GVH Kansas City General Manager

Jason Curry

Jason Curry was born and raised in Spokane, WA. He graduated from Gonzaga Prep High School in 2009. Following high school, Jason attended Eastern Washington University and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Sociology. While attending Eastern Washington University, Jason worked for Fred Meyer, a Kroger company, for three years as a store clerk. In September 2014, Jason accepted the opportunity to work for GVH as a Manager Trainee at the Spokane branch. In November 2016, Jason accepted the opportunity to move to Seattle, WA to manage the newest GVH branch.

Wayne Schmidt

GVH Nashville General Manager

Wayne Schmidt was born and grew up in Spokane, WA. He graduated in the late 70’s from Gonzaga Prep High School and began expanding his experience in the grocery industry. With over 30 years’ experience in the grocery industry, Wayne started his grocery carrier as a merchandiser with the food broker Mancini & Grosbeck. He was later transferred to Portland, OR as an Account Manager with Impact Sales representing specialty Foods, Hispanic Foods, and produce items. Wayne then accepted a Sales Manager position at Specialty Foods with Fleming Foods GMD covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. The success continued as Wayne transferred to Associated Grocers in Seattle, WA as a Category Manager when Fleming sold to AGI. In 2002, Wayne moved to Columbus, Ohio with his family and accepted the Retail Account Manager Position with Glazers of Ohio Distribution before opening GVH Distribution as the General Manager in Chicago Illinois in June 2012 where he continues to be a valued member of the GVH Family of companies.

Jeff Callister

GVH Utah General Manager

Jeff Callister was born and raised in Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah in 2002 with a Business Marketing degree and has spent most of his working career in the retail grocery industry. From his early beginnings as a grocery bagger at Dan’s Foods, all the way up to Store Director for Macey’s, Jeff had the opportunity to work in nearly every role the local grocery store had to offer. In 2010, he went to work in the corporate offices for Associated Food Stores (AFS) where he spent 11 years in the marketing and advertising department, assisting with weekly print ads, retailer websites, eCommerce, social media, email marketing and more for the 400+ corporate and member retail stores. In early 2021, he left AFS for an opportunity as the Director of Operations for Decorworx, an award-winning décor company helping those same AFS stores with décor needs for both new and remodeled stores. Later that year, Jeff joined the GVH team as an Account Manager where he has been able to continue nurturing those same relationships with the AFS leadership team and their independent retail members. He is excited to take on this new role as General Manager and continue to grow the incredible relationship between AFS and GVH, as well as assisting any other customers with their packaging and supply needs. Jeff currently lives in South Ogden, Utah with his wife of 16 years and enjoys trail running, reading, and spending time with his family.

Corby Bleckert

Chief Operating Officer

Corby Bleckert is a grocery guy; he has always been very passionate about the Grocery Industry. He started his career at a the young age of 15 with Albertsons and has done every job from a Courtesy Clerk to Store Manager. After leaving Albertsons, he worked as a Sales Manager at Unified Western Grocers to help Associated Food Stores (AFS) build a custom specialty foods program. The program was so successful that AFS recruited him to build an in house program for them. While at AFS he managed many processes and teams. He held the positions of Buyer, Trainer, Senior Category Manager, and Director of Center Store. Corby is a problem solver by nature; he recognized the need to develop internal systems to ensure proper spending and controls and increased the Grocery and DSD sales by 20% while reducing their inventory by over $10 million. He introduced the need to put checks in place to avoid over spending from vendors, this enabled GVH Distribution to replace the AFS current vendor and save AFS millions in over spending on store supplies. Joe Schmidt and Sean Wright recruited him to work with executives across the country to implement the GVH program, introduce an honest buying solution, and help companies recognize significant bottom line savings. Raised in Salt Lake City, Corby enjoys all that Utah’s outdoor lifestyle as to offer while spending time with his amazing wife and two beautiful daughters.

