BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Implementing a succession plan that has been in the works for years, SmartEtailing founders Barry Brenner and Mark Graff announced their retirement this week.
Said Graff, "We've spent years finding and moving the right team into place and preparing them to run the company without us. And, we're delighted that we can now step away confident that a new generation is ready to lead SmartEtailing forward."
Graff is referring to the additions last fall of Dorothy Nichols, the senior director of supply-chain and content services, and Terrie Taziri, director of marketing, as well as veteran SmartEtailing leaders David Wert, director of client services, Barbara Wiesner, manager of Web services, Paul Ribich, manager of customer support, and Liam Donoghue, manager of content services.
SmartEtailing is still owned independently by Steve Flagg and Mary Henrickson, the founders of Quality Bicycle Products. Flagg, who recently retired as president of QBP, said, "I'm passionate about SmartEtailing and its mission to provide industry retailers and suppliers with the best online and data tools for success. While I plan to make significant investments into the next phases of the business, I will watch from the sidelines."
Brenner, who retires at the end of March, and Graff, retiring later in 2016, will assist as consultants and work on special projects. Flagg said, "Mark and Barry are the visionaries who ushered in the age of the Internet to our industry in a way that actually strengthened brick-and-mortar retailers. The leadership team they've put in place has SmartEtailing well positioned and equipped to support the industry as it faces the challenges of the future."
After Graff retires, SmartEtailing will name a new president.
Nichols said, "We're constantly in touch with dealers and suppliers and we continue to improve and add to our tools and services. Last week alone we hired four new developers. Their first project is designing an online repair scheduler to boost service department revenue. We have more exciting ideas in the works and see this investment in the company as an incredible opportunity for SmartEtailing clients and our industry."
As part of these changes, SmartEtailing has also added two Web services staff members. The home office in Boulder will soon be moving to a larger space. Once two open positions are filled, the company will have 40 employees.
