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Longtime Blish-Mize Executive to Retire

John H. Mize, executive chairman and chairman of the board of Blish-Mize Company, plans to retire from active management May 30, after 56 years on the job.

John H. Mize
John H. Mize

“I look back on our almost-150-year history and feel gratitude to so many customers who have shown their faith in our employees and our company,” Mize says.

Long devoted to the success of the business, Mize is still a firm believer that the company’s success is a direct result of its customer devotion. “There’s plenty of competition, and we have to prove ourselves worthy every day,” he says. “Strong customer service and making sure our customers know we care about their business is a huge part of that.”

Mize started full time at the company after college in 1962 and held sales territories in Colorado and Nebraska. He was later promoted to field sales manager and traveled the company’s entire servicing area.

“My forte was salesmanship, marketing, and being in contact with others,” he says. “I have never met a stranger, so to speak. I am still deeply committed to the prosperity of the business, but I never permitted myself to become solemn about it.

“We are a family-owned, employee-focused company, and we are extremely dedicated to our customers,” he says. “I look back on our history and feel gratitude to so many who have shown their faith in us.”

Mize held the position of chairman, president and CEO for about 35 years, and the company saw incredible growth and acquisitions under his leadership. “I’m aware of the opportunities I’ve been given, and I’m grateful to everyone I’ve worked with throughout my career,” he says. “I saw success and had some challenges, and I also had a lot of fun.”

Mize will remain chairman of the board and plans on stopping by the office at least three times a week. He will continue to offer guidance to the office staff. “I feel good about the future of our business under our fifth-generation leadership, with Jonathan Mize as president and CEO, and our excellent executive team and staff,” he says.

Mize’s retirement plans include spending time with his wife and grandchildren and finally becoming fluent in the Spanish language.

About Liz Lichtenberger

Liz is the special projects editor for Hardware Retailing magazine. She reports on news and trends, visits retailers, and attends industry events. She graduated from Xavier University, where she earned a degree in English and Spanish and was a member of the swim team. Liz is a Louisville, Kentucky, native who lives in Indianapolis with her husband and two children. She enjoys swimming, reading, doing home improvement projects around her house and cheering on her two favorite basketball teams, the Kentucky Wildcats and the Xavier Musketeers.

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