Clay Robinett

Chief Financial Officer

Clay Robinett was born in Lamesa, TX and was raised in Lubbock, TX. He attended high school at Coronado High in Lubbock. After high school, Clay then went on to graduate from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the Rawls College of Business. During college, he worked in the banking industry and took a job after graduation with Frost National Bank in Fort Worth, Texas. Clay later accepted an opportunity with PlainsCapital Bank in Lubbock and was excited to move back to his hometown. While working as a Credit Analyst for PlainsCapital, Clay met Joe Schmidt, President of GVH Distribution. After about two years of underwriting GVH’s financial needs, Joe offered Clay the Chief Financial Officer position for the GVH Family of Companies. Eager to accept the position as it posed exciting challenges with a fast growing company, Clay continues to successfully lead the financial aspect of the GVH Family of Companies.

LeeAnn Zeman

Human Resources Manager

LeeAnn Zeman was born and raised in Lubbock, TX. She graduated from Coronado High School in 2002. Right out of high school, LeeAnn started working for a local cable construction company as the Receptionist, and within two years moved her way up to the Accounts Payable department. Not long after, she took on the customer billing and the accounts receivable as well. In September 2009, LeeAnn decided it was time for a change and joined the GVH team as the Accounts Payable Representative. She quickly worked her way up to the Accounts Payable Manager position. In December 2011, due to her hard work and dedication, LeeAnn was given the opportunity to move into her current position as the Human Resources Manager. She spends most of her spare time with her husband, Jed, two daughters, Caedence and Skylar, and son, Keegan.

Robin Flaum

Vice President of Sales & Marketing

Robin Flaum was born in Toledo, Ohio and grew up in the distribution industry. As a young child, Robin spent time in her family’s business learning about distribution in the professional salon business. After graduating from The Ohio State University, with a Journalism PR and Marketing degree, Robin began her career working for Sebastian International as a product specialist to grow their product line for her family’s wholesale distribution company. Robin’s success through her sales and marketing efforts, such as educational classes on product usage, sales, marketing trends, branding and strategic growth plans for salons were key in growing the Sebastian International product line. The success led to additional exclusive manufacturer relationships, expanding her family’s company territory and employing a sales group of 60 team members. Robin’s career transitioned after the sale of the family company to manufacturing with Bollin Label Systems. As National Director of Sales and Marketing, she doubled their business in the grocery and food processing industry and worked with GVH Distribution to increase their label and branding business. Robin and her husband reside in Scottsdale, AZ and enjoy spending time with their daughter, Wesley.

Sean Wright

President and CEO

Sean Wright was born in Encino, CA and grew up in Charlotte, NC and Plano, TX. The middle of three brothers, Sean graduated from Plano Senior High School in 1990. During high school, Sean worked at Tom Thumb Grocery as a baggage clerk, checker, and stocker. He moved on to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX and graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. After graduating college, Sean was in the process of moving back to Dallas, TX for an accepted sales position when he was approached by Joe Schmidt and Buddy Furgerson at Gage Van Horn & Associates. Sean accepted a sales role in Lubbock, with the focus being the growth of the Amarillo market. At the time Sean started calling on the Amarillo market, Gage Van Horn & Associates sold less than $100,000 annually in Amarillo. Today, Amarillo represents the largest market for the GVH Family of Companies with close to $40 million in business. Over the last 20 years, the GVH Family of Companies has been one of the fastest growing distribution companies in the United States. Coinciding with the company growth, Sean progressed from his original sales position, to General Manager in Amarillo, then to Senior Vice President, and finally to his current role as President and CEO. Sean has spent his entire professional career with the GVH Family of Companies. He lives in Amarillo, TX and is married to wife Kristy and his two children, Kylee and Caden.

