Howland Pump Purchases Hulbert Supply

Howland Pump & Supply Co. Inc.

FEBRUARY 8th 2018

Howland Pump & Supply Co., Inc., an Ogdensburg based Wholesale Plumbing and Heating Supply Corporation, has entered into an agreement to purchase Hulbert Brothers, Inc., Hulbert Tri-Lake Supply, Inc. and Hulbert Supply Co., Inc. The three corporations have four New York based branches along with two in Vermont.

Dale Miner is the President of Hulbert Brothers, Inc. (Malone and Plattsburgh), Betsy Miner is the President of Hulbert Tri-Lake Supply, Inc. (Saranac Lake and Lake Placid) and Doug Hulbert is the President of Hulbert Supply Co., Inc. (Burlington and Brandon) The transaction is anticipated to be completed in 2018.

Stephen C. LaRose, Ogdensburg, Richard P. McDonald, a Lisbon native and Parishville resident and Timothy E. Sherry, of New Hartford, are the owners of Howland Pump & Supply whose headquarters are, and will remain, in Ogdensburg, New York.

LaRose, the majority owner, is the President/CEO of the company, with McDonald and Sherry involved in the purchasing functions of the company. Howland Pump & Supply Co., Inc. currently operates nine locations: Howland Pump & Supply, Ogdensburg, Potsdam Plumbing Supply, Gouverneur Plumbing Supply, Utica Plumbing Supply, Watertown Supply Company, Massena Plumbing Supply, Oneida Plumbing Supply, Utica Plumbing Supply in Rome, and Howland Pump & Supply in Malone, New York.

The six Hulbert locations will be known as Hulbert Supply, with the Malone locations being merged in 2018. After the merger in Malone, Howland Pump & Supply Co., Inc. will own and operate 14 locations.

"We are honored and humbled by the faith shown in us by Dale Miner, Betsy Miner and Doug Hulbert, their Board of Directors and John Peria, the Chairman of the Board." "Hulbert Supply was established in Plattsburgh in 1947 by Donald Hulbert. Today the business is managed by three of his grandchildren, Dale, Betsy and Doug. They have done a great job and I look forward to working with them," LaRose remarked.

"We believe that the Hulbert employees are the biggest asset that we have acquired," LaRose said. "We look forward to the future with a great deal of excitement; hungry for success yet humble in our approach." "Both companies have a family like atmosphere in all their branches. I think we will learn from each other and be able to provide more efficiencies to our customers," LaRose commented.

"Make no mistake. Rich, Tim and I have a great appreciation for the dedicated employees of Howland Pump & Supply. No one person can run nine locations, let alone 14. I am of the opinion that the employees of Hulbert Supply and Howland Pump & Supply will be the reason for our shared success." "Change can be tough but by looking forward, I hope to lead over 100 employees to many more years of providing our customers, throughout Central and Northern New York and Vermont, with quality service and quality products, to treat our employees' right and support the local communities in which our company does business," LaRose said.

LaRose went on to say, "The McDonald family Dawn, Laura and the late past Presidents of the company, Ken and Russ, are the reason why Rich, Tim and myself are in the position we are in." "Since the passing of Ken and Russ, Dawn and Laura have been constant supporters of all of us and our loyal employees. The debt we owe the McDonald family can never be repaid."

The history of Howland Pump & Supply Company dates back to 1855. Babcock Pump was founded in 1855 by Mr. A. Babcock and was one of the leading manufacturing companies in Ogdensburg. In 1910, Joseph C. Howland purchased the company and changed the name in 1922 to J.C. Howland Pump Works. In 1937, the name was changed to Howland Pump & Supply by Homer Howland, the son of Joseph C. Howland. Ken McDonald bought into the company in 1961 and took over the business in 1971. Ken and Dawn McDonald moved the Ogdensburg location from King Street to their current location on the Ogdensburg-Canton Road in 1984. The business expanded to Potsdam in 1976 and Gouverneur in 1983 where Russ McDonald was the first manager. In 1992, Gouverneur Plumbing moved to their current location on Route 11. In 1984, the business purchased Utica Plumbing Supply and Watertown Supply Company. Watertown Supply moved to their current location on Bradley Street in 1995. Utica Plumbing moved into their new building on Whitesboro Street in 2003. In 1990, Massena Plumbing Supply was opened on the South Raquette Street location they are currently operating out of. In 1993, Oneida Supply was purchased on W. Railroad Street and in 1998 the Rome operation was opened on Erie Boulevard. In November of 2010, Stephen C. LaRose, Richard P. McDonald, and Timothy E. Sherry purchased the business from Dawn C. McDonald and Laura E. McDonald-Hills. In 2011, the Malone location was opened on State Route 11 just outside of Malone.

If any questions, please contact Stephen C. LaRose at 315-393-3720 (phone), 315-323-2656 (cell) or at slarose@howlandpump.com

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