True Value in March 2020. He is a customer-focused senior executive with a successful track record of strong leadership and positive impact in multiple functional areas, including product management, digital merchandising, e-commerce, procurement, operations & logistics, pricing, software development and financial oversight. He brings a passion for driving innovation in product development.

At McMaster-Carr Supply Company, a multibillion-dollar, privately owned e-commerce and catalog-based distributor of hardware, tools, raw materials and maintenance equipment and supplies, Green began as a Warehouse Manager and was continuously promoted through a number of positions, culminating in Chief Merchandising & Supply Chain Officer.

Green began his career as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. He was a nuclear-trained Surface Warfare Officer, qualified in the operation and maintenance of Navy nuclear propulsion plants as well as ship-handling and navigation. He was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt for three years. Green earned a Master of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL; completed training at the U.S. Navy Nuclear Power School in Goose Creek, SC; and earned a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

Lyndsi Lee

Lyndsi Lee

Senior Vice President, Supply Chain

As Senior Vice President of Supply Chain, Lyndsi Lee drives end-to-end supply chain optimization, develops integrated planning & logistics strategies and builds best-in-class sourcing programs. She has been instrumental in leveraging her extensive operations expertise to increase service levels and identify operational efficiencies for True Value.

Lee's experience spans over 18 years in delivering tangible business results through optimizing business process and continuous improvement. She has held leadership positions with Boston Consulting Group and The Home Depot, where she began her career.

Lee holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Decision and Information Sciences from the University of Florida.

 

Tim Mills

Tim Mills

Senior Vice President, Growth

Tim Mills joins True Value Company on Nov. 6, 2013 from leading distributor HD Supply, one of the largest diversified industrial distributors in North America. Mills has held executive roles in operations, sales, and mergers and acquisitions and most recently was vice president and general manager in their Power Solutions division.

His leadership experience includes serving as vice president of distribution operations, process excellence and customer service for Bankers Life and Casualty. Mills also held the role of vice president at Information Resources Inc., the leading market information firm that provides the analytics, business intelligence solutions, and subject matter expertise to the world's leading consumer packaged goods and retail companies. Mills also holds his Six Sigma Master Black Belt from GE Capital.

Mills earned a master's in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University's College of Business and his bachelor's in Business Administration and Management, from the United States Air Force Academy.

Jean Niemi

Jean Niemi

Vice President of Communications

As Vice President of Communications, Jean Niemi is responsible for employee and retailer communications, brand PR, executive engagements, media relations, events and meetings.

Niemi joined the company in 2014 from Kraft Foods Group where she was head of Corporate Affairs with responsibilities for external and internal communications as well as community involvement. Prior to that, she was at The Home Depot for almost nine years guiding the strategic communications execution for corporate positioning initiatives including brand, executive and industry communications. She also worked across business units to develop integrated traditional and social media campaigns.

Niemi holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University in Alleghany, N.Y. She is affiliated with the Arthur W. Page Society Future Leaders and the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Theresa Shea

Theresa Shea

Vice President, General Counsel

As Vice President and General Counsel, Theresa Shea provides leadership over the Company's legal department and serves as the Corporate Compliance Officer.  Prior to her promotion to the General Counsel role, Shea served 10 years as True Value's Assistant General Counsel for Labor & Employment. In that role, she worked as the primary negotiator for the Company's collective bargaining agreements and resource for the Human Resources organization.  Shea also led the Inclusion and Diversity Council from 2015 through 2018. 

Before joining True Value, Shea spent five years at United Airlines as Counsel and Senior Counsel, Labor and Employment.  She began her career as a junior attorney at Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago. 

Shea earned her Bachelors of Arts in English and Education and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.