Joseph (Joe) Earl Schmidt

Executive Chairman and Owner

Joe Schmidt was born and grew up in Spokane, WA. The youngest of seven children from a modest lower middle class family. As a young teenager Joe worked at a grocery store behind his house and learned the grocery business from a meat counter and checkout stand while attending Gonzaga Prep High School and throughout college. While still a student to Eastern Washington University, Joe was hired by a local food broker Mancini and Groesbeck and was quickly promoted to Account Manager. It was then that he was hired by Silverbow Honey Company as their National Sales Manager. Joe was the Sales Manager for Oregon Fruit Company and Hoody Peanut Company over several years before he was persuaded by father-in-law Buddy Furgerson to move to Lubbock, Texas and become the heir apparent of Gage Van Horn & Associates in 1994. Over the last 20 years Gage Van Horn (GVH) and its family of companies have been one of the fastest growing distribution companies in the United States. Joe Schmidt is currently the Executive Chairman and Owner of all the GVH Family of Companies and Colima Tropical.

Steve Flores

GVH California General Manager

Steve Flores was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Montebello High School in 1980. After high school, he worked for First Interstate Bank for several years. In 1988, he joined Marantz & Associates, a front-end grocery bag supply business. Marantz & Associates managed Certified Grocers’ (now UNFI) Grocery Bag Program. One of Steve’s first duties was creating bag routes for Certified Grocers delivery trucks. Over the years, Steve learned all aspects of the bag business and eventually managed the UNFI Bag Program. When GVH acquired Marantz & Associates in 2019, Steve joined GVH as the Southern California’s Business Development Manager. “It was an easy transition. I knew all the customers and how UNFI’s cross dock program worked. It was just a matter of learning a larger product line. I look forward to helping the branch reach its full potential.” Steve has been married to his lovely wife, Magda, for 30 years. They have three amazing kids, Sarah, Eric, and Rebecca. In his free time, Steve enjoys working on weekend DIY projects.

Heidi Mucha

Director of Grocery and Foodservice

Heidi Mucha was born in Salt Lake City and grew up in Layton, Utah. In 2002, she married her high school sweetheart, Chad, with whom she has three wonderful boys—Max, Jaxon, and Rexley. Her career began in the beauty industry, where she worked in artistry, education, and sales management. In November 2012, while finishing her bachelor’s degree in business administration, she took on a position with GVH Distribution as a temporary customer service representative to help pay for her schooling. Although it was an unfamiliar industry, Heidi quickly discovered that this was a company that she wanted to stay with. She took every opportunity that she could to learn more about GVH, their customers, and products, and continues to build on that knowledge every day. Within a few months of starting with the company, Heidi was moved into the merchandiser role, covering Southeastern Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Northern Utah. She continued to build relationships with her customers and vendors, and while pursuing her MBA in entrepreneurial studies, started to dive into the operational side of GVH. In June 2014, Heidi was made the first manager trainee in the company. She worked closely with the general manager and vice president of operations, Corby Bleckert, to learn how to manage and operate a branch of GVH Distribution on her own. In August 2015, the general manager position in Utah became available, which Heidi was thrilled to accept.

Charles (Buddy) Furgerson

Owner

Buddy Furgerson was born in Cooper, TX and moved to Austin, TX shortly thereafter. He graduated from McCallum High School in Austin and attended the University of Texas for three years ultimately graduating from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. Buddy worked for the American Steel & Wire division of United States Steel Corp. in Dallas, TX while finishing college. Upon his graduation in 1963, Buddy went to work for his father-in-law at Gage Van Horn & Associates, Inc. as a sales representative in Lubbock, TX. In 1975, Buddy became President of Gage Van Horn & Associates, Inc. When Mr. Van Horn retired. Buddy and his wife Beth purchases the company from Mrs. Van Horn upon Mr. Van Horn’s death in 1984. Now semi-retired, Buddy still actively serves as Vice-President and Secretary of Gage Van Horn & Associates, Inc. Miller Paper Company, Blaine Industrial Supply, Oaks distributing; and is a managing partner in GVH Distribution.

Mike Moore

Corley Oaks Distribution General Manager

Mike grew up in Hobbs, NM. In 1974, he joined the U.S. Navy, then moved to Midland, TX in 1989. For more than 30 years now, he has worked in various sales positions including Key Account Manager, Store Manager, Area Manager, and Operations Manager. Mike is married to his wife, Robin, and has children. He spends his semi-free time with his wife and their 12 grandchildren, and when he has the opportunity, he enjoys playing golf and donates to the local golf course.

