Get to know about us
We are a Minority Business Enterprise certified.
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.
Our most important asset is our people who know the product and are on the front lines keeping our clients happy.
We view our clients as our partners and therefore work together to achieve a common goal.
Treat customers the way you want to be treated as a customer which means providing a process that includes communication, collaboration and integrity of work product.
Our continuous improvement process is based on operational excellence reenforced by the “Art of Why” This includes questioning everything we do and how we can improve and be accountable for any shortcomings.
Team of Professionals
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
SUPPLY CHAIN & OPERATIONS
Chief Supply Chain & Operations Officer, 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.
Jeffery 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.
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