May 13, 2013

Tom Wolf, CEO of WOLF, a major supplier of kitchen and bath cabinetry
and building products, has officially declared his run for governor of
Pennsylvania next year. Among the more important issues that decorate his
Democratic platform are: developing more jobs, improving education and
investing in infrastructure.

Wolf, a businessman for more than 30 years, says his experience in
the industry has helped him prepare for his run; namely his leadership during
an extremely difficult period at the company, where he orchestrated a major
turnaround.

A Little Background

Before he and his cousin bought the company from his parents in 1986
and eventually turned it into the $400-million entity it is today, Wolf was
headed in a different direction. After going back to his hometown in south
central Pennsylvania to write his dissertation – which would gain him a PhD in
political science from MIT – he realized he really liked being back home and
became interested in his family’s building products business while working in
the warehouse.

During his first 25 years with the company, Wolf also participated
actively in civic affairs through such positions as Chair of the York County
Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the United Way of York County and Chair of the York
County Community Foundation. Wolf and his cousin sold their business in
2007, and the next year, then-Governor Ed Rendell appointed Wolf to the
position of Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue.

Turnaround at WOLF

Wolf
suspended a 2010 gubernatorial campaign to return to WOLF, which was faltering
during the recession.

“We
bought the business back because we thought it was the right thing to do,” said
Wolf. “We didn’t want to leave those people hanging.”

To
bring the company out of debt, Wolf wanted to drive the supply chain, which
wasn’t happening under the two-step distributor model they were using.

“The
driver in our former model was the manufacturer, not the distributor,” he said.
“We could only sell what they wanted us to sell, and we had much more value to
add than what they were giving us credit for.”

Wolf
and his team went on a research initiative to understand what the market
wanted, turned those ideas into concrete designs and found manufacturers
capable of creating those products. They did this with the kitchen and bathroom
cabinet sector, followed up with building products, and
in 2011 WOLF introduced its own brand.

“This
year, about 70 percent of our gross profit will come from WOLF-branded
products,” he said.

Political Agenda

The
turnaround at his company, paired with Wolf’s extensive civic, economic
development and revenue experience, has played a pivotal role in his campaign.

–       – Employment. “Every politician
will tell you the key to every election is jobs,” he said, “and I understand
how to create jobs.” He believes a progressive agenda is pivotal to creating
and sustaining these jobs – beginning with education.

–       – Education. Wolf’s plan is to
not disinvest in education but rather to find ways to improve the experience
and extend it into the early childhood years.

–       –Infrastructure. “It doesn’t make
sense not to invest in our existing infrastructure,” he said. “When I am
transporting cabinets, we incur more damage because the roads are in such bad
shape.” According to Wolf, Pennsylvania has always been at the forefront of the
transportation revolutions, but he believes there is a need for an East-West
high-speed rail to transport people and goods, which would be “good economic
development for the state.” 

Wolf
also says the Pennsylvania tax code is riddled with loopholes. “This is an
obvious place to level the playing field,” he added.

Another
message Wolf wants to convey is that whether he wins or loses the Pennsylvania
election for governor next year, he will remain an active part of his company.

“Our
business is still growing,” he added, “and we are on our way to being in every
part of the country.”