Don Torbenson

GVH Post Falls General Manager

Don Torbenson was born and raised in Spokane, WA. He has 30 years in the hospitality industry as GM and owner of local restaurants. Don has also served as a Board Member on the Spokane Restaurant Association and as a member of the SERV SAFE Nationwide program. He spent the past 6 years at Northern Quest Resort and Casino as the Procurement Manager, Warehouse Manager, and Inventory Control Clerk Manager. His experiences provide outstanding connections to local food service businesses. Don is married with 4 children and 1 grandson. He is a full Ironman Finisher and enjoys time with his family and being out on the golf course.

Greg Lane

GVH Amarillo General Manager

Greg Lane was raised in Amarillo, TX. He relocated to Dallas in 1996 where he attended and graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. While attending college, Greg began a career in the banking industry as a commercial credit analyst in Fort Worth. After graduating, he continued underwriting commercial credits for several years before he was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Commercial Lending. After being relocated back to Amarillo in 2005, Greg and took a position with a local bank as a Vice President of Commercial Lending. Due to the financial downturn in 2008, Greg exited the banking industry and secured a position as a retail merchandiser for GVH Distribution in Amarillo. Since joining the GVH Distribution team in 2008, he has steadily expanded his knowledge in the packaging and supply industry and is currently the General Manager in the Amarillo market.

Sean Skoglund

GVH Alabama General Manager

Sean Skoglund was born in Chicago, IL and grew up both there and in Ann Arbor, MI. Sean is the youngest of three children. During high school, Sean worked at a local grocery store in Saline, MI where he bagged groceries, stocked shelves, retrieved carts, and assisted guests with carry outs. After relocating back to Chicago and shortly after graduating high school, Sean began his career with Menards. What started out as a part-time warehouse position quickly turned into a full-time Warehouse Manager role for Sean. Sean was recruited by Wayne Schmidt in September 2012 to become the Warehouse Manager of GVH Distribution’s Chicago location. Through out his time in Chicago, Sean expanded his knowledge in the grocery supply and packaging industry and now resides with his wife and two sons in Birmingham, AL as the General Manager of the Southeast market.

Carl Epperson

Blaine Industrial Supply General Manager

Carl Epperson is a native of Hobbs, NW . He is the youngest of three boys. Carl graduated in 1982 from Hobbs High School. Two days after graduation he went to work for Blaine Industrial Supply. Starting out as a warehouse person he switched to a delivery driver after five months. In 1985 Carl was asked to become the warehouse supervisor and to oversee the delivery drivers and in the early to mid-1990’s, Carl started taking on more responsibilities within the
company. He was an acting manager for the business with the responsibilities of purchasing added to his many tasks. In November of 2008/ Blaine was sold to the GVH family of Companies where he became General Manager for Blaine. After 31 years with Blaine, Carl still has a drive and passion for his job. The best part of the job he says is when you can solve a customer’s problems by selling them top of the line products. After all these years he says he still enjoys unlocking the front door every day.

Steven Maes

GVH Houston General Manager

Steven Maes grew up in a small oilfield town in west Texas named Denver City. His first job was repairing drilling rig casing tongs when he was 14 years old. During his last year of high school his mother, younger brother, and older sister moved to Lubbock, Tx where Steven graduated from Coronado High School in 2000.
Shortly after graduating Steven found himself working on drilling rigs where he worked his way up from a Floor Hand to a Rig Manager (Toolpusher). The uncertainty of oil prices inspired a change in careers for Steven and he pursued Business Management classes at Central Texas College and a certification in Computer Aided Drafting from Trinity Valley Community College.
In October of 2017, Steven walked into the Lubbock branch of GVH Distribution and began work as an Order Selector. From the first day on the job Steven was intrigued by the science of the supply chain industry and began soaking up every bit of knowledge that anyone would take the time to impart to him. He learned the operational side and was promoted to Warehouse Manager of the Lubbock branch. In September of 2019, Steven accepted the Warehouse Manager position for the newly developed DFW branch and in January of 2021 he was promoted to General Manager of GVH Houston.