It all started with a simple question
For over 70 years MBE Direct has stood for quality, value and personal service. We are a full service, quick turn, specialty building materials and maintenance, repair and operating supply (MRO) distributor offering a broad line of building materials, architectural millwork, MRO supplies, commercial and industrial hardware, tools, janitorial products, electrical and HVAC supplies.
To empower our companies and associates to constantly improve our process. The foundation of this process is accountability and candor. Through commitment and determination, we will increase our value to our stakeholders and partners.
To become the first true full-line dealer for all professional customer types while creating the most respected and admired company in building products distribution.
We are a Minority Certified Business
value solutions
Team of Professionals
Dennis Martinez
President of Operations
Mr. Martinez is a senior operations executive with over 25 years of experience in the building materials and supply industry products. He is responsible for daily operational management including service quotations, service delivery, product sourcing, and staff management. Prior to MBE Direct, Mr. Martinez was the Chief Operating Officer of Mensch Supply – a distributor of building materials and products for the greater NY area. During his 25 year tenure, Mr. Martinez was promoted from Store Manager to General Manager to Chief Operational Officer where he was instrumental in the company’s tenfold revenue growth. Mr. Martinez is married with two kids.
Howard Kahn
VP Business Development
Mr. Kahn’s entire career has been in building materials and distribution in the New York City metro market. He started working as a teenager in his father’s companies, Kahn Lumber and American Drywall Supply, and for the next 20 years Mr. Kahn learned all aspects of the business from the yard to the job site with a focus in sales, customer relations and business development.
In 1996, Mr. Kahn decided to start his own business by purchasing Century Lumber (Upper East Side in Manhattan) out of bankruptcy. His company flourished for 10 years until New York City claimed eminent domain for the Century property (to build the 2nd Street Subway). Afterwards, Mr. Kahn approached Mr. Solomon to purchase a 50% ownership in Mensch Mill and in 2009 he became part owner and immediately began the process of opening an Upper East Side Manhattan location to leverage Century Lumber’s customer base. Mr. Kahn’s key responsibilities at Mensch were in sales and business development. His sales and business development efforts helped Mensch grow from about $11 million in 2007 to over $40 million in 2022.
Mr. Kahn’s business development role with MBE Direct will be to leverage his 40 years of experience in the New York City MSA building and construction industry. His extensive network of contacts in wholesale distribution, building and construction contractors and design firms, property owners and management companies as well as City and State government officials will be paramount in helping to grow MBE Direct’s business.
Jeffrey Solomon
Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Solomon started working in the building materials business in high school at Woodtown Imperial, a local lumber and hardware store in the New York City metro area. He worked part time in the yard and store and he worked to a full-time position as the store manager while he attended Long Island University (graduated with Honors with BA in Business and Marketing).
After graduation from LIU in 1984, Mr. Solomon worked for IBM for a short time. However, his passion was building materials so he returned to the business to become a general manager of Lee Story Distribution in New York City. During his time at Lee Story, Mr. Solomon was introduced to Robert Mensch, owner of Mensch Mill and a customer of Lee Story.
In 1995, Mr. Mensch agreed to hire Mr. Solomon and give him 50% ownership if Mr. Solomon doubled Mensch’s business in two years. Mr. Solomon successfully doubled Mensch Mill’s business and he became 50% owner in 1997. In 2007, Mr. Solomon purchased the remaining 50% of Mensch Mill to became sole owner, and two years later, Mr. Kahn purchased 50% of Mensch to become partners with Mr. Solomon. Together, they grew Mensch from an $11 mm business in 2007 to over $40 mm in 2022.
Mr. Solomon’s role as COO at MBE Direct will be to manage operations to profit expectations, optimize and expand operations to meet growth targets, and to evaluate potential add-on acquisitions.
John Cormier
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Cormier is a senior executive with over 25 years of experience in Investing and Entrepreneurial Management focused on consumer products, technology, e-commerce, supply chain and logistics, and commercial multifamily real estate. Mr. Cormier has a successful track record of financial and operational value creation as well as deal evaluation, due diligence, deal structuring and negotiation.
Prior to MBE Direct, Mr. Cormier has founded or been extensively involved in various successful ventures as an operator / investor in the real estate, technology and consumer products industries.
Mr. Cormier is a former Investment Banking Executive with extensive experience in finance and technology. Post investment banking he launched WatchFacts, a innovative luxury technology company as launching several first time multi-billion dollar programs with partners such as Amazon, eBay, Walmart, 1st Dibs, Farfetched and others ecommerce platforms.
