Phil Thompson, Chair

Thompson has been an advocate for minorities and women in business and works as a mentor in the “Mentor Protégé Program” for the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development. This program was developed to assist minority and women-owned businesses in becoming certified under the 8-A Enterprise Certification.

Thompson served eight years on the board of the United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation and was the Venue Chairman for Deer Valley for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002. He currently serves on the Community Board of Wells Fargo Bank, the National Ability Center, and the Shea Family Foundation.

Jessica Polychronis

With a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah, Polychronis earned her place at Industrial Supply by beginning her career on the warehouse floor, and working her way through various posts within the company to better learn its overall operation. In 2008, she was promoted from Director of Marketing to Vice President of Marketing and Procurement.

John Thornton

As principal of Thornton Financial Consulting, Thornton provides expert witness services in corporate finance. His practice generally offers corporate finance expert witness testimony in utility rate cases, quantifying and handicapping financial outcomes for hedge funds, and consulting on utility mergers and acquisitions. Thornton is twice a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science, earning his Master of Science, and Graduate Diploma. He serves on the board of the Rotary Club of Scottsdale and is a Paul Harris Fellow. He also serves on the vestry of St. Barnabas Episcopal church and the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona Commission on Ministry.

Andrea Thornton

Andrea Young Thornton of Boise, Idaho has been on our Board of Directors since June 2006. She is a granddaughter of the late Rudolph Orlob, the company’s founder, and daughter of the late Marilyn Orlob Thornton. Andrea has two delightful boys and volunteers for various organizations in Boise. As a shareholder in the company, Andrea has seen a lot of growth over the decades and feels it is important to keep up to date on its progress.

Randy Evans

Evans joined Industrial Supply in 1979, working his way through various positions to his current position as President of Construction, Safety and Mining and member of the company’s Board of Trustees. Active in the community, he has served as chairman of the Utah Safety Council Board, president of the Salt Lake Chamber, and as a board member of the Association of General Contractors, Utah. He is the grandson of the company’s founder.

Joyce Evans

Kirk Wessel, PhD, MBA Professor

With an engineering degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, Wessel transitioned 11 years later from the military environment into the corporate one by accepting a Human Resources management position at Pepsi-Cola in Salt Lake City. While pursuing his educational and corporate endeavors, Wessel continued his military career with the Naval Reserve where he served as the Navy's representative to the State of Utah.

After serving as an Owner/Partner for OCM, Inc., and holding executive positions with other organizations, such as Associated Food Stores, Wessel is now an Associate Professor of Management at Westminster College, and previously served as Chair for its MBA and Management Programs. He retired as a Navy Captain in 2001, and served on non-profit boards including the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA of Greater Salt Lake (President), the University of Utah Business Alumni Association, and the Cancer Wellness House (Chairman).

Chris Bateman

Bateman joined the company in 1982, starting in the warehouse and moving through Will Call to Inside Sales and onto the company’s Board of Directors. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of National Contracts where he was central to developing the sales channels, relationships and long-term contracts held by Industrial Supply. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer in June 2012.

Von Whitby

Active in the business community for more than 35 years, Whitby is a Utah entrepreneur, who co-founded Investestate, a publicly held real estate development and management company. A former Chairman and CEO of Hydro Flame Corporation (NASD:HFC), Whitby is presently the managing partner of Whitby, Santarlasci and Company, a privately held investment banking firm, specializing in providing financial advisory services for leveraged buyouts, financial restructurings and workouts within manufacturing and other industries.

He has served in various capacities for national and state organizations, including the National Symphony in Washington D.C., the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, Ballet West, the Governor's Task Force for Cost Effective Government (Utah), and Utah's Bicentennial Committee. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and business management from the University of Utah, received an MBA degree from Harvard University and earned his CPA certificate.

John H. Flanders

Flanders is the principal of Flanders and Associates, Inc., a healthcare investment and consulting company. Thirty-five years of experience building healthcare companies, creating shareholder value and liquidity via asset and stock sales to public companies, including: Aetna, Concentra, United Healthcare, Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (KCI), and National Medical Enterprises. B.S. in Biology, University of Kansas.