27Sep2010
Tommy Howell Joins Frozen & Dairy Buyer
We can’t believe our good fortune in snapping up Tommy Howell as associate publisher of Frozen & Dairy Buyer. Tommy, who we’ve known since he actually had hair, will report to Paul Chapa, sales director and managing partner.
“I’ve worked alongside Tommy at business-to-business magazines in the past, and have always admired his dedication and hard work,” says Paul. “We’re very glad to have him on board as this award-winning magazine continues to grow.”
“Kind of blows my mind that we’re actually hiring full-time people now,” says Warren Thayer, editor and managing partner. “I recall when a competitor said we were “˜an experiment’ that was bound to fail, but look at us now.”
Tommy grew up in the grocery business. “In the “˜70s and “˜80s, my father was an executive with Skaggs Albertsons, until they split. He went with Mr. Skaggs. In my teens and twenties, I worked in several areas at Skaggs, from store level to the meat and produce warehouses,” he recalls.
He’s worked in business-to-business publishing for more than 19 years, starting in the produce industry, with The Packer newspaper. He then moved to Baking Buyer magazine and launched In-store Buyer. Most recently, he was with The National Provisioner and Meat & Deli Retailer magazines.
An avid golfer and soccer player, Tommy is a licensed soccer coach and coaches premier teams. His wife, Sharon, is an attorney practicing with a large firm in Kansas City. They have three very active and brilliant kids: Sam, 14; Hanna, 12; and Molly, 10.
He brings extensive knowledge of the industry from both the manufacturer and retailer sides. “My father always told me to “treat people the way you want to be treated,” and I carry that belief in not only my relationships with the manufacturers but also with our loyal readers, the retailers. Paul and Warren have started an exciting publication that the industry has wrapped its arms around, and I’m looking forward to helping Frozen and Dairy Buyer continue to help its customers and grow as the industry leader.”
You can reach Tommy at tommy@fdbuyer.com, or by calling 913-317-6811.
