2025 Eagles

The following individuals are recipients of the Eagles Awards for 2025

D.S. Berenson

D.S. Berenson serves as general and special counsel to contractors, remodeling industry manufacturers, trade associations, as well as industry-focused banks and consumer lenders. His background/experience includes the Office of Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service in New York  and the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington D.C.

His practice operates from 6 offices – in New York, Virginia, Florida and Chicago and serves