COE Distributing Chairman and CEO J.D. Ewing will share insights into his people-first management style at the 2023 UnleashWD Human Resources Summit on April 27 in Nashville.

Ewing joins a select group of businesses and HR executives from the wholesaler-distributor realm in providing guidance to help human resources professionals balance strategic business objectives with employee security and satisfaction.

Through best practice sessions, collaborative discussions and engaging activities, the UnleashWD Human Resources Summit helps management learn to empower employees and drive business success. Ewing will participate in a panel discussion entitled People First: Tactics For Unlocking Employee Potential And Increasing Profit, along with Nicholas Porter, CEO of Porter Pipe & Supply, and Scott Larson, CEO of Gustave A. Larson.

“I’m so pleased to be part of this unique gathering focused on forward-thinking HR strategies,” Ewing said. “Helping employees grow both personally and professionally is incredibly important for our team and I’m happy to share what’s worked for us in assessing employee needs and wants and designing programs that are both challenging and rewarding for our team members.”

Raised in his family business, Ewing has worked at COE in one capacity or another all his life. When he took the helm in 1989, he was COE’s sole employee — tackling sales, driving trucks, loading product and learning each position inside and out. This direct experience at every level of the business, coupled with a passionate commitment to employee engagement, form the core of Ewing’s leadership style.

The robust employee engagement program Ewing developed at COE was pivotal in the company’s growth from a one-man operation into a 100-plus family of employees based in three hubs across the U.S.

Team members benefit from career development programs like Rising Stars training, employee recognition and profit-sharing programs, as well as personal benefits such as financial workshops, volunteer paid time off and virtual book clubs. As the official employee engagement partner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, COE instituted a biweekly peer-to-peer recognition program awarding a game-worn Penguins helmet to an employee embodying COE’s Core Values of Customer Service, Respect, Teamwork, Quality, Safety, Innovation and Transparency.

COE Distributing has been recognized among Top Workplaces by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for three consecutive years, based on feedback from employees who rate their workplace culture on basics like pay, benefits and training, and more abstract factors such as their alignment with their company’s values and direction, having meaningful work and feeling appreciated.

“COE’s culture of engagement and collaboration, nurtured by J.D., is a prime example of creating a world-class employee experience,” said Dirk Beveridge, Founder of UnleashWD and curator of the HR Summit. “I think everyone can find inspiration in his ability to redefine the employer/employee relationship and keep people at the heart of decision making.”

For more information on the summit, visit https://events.unleashwd.com/HRSummit.

About COE Distributing

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 renowned designers and skilled manufacturers to bring exclusive products to market through our private label, OfficeSource. 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. Visit www.COEDistributing.com for more information.