GREENVILLE, Wis., July 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- School Specialty, Inc. (OTCQB: SCOO) ("School Specialty" or "the Company"), a leading distributor of innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to the education marketplace, today announced that Todd A. Shaw has joined the Company as Vice President, Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement, responsible for overseeing all of the Company's Process Improvement Programs, effective immediately.
Dan Kohler, Executive Vice President of Operations, stated, "I was instantly impressed with Todd when I met him and strongly believe School Specialty will benefit greatly from his expertise in driving continuous improvements and organizational efficiencies. We have successfully completed Phase I of our Process Improvement Programs and have embarked on new initiatives that are designed to align the organization and lower our costs, while at the same time, freeing up resources to invest in our operations, information systems and customer-facing services. This is an exciting time for our Company and I'm glad to have Todd onboard."
Todd joins School Specialty after a 25-year career spanning multiple industry sectors, with a focus on operations, supply chain management, facility upgrades and process reforms. He was most recently Vice President of Operations with Prolitec Inc., a world leader in air treatment and indoor air quality technologies. In this role, Todd was responsible for overseeing manufacturing, logistics, procurement, field services, customer care, information technology and facilities management, while helping Prolitec grow and enhance its global distribution capabilities. Additionally, he led the implementation of a new and robust, ERP solution and instituted value stream mapping processes, which significantly improved operational efficiencies and reporting throughout the organization. In 2012, Todd was a recipient of the highly coveted, Governors Exporter of the Year award.
He previously served as Senior Vice President of Facility Services and Logistics of Xe Services, LLC, a private elite security services provider (now Academi), where he was responsible for facilities management, distribution, procurement, and business development, among other key initiatives. He led a team that implemented process reforms and instituted new procedures, resulting in ISO 9001 certification, and was directly involved in the roll-out of new state-of-the-art property management/WMS systems and the establishment of a new Central storage warehouse. Earlier in his career, he worked primarily in operational roles, serving as Division Manager with Shorr Packaging Corporation, Vice President of Operations with Corporate Express, and Area Operations Director with Unisource Worldwide. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.
Joseph M. Yorio, President and Chief Executive Officer of School Specialty, stated, "I've had the pleasure of knowing and working with Todd for 18 years and his breadth of experience, commitment and leadership skills are exemplary. He is results-driven, is highly respected across many industries, and has a proven track record in achieving excellence, while engaging his team in a leadership style that promotes empowerment, accountability and respect. He is the right man to work with Dan and help lead process reforms throughout our Company as we work to grow sales, become more efficient in our distribution and service functions, and drive meaningful stockholder returns, both now and into the future."
"I am excited to have this opportunity to once again, work with Joe and the School Specialty team," stated Mr. Shaw. "The Company has been through a lot and has persevered due to their products and brands, long-standing customer relationships, and dedicated employees. With the Process Improvement Programs well underway, I look forward to lending my experience to help align the organization further and drive reforms that will make us more efficient and better equipped to service customer needs. This is an exciting time for School Specialty and I truly look forward to becoming part of the team."
About School Specialty, Inc.
School Specialty is a leading distributor of innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to the education marketplace. The Company designs, develops, and provides educators with the latest and very best school supplies, furniture and both curriculum and supplemental learning resources. Working in collaboration with educators, School Specialty reaches beyond the scope of textbooks to help teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators ensure that every student reaches his or her full potential. For more information about School Specialty, visit www.schoolspecialty.com.
Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information
Any statements made in this press release about School Specialty's future financial conditions, results of operations, expectations, plans, or prospects, including the information under the headings "Process Improvement Program Update" and "Financial Outlook", constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "projects," "should," "targets" and/or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on School Specialty's current estimates and assumptions and, as such, involve uncertainty and risk. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements because of a number of factors, including the factors described in Item 1A of School Specialty's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 26, 2014, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Any forward-looking statement in this release speaks only as of the date in which it is made. Except to the extent required under the federal securities laws, School Specialty does not intend to update or revise the forward-looking statements.