Founded in 1943, BMD employee owned. California's many immigrants might feel a bit more at home thanks to BMD Building Materials Distributors. The company imports building materials from around the world and distributes them to lumberyards, building material dealers, home improvement chains, and window and door specialty retailers, primarily in California, Colorado, and other western states. It also exports building materials throughout the world. Products include cabinets, construction tools, countertops, housewrap and insulation, millwork, roofing, siding, and stairs. BMD offers inventory management, logistics, and warehousing services and operates a dozen distribution centers in the US and western Canada.

Molbak's, LLC company was founded by Danish immigrants Egon and Laina Molbak and is now owned by their son, Jens Molbak, who founded Coinstar in 1988. While Molbak might sound like something you'd want to get out of your garden, Molbak's is all about being in the garden. The company operates a nursery and gift shop in Washington that retails bulbs, garden and nursery plants, indoor plants, seeds, and other gardening-related products like statuary, outdoor furniture, floral arrangements, and gift items. It grows about 80% of its products on 36 acres near its headquarters and retail store. Molbak's also hosts horticultural classes and seminars and offers custom design services for parties or outdoor landscaping.

Interstate Companies, Inc., provides a broad range of automotive products and services through its group of businesses. Its Interstate PowerSystems unit distributes engines, transmissions, heater systems, mobile refrigeration products, generators, and other products manufactured by Detroit Diesel, Deutz, Dresser Waukesha, Espar, Allison, Carrier, and others. Its AssemblySystems division offers parts, kits, and assemblies to bus and coach OEMs throughout North America. The BearingsSytems unit provides bearing, power transmission, and conveyor services. Founded in 1957, Interstate Companies has more than 15 locations throughout Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the Dakotas.

Operating in the Pacific Northwest since the 1950s, the company was acquired by W. W. Monroe in 1974. Through more than 20 locations in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, Thermal Supply has built a business distributing air-conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment, parts, and accessories. The company, which grew from a mere three locations over the years, specializes in supplying products from Copeland, Larkin, Manitowoc, Mitsubishi, Sporlan, and other manufacturers.

Fletcher Building is a supplier to many a Kiwi home. The company makes and distributes concrete, steel, fiberglass insulation, roofing, and panel products for the residential and commercial construction markets worldwide. It runs more than 30 businesses through five divisions: building products, distribution, infrastructure, laminates and panels, and steel. Included in its network are AHI Group (the world's largest maker of stone chip-coated metal roof tiles), The Laminex Group (top producer of decorative surfaces in Australia and New Zealand), and Formica Corporation (manufacturer of the eponymous high-pressure laminate products). Fletcher's operations span North America, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific region.

With two locations, Gallery Furniture has evolved into a leading regional furniture retailer, accounting for about 20% of Houston's market share. Gallery Furniture also ranks as one of the nation's top sellers in terms of sales per square foot. In addition to mattresses (Simmons Beautyrest and Tempur-Pedic brands), it sells bedroom, dining room, home office, and living room furniture. The firm was founded in 1981. A fire in May 2009 destroyed its 100,000-sq.-ft. warehouse and damaged its North Freeway showroom.

E-Z Mart Stores founder Jim Yates kept his first convenience store in Ashdown, Arkansas, open until 11. The company now boasts 300 outlets across five southern states (Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas). Rather than build its own stores, the company usually expands through acquisitions. In addition to the standard hot dogs, chips, sodas, and cigarettes, most E-Z Mart locations also offer Shell, Conoco, Phillips 66, or CITGO gasoline. Yates died in late 1998 when the plane he was piloting crashed, leaving his daughter Sonja Hubbard at the company's helm as CEO.

Rip Griffin Truck Service Center tries to make sure you never go hungry again (in Scarlett O'Hara's words), at least when you're driving on the highways of North Texas. Rip Griffin's network of about 10 travel centers offers truckers, tour buses, and other travelers a smorgasbord of features, such as convenience stores, fuel, game rooms, laundry facilities, restaurants, and showers. Locations also offer truck maintenance and repair services. In addition to its travel center business, Rip Griffin sells Freightliner trucks through two Texas dealerships and provides fuel transportation services. In 2004 CEO Rip Griffin sold the company to Ohio-based TravelCenters of America.

Chairman Gerry Harvey and Ian Norman founded the company in 1982; the Harvey family owns about 30% of the company. Bargain shoppers sniff out deals at stores owned or franchised by Harvey Norman Holdings. The fast-growing discounter sells consumer electronics, furniture, bedding, computers, flooring, and more through some 265 stores, mostly in Australia and New Zealand, but also in Asia, Ireland, and Slovenia. The retail outlets operate under the Domayne, Harvey Norman, and Joyce Mayne banners. Harvey Norman owns the ground under about a third of its stores and leases it to franchisees and provides them with administrative and advertising services in return for a percentage of sales.

Dave's Supermarkets was founded in the late 1920's when Alex Saltzman, the first of four generations of grocers, hung up reins in his horse drawn produce wagon and opened the first corner family store at 33rd and Payne Avenue in Cleveland. The store was named for Alex's son, Dave who succeeded his father in the business. Following in Dave's footstep was his son Burton who recognized that the store needed to address the growing needs of their customers. Over the years, Burton along with his two sons, Dan and Steve Saltzman, have expanded upon the company's original vision and continue to grow the chain. Dave's is the only retail food store to invest significantly in Cleveland in recent years. New and exciting developments at Dave's included the acquisition of four new locations in 2007 as well as the launch of Dave's Mercado at the Ridge Road location. The Mercado provides the largest selection of hispanic foods in the Cleveland area. The Saltzman Family is proud to have stores serving 13 local neighborhoods.

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