The General Manager Conference

Annually, Westlake ACE Hardware brings all store General Managers to a conference in Lenexa, KS.

Annually, Westlake ACE Hardware brings all store General Managers to a conference in Lenexa, KS (home of our headquarters which we call “The Store Support Center”). It is an exciting event with presentations, training, breakout sessions, a vendor show, and lots of conversation and fun. For many, the General Manager Conference is one of the highlights of the year.

Listen to the reflections our President & CEO shares about this year’s conference.

Over the course of this three-day event, I was often taken aback by the realization that Westlake Ace is truly a family. The culture we have created was evident from start to finish among all who attended. We belong to a caring and giving organization that likes to win, and boy! did we win in 2019. Being part of a winning team is always better and it drives our collective performance to exceed expectations year after year.

Winning isn’t just about sales and profits, however. It involves other metrics as well. It’s about engagement scores, turnover rates, training and developing our associate teams. In the end, we win because of our teams – we are better together.

The energy displayed during the conference was amazing! Collaboration between districts and with the company was at an all-time high. The warm welcome given to our new General Managers from across the company made me proud. I witnessed many conversations between veteran associates and those who recently joined the team. That is exactly how it should be – a strong handshake, a warm greeting and an offer to assist at a moment’s notice.

We are a unique company because of the makeup of the group of individuals and leaders and the foundation of our core values that underpin everything we do. I am so glad I get to take the field with this winning team.

Joe Jeffries

Each year The Awards Night is eagerly anticipated as we recognize hard work, outstanding achievements, and the previous year’s results. Here are three of the trophies we award.

District of the Year

The Tom Knox Core Values Award

At Westlake, our Core Values drive everything we do.  We believe our reputation, culture, and success depend on living these daily throughout the company.