June 16, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Thomas E. DeCarlo, Ph.D, has been selected to fill the Ben. S. Weil Endowed Chair of Industrial Distribution in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Business, announced Dean Robert E. Holmes, Ph.D.

DeCarlo comes to UAB from Iowa State University (ISU), where he was an associate professor of marketing and the ISU Business Analysis Lab Faculty Scholar. He is co-author of a leading academic sales management textbook, “Dalrymple’s Sales Management (9th Edition).”

Holmes called DeCarlo an incredible find. “We’re obviously very excited that Dr. Tom DeCarlo is joining us in August,” said Holmes, who added that DeCarlo’s 13 years at ISU prepared him well for the UAB position. “He is one of the leading experts in the country.”

UAB’s Industrial Distribution (ID) program is the only degree-granting program of its type in the Southeast, said Robert Robicheaux, Ph.D, executive director of Marketing and Industrial Distribution. It is a joint degree program between the schools of Business and Engineering. The ID program prepares men and women for professional sales, marketing, operations and mid-management positions with manufacturers, contractors, wholesalers, industrial distributors and many other end users of industrial products.

Ninety-five percent of ID students work full or part time; the average age is 23-25; about 30 percent are minorities or women; and the average starting salary base is $43,000. Of the more than 300 graduates, approximately 70 percent work for distributors and 30 percent work with manufacturers.

“We’re very confident that the students are going to relate well to Tom,” Robicheaux said. “He is one of the most energetic, bright, young rising superstars in our business.”

That the program is the only one of its kind in a radius of several states attracted DeCarlo. “What makes it unique is that it provides students with a holistic understanding of the functional aspects that affect a distribution business – everything from engineering processes to customer relationship management,” DeCarlo said. “This type of learning experience gives students a tremendous advantage in the marketplace.”

Robicheaux said the biggest challenge the ID program has now is meeting the demand that the industry has for program graduates. On average, UAB ID students graduate with three job offers.

More job openings than qualified candidates is an opportunity, DeCarlo said.

“While this is a great situation for the students, it suggests that there is a lot of room for growing the program’s enrollment,” he said.

The Weil endowed chair was established in 1986 by Charles Collat, chairman of the board at Mayer Electric Supply Co. in Birmingham. The chair is named after Ben S. Weil, founder of Mayer Electric. Collat was a member of the selection committee which chose DeCarlo.

“I think he’s got a lot of want-to,” Collat said. “I think he has many qualifications, and he brings with him a high level of enthusiasm. When we established the chair, we wanted to establish a methodology for people to earn a livelihood. It’s a perfect opportunity for people who want to work in our industry and to learn all aspects of business and leave with both sales and technical knowledge.”

DeCarlo replaces Jay Smith, who retired in August 2005. DeCarlo praises the work begun by Smith and his colleagues.

“I am fortunate to be coming into a program with a tradition of extremely satisfied, loyal graduates and industry supporters,” DeCarlo said. “With my enthusiasm and expertise in marketing and distribution, my goal is to further enhance the quality and reputation of the ID program. I feel very privileged to be the next Ben S. Weil Endowed Chair of Industrial Distribution.”

The ID program has enjoyed much growth from the few students per year initially to 40 to 50 graduates per year. Administrators look forward to more expansion.

“We believe the leadership of Dr. DeCarlo and Dr. Robicheaux combined will take it to the next level,” Holmes said.