Harvey Chandler
Founder
Over 25 years ago Harvey Chandler, an accomplished draftsman, illustrator and product designer, founded Chandler Inc. Harvey's path is unique. As a young man he had no idea what he wanted to do but he always loved to draw and build things. Like a good artist he went searching and dabbled in everything from architecture to appliance design. One of the most fascinating chapters of his story was when he was drafted and became an artist for the U.S. Army where he created illustrated war games used in combat training.
Harvey finished his time in the army and after a failed attempt at supporting himself as an artist, Harvey landed an opportunity learning the exhibit and tradeshow industry for a St. Paul display company. It was during this time that he worked on projects for companies such as 3M and Medtronic and really got a feel for what it meant to combine creativity with business. And later, when Harvey decided to make a go of it on his own, it was clear that he not only was a gifted artist, but he had developed an eye for business.
Harvey's first client as a small business owner was Andersen Windows, where he designed and built retail displays and tradeshow exhibits. It was a wonderful relationship and Harvey made sure that he always maintained a core philosophy of delivering high quality products with outstanding customer service. He also grew Chandler at a slow and thoughtful pace during a time when many companies were going out of business.
Today, that philosophy of customer service, great quality and smart business decisions remains the same and many of those early relationships are still going strong allowing Chandler to grow and diversify. In 1999, Harvey appointed his son John as President and although he now spends most of his time traveling the world taking beautiful photographs and working in his art studio at Chandler, he's still very passionate about the business.
John Chandler
President
John has over 15 years of experience in the retail and exhibit design industry. As President of Chandler, John sets the strategy and vision for the organization.
John joined the family business shortly after college and began his career designing and building custom exhibits and retail fixtures. Seeing the potential to offer great design and manufacturing to more customers, John put plans in motion to grow the business.
Today, Chandler's clients include both local and national accounts, many of which are Fortune 500 organizations such as Sony Inc., Gander Mountain, Andersen Windows and The Home Depot.
What compelled John to join the family business? It's simple, good design. With a degree in Product Design from the Parsons School of Design in New York City combined with his family legacy, John's personal and professional passions are aligned.
Curt Chandler
Vice President
As Vice President of Chandler Inc., Curt oversees the creative side of the business. Early in life Curt was drawn to his father's work and spent years tagging along with him to the shop. Like his father, it was clear he also had an eye for design. Curt refined his skills at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
After college Curt knew that the family business is where he wanted to be and today he can be found working on a variety of design projects for our clients.
Lee Bartelt
General Manager
In 2000, Lee Bartelt joined Chandler Inc. as Controller. Trained as a CPA, Lee brought over 20 years of accounting and business experience with him for both public and private organizations.
As the company grew, so did Lee's responsibilities. Today Lee holds the position of General Manager and is responsible for finance as well as the general & administration side of the business. Lee's primary goal at Chandler Inc. is to ensure that the business runs efficiently and effectively for our customers.
Tor Okerlund
Director of Business Development
As the Director of Business Development, Tor pursues opportunities to align the design and manufacturing talents of Chandler with businesses both locally and nationally. With over 20 years of experience in retail, tradeshow, marketing and account management Tor knows first-hand what it takes to develop successful business relationships.
Before joining Chandler, Tor worked with brands such as Best Buy, Gander Mountain, Macy's and Target. Tor is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing.
John Monce
Account Executive
John Monce is responsible for the manufacturing operations of Chandler Inc. John has extensive production and program management experience both in the U.S. and abroad. Prior to Chandler, he has worked for companies such as Motorola, 3M and Skyline Exhibits. John's project management and communication skills are utilized to drive continuous improvement throughout Chandler.
Bob Stone
Account Executive
Bob joined the Chandler team in the summer of 2002 as an Account and Project Manager. His responsibilities include managing custom projects and tradeshow projects for clients like Andersen Windows, Renewal, Best Buy, MOA and Stylmark. Bob has worked in the Trade Show and Store Fixture industry for over 24 years where he has held a range of positions from Exhibit Builder to Vice President of Production. When Bob is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, following college hockey and the Twins.
Susan Sparby
Account Executive
Before joining the Chandler team, Sue spent 19 years at Andersen Windows. As a long-time employee of Andersen, Sue brought her client-side expertise to Chandler and has been a huge asset to the team ever since. Sue's primary goal is to meet and anticipate the needs of our customers, everyday. Her responsibilities include managing custom enterprise showrooms and a large variety of showroom fixtures for Andersen. Sue is very customer focused and detail orientated.
Angie Kath
Accountant
Accountant hardly describes Angie's work at Chandler. She has one of those roles that is critical to the day-to-day operations of running any business. With over 20 years of experience in office administration, Angie is a huge asset to the team and our clients.
Mike Landy
Production Manager
You'd never know it, but Mike has worked for Chandler Inc. for 18 years. He has literally grown up with the company and is currently in charge of all of our production. Not afraid to get dirty, Mike spends most of his time in the shop making sure all our projects run smoothly.
