l After 20 years with TruServ, Robert Simmons recently retired from the company as vice president of manufacturing. He was responsible for the strategic development and daily operations of TruServ’s architectural coatings and brush and applicator manufacturing division.
“Bob runs the most efficient paint manufacturing plant in North America,” said Don Hoye, TruServ’s president and CEO. “No other plant comes close to turning out the quality we do at one of the industry’s lowest costs.”
Mr. Simmons joined the co-op in 1981 as the R&D manager of Cotter & Company’s (a forerunner of TruServ) General Power Equipment company. During his time at General Power Equipment, he held various positions, including plant manager and general manager. When Cotter & Company sold General Power Equipment in 1995, Mr. Simmons was named general manager of their Tru-Test Manufacturing Company (later renamed True Value Manufacturing).