National office furnishings wholesaler COE Distributing and its Chairman and CEO J.D. Ewing are honored among Pittsburgh’s Smart 50 companies for the eighth consecutive year.

Smart Business Magazine bestows this elite recognition to the top executives of the 50 “smartest” companies for their ability to effectively build and lead successful organizations. Ewing and COE Distributing have been part of the list since its inception in 2014.

The Pittsburgh Smart 50 winners were honored at a virtual celebration today highlighting regional leaders in innovation, impact and sustainability.

“I’m incredibly proud and humbled to be acknowledged among Pittsburgh’s Smart 50 for eight years running,” said Ewing. “Our focus for 2021 has been to fulfill customer needs through innovative new product design and efficient processes and Smart 50 accolades are a testament to our teams’ determination and hard work.”

Under Ewing’s leadership, COE successfully weathered office closures at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing new products to market and achieving its most profitable months in company history. COE’s commitment to innovation was focused on overcoming global supply chain challenges and finding creative ways to meet customers’ needs in 2021.

Planning for future double-digit growth in revenue and profits, COE Distributing restructured its executive team this year to support its drive for innovation and provide the ultimate client experience through hyper-focused customer service.

Ewing moved from his role of president into the position of chairman to concentrate on big-picture strategy to move COE forward while nurturing and refining company culture. Additionally, the executive team created a new position to continue advancing efforts to bring new products with inventive design to market. COE’s chief product development officer interfaces with clients to gather information on the features they want in products and works with manufacturing partners to bring the innovations to life.

“Embracing innovation as one of COE’s Core Values encourages our team to stay creative and bring fresh ideas, big and small, to the table,” Ewing said. “We’ve had great success in not only growing our company that way, but growing individuals as well.”

About COE

COE Distributing is a national office furnishings distributor with a passion for creating inspiring work environments. A family-owned business since 1947, COE sources high-quality office furniture with forward-thinking, well-planned design from around the globe. Our developers collaborate with skilled manufacturers to bring exclusive products to market, ensuring each piece meets unwavering quality standards. Our private label, OfficeSource, offers a line of furnishings and accessories always styled right, built right and priced right. Based in southwestern Pennsylvania with distribution centers in North Carolina and Texas, COE boasts an enthusiastic team dedicated to delivering the right solutions for our customers. A distinctive product development process, go-to-market strategy, supply chain capabilities and exceptional service propel us into unparalleled space in the market.