Mr. Cormier has his MBA from the of University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. He also holds degrees in Accounting and Finance from Louisiana State University and the University of Houston, respectively.
Dennis Martinez
President of Operations
Mr. Martinez is a senior operations executive with over 25 years of experience in the building materials and supply industry products. He is responsible for daily operational management including service quotations, service delivery, product sourcing, and staff management. Prior to MBE Direct, Mr. Martinez was the Chief Operating Officer of Mensch Supply – a distributor of building materials and products for the greater NY area. During his 25 year tenure, Mr. Martinez was promoted from Store Manager to General Manager to Chief Operational Officer where he was instrumental in the company’s tenfold revenue growth. Mr. Martinez is married with two kids.
Howard Kahn
VP Business Development
Mr. Kahn’s entire career has been in building materials and distribution in the New York City metro market. He started working as a teenager in his father’s companies, Kahn Lumber and American Drywall Supply, and for the next 20 years Mr. Kahn learned all aspects of the business from the yard to the job site with a focus in sales, customer relations and business development.
In 1996, Mr. Kahn decided to start his own business by purchasing Century Lumber (Upper East Side in Manhattan) out of bankruptcy. His company flourished for 10 years until New York City claimed eminent domain for the Century property (to build the 2nd Street Subway). Afterwards, Mr. Kahn approached Mr. Solomon to purchase a 50% ownership in Mensch Mill and in 2009 he became part owner and immediately began the process of opening an Upper East Side Manhattan location to leverage Century Lumber’s customer base. Mr. Kahn’s key responsibilities at Mensch were in sales and business development. His sales and business development efforts helped Mensch grow from about $11 million in 2007 to over $40 million in 2022.
Mr. Kahn’s business development role with MBE Direct will be to leverage his 40 years of experience in the New York City MSA building and construction industry. His extensive network of contacts in wholesale distribution, building and construction contractors and design firms, property owners and management companies as well as City and State government officials will be paramount in helping to grow MBE Direct’s business.
Jeffrey Solomon
Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Solomon started working in the building materials business in high school at Woodtown Imperial, a local lumber and hardware store in the New York City metro area. He worked part time in the yard and store and he worked to a full-time position as the store manager while he attended Long Island University (graduated with Honors with BA in Business and Marketing).
After graduation from LIU in 1984, Mr. Solomon worked for IBM for a short time. However, his passion was building materials so he returned to the business to become a general manager of Lee Story Distribution in New York City. During his time at Lee Story, Mr. Solomon was introduced to Robert Mensch, owner of Mensch Mill and a customer of Lee Story.
In 1995, Mr. Mensch agreed to hire Mr. Solomon and give him 50% ownership if Mr. Solomon doubled Mensch’s business in two years. Mr. Solomon successfully doubled Mensch Mill’s business and he became 50% owner in 1997. In 2007, Mr. Solomon purchased the remaining 50% of Mensch Mill to became sole owner, and two years later, Mr. Kahn purchased 50% of Mensch to become partners with Mr. Solomon. Together, they grew Mensch from an $11 mm business in 2007 to over $40 mm in 2022.
Mr. Solomon’s role as COO at MBE Direct will be to manage operations to profit expectations, optimize and expand operations to meet growth targets, and to evaluate potential add-on acquisitions.
Strategic alliances emerged
Ideal partners are distributors or suppliers that already hold leading market positions in the local markets they serve with strong management teams. We are looking to expand our geographic preferences with product offerings that enable us to complement our product / service offerings or expand our existing range of products and services.
We believe that our leadership team and demonstrated ability to successfully integrate acquisitions and entrepreneurial culture makes MBE Direct an acquiror or strategic partner of choice. All inquiries should be directed to corp@mbedirect.com
M. Fine Lumber Co. 200 Morgan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York, NY 11237
Phone: 718 381-5200
OUR CLIENTS
The needs of our clients vary widely in project size, level of complexity and facility type, but they all have this in common: They want a trustworthy strategic partner known for a commitment to excellence that enables them to achieve their business as well as their Environmental, Social and Governance goals.
PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP
Some call it pride. Others call it respect for the project and a deep understanding of your needs. We call it ownership, and it makes everything we do on behalf of our clients and partners just a little more focused, more genuine allows to think and work a little differently on each and every project to work with you as a solution provider.
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