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Sanitary Maintenance Magazine Feature - One on One with Jennifer Rosenberg

Succession planning is a difficult endeavor for any company owner. Therefore, it’s often procrastinated and avoided. Not only does succession planning have the capacity to cause a business to fail, but if not done properly, it can also tear apart the family who owns the business. But if passing down the torch to the next in line is well thought out and planned, business should keep functioning without any major hiccups.

In the case of Indianapolis-based Acorn Distributors Inc., succession planning has been top-of-mind since Al Wachter became sole owner of the company in 1999. After convincing his daughter, Jennifer Rosenberg, to come back home and work for him, he’s made it a goal to pass down the knowledge and know-how of running the business. But Rosenberg didn’t start out right away in management. She worked her way up through the ranks with the company starting as a salesperson until she officially took over as president in 2005, when she purchased 52 percent of Acorn.

Today, Rosenberg runs Acorn with the values instilled in her from her father and has crafted her own management style along the way. Putting her employees first and creating a positive, fun work environment, she is setting her distributorship up for success for many years. And who’s to say she won’t pass down the family business to one of her two children.

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Indianapolis Star Feature - Rising Star: Jennifer Rosenberg

Acorn Distributors President Jennifer Rosenberg is not just another heir to a throne.

The 38-year-old Carmel resident went out of her way to prove herself in the family business: providing janitorial and food service supplies.

She started from the ground up in 1999, building her own contacts and creating her own sales territory. Rosenberg beat the streets, proving her credibility.

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Acorn Distributors' Expo 2012

Everyone at Acorn is tremendously excited about our first trade show held in Indianapolis! The Expo was planned specifically to give customers a rich environment in which to look at and learn about new and existing products directly from some of the best suppliers in the industry. Attendees were also able to meet directly with suppliers and ask questions specific to product application for their business.

Over 140 existing and potential customers and exhibitors came together for product education, sharing of ideas and best practices, and some good old fashioned face-to-face relationship building! Impressed with the organization and professionalism of the Expo, attendees were excited to find so many exhibitors, several offering special deals and event promotions. Many were surprised and excited about new items and to discover how many products they didn’t know were available from Acorn.

Based on our first event’s success, Acorn hopes to
arrange another show. Please stay tuned as we
make future plans for the next Acorn Distributors Expo!

 

Acorn Distributors Receives WBE Certification from the State of Indiana

Indianapolis—January 7, 2010— Acorn Distributors of Indianapolis recently received its WBE (Woman-owned Business Enterprise) certification from the Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises Division of the Indiana Department of Administration.  Acorn received certification for its wholesale distribution services, which includes paper products, janitorial equipment and institutional foodservices equipment.   

"This certification will allow Acorn to expand what we do best—providing industry-leading products and exceptional customer service—to the many organizations seeking minority-certified providers who can fulfill state contracts," states Jennifer Rosenberg, President. 

A national distributor of foodservice and janitorial supplies, chemicals and janitorial equipment, Acorn was founded in 1976 by Al Wachter and is now led by Rosenberg, who is Wachter’s daughter.

Acorn acquired Cottingham Paper in Columbus, OH, in 2007 to establish a second location from which to serve its Midwestern market. 

 

Acorn Distributors Acquires Cottingham Paper

Acorn Distributors, Inc. of Indianapolis, IN acquired of Cottingham Paper of Columbus, OH., in September 2007.

Founded in 1932 by Robert Cottingham, Cottingham Paper is considered one of central Ohio’s premier distributors of janitorial supplies and equipment, paper and disposable foodservice industries with approximately 60 employees.

Acorn will continue to operate out of the same Columbus, Ohio distribution facility with the same friendly staff and employees that customers have grown accustomed to over the years. This acquisition enables Acorn to improve both purchasing power and geographic representation, thereby improving the service and value to customers in Indiana, Ohio and the surrounding states.

 

 

Acorn Distributors Featured in Maintenance Sales News Magazine

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