Stacy Warnke
Graphic Designer
Educated at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, Stacy came to Chandler with previous design experience and spends her time developing the graphics used in a variety of projects, including environmental graphics, exhibits, catalogs, corporate identity, marketing and web.
James Voigt
Lead Designer
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a BFA in Industrial Design, James began his professional career as an intern in the furniture industry with design and fabrication company, Blu Dot. It was here that he honed his eye for design and skill for creating cleverly engineered solutions that were both cost effective and aesthetically pleasing. Upon completing his internship with Blu Dot, James worked with Spectrum Industries as a product designer, where he created innovative point-of-purchase product displays for retail environments.
James has become a huge asset to the design team at Chandler, most recently with his work on the A.R.E. award-winning Merchandising Wall for Sony Electronics Inc.'s latest retail store.
Bill Landgraf
Senior Design Engineer
Bill has over 10 years of experience in project management and engineering drafting. With an education in architectural and engineering technology, Bill is a perfect fit for translating creative designs into reality at Chandler. His real gift is his attention to detail with production drawings and documentation ensuring that parts and final displays have the best outcome for our clients.
Dan Piepel
Account Executive
Dan's forte is managing the development and execution of merchandising programs for top national brands in the home improvement Industry. He played a major role in helping Chandler become a preferred vendor of the Home Depot—its sales have since catapulted to record levels. Dan is recognized by customers for his outstanding service, knowledge, and dependable results in a competitive and challenging environment.
Susan Nigg
Project Coordinator
Susan has 17 years of experience as a Customer Service Representative and Sales Assistant for Colorhouse, and an Account Service Representative for Unleashed Productions and Displays. Susan values creating strong relationships with our clients and believes keeping the customer happy is her supreme objective. She is proficient in handling multiple tasks and will go the extra mile to ensure that the projects run smoothly.
Steve Feely
Project Manager
Steve Feely brings to project management over 20 years of hands-on experience as a custom fabricator specializing in tradeshow exhibits, interactive custom museum exhibits, and retail displays. As a custom exhibit fabricator for Split Rock Studios, he was responsible for the layout and construction of several custom museum exhibits and interactive displays including the 2003 NAI winner for Best Interior Exhibit. Steve prides himself on being a problem solver and will attack any problem in a calm and assertive manner. Most recently, his problem solving abilities and understanding of the consumer mindset were evidenced while working with Sony Electronics on the fabrication and installation of their new retail store.
Brooke McGlone
Buyer/Planner
Prior to Chandler, Brooke spent 10 years working for Eastman Kodak and was responsible for many of the same duties she now performs. Brooke is a problem solver and a people person, all rolled into one.
Michelle Stockwell
Purchasing
Michelle's experience includes warehouse management, traffic administration with a tile company, and inventory specialization with Smarte Carte. Her current position with Chandler is in Purchasing. Michelle is well organized and enjoys working on many different projects.
Charlie Larson
Design Engineer
It goes without saying, that Charlie's vast knowledge of the window industry makes him the perfect addition to the Chandler team. He has spent the last several years designing and drawing full scale window elevations for some of the country's top brands, including Renewal by Andersen.
Terrie Nelson
Accountant
Terrie has a way with numbers and the background to prove it. She comes to Chandler with over 18 years of experience working with non-profit organizations and commercial businesses. Terrie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Winona State University. With her knowledge and mean ability to multitask, Terrie isn't afraid to take on new projects big or small.
Melissa Paasch
Sales & Marketing Manager
With well over a decade of experience in tradeshow and event marketing, Melissa brings a unique mix of experience to Chandler. Her background of estimating, project management and account management has afforded her the opportunity to engage at all levels of manufacturing and marketing projects.
As the Marketing and Sales Manager for Chandler, Melissa is responsible for cultivating opportunities for growth through strategic sales and marketing efforts. She believes that Chandler's commitment to exceptional design, manufacturing and service will continue to be driving forces behind future successes.
Melissa graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Public Relations. When not planning, executing and strategizing she enjoys warm weather (she STILL questions how she settled in the 'Tundra') and spending time with her twins.
Melissa Kumpula
Administrative Assistant
Melissa is the first person to greet you when you enter the doors at Chandler. Through her experience in customer service, office management, and owning her own childcare business, she knows what it takes to be organized. Not only does Melissa support the day-to-day tasks that keep the front office running smoothly, she also takes the lead in planning all Chandler team functions.
Rosalie Jechorek
Senior Buyer Planner
Rose has over 30 years of service experience within various facets of the manufacturing industry. She has been responsible for both domestic and international purchasing efforts and has leveraged her expertise in both administrative and management roles.
As the Senior Buyer/Planner for Chandler, Rose leads her team with integrity, honesty and a results driven attitude. Her goal is to ensure operational excellence in both procurement and logistics while optimizing efficiencies and providing superior service.
Rose's energy and zest for life are evident in her hobbies, which include cooking, spinning and traveling. Her most recent travels have taken her to Italy and Australia and she hopes to check Singapore, Napa Valley and greater Europe off her bucket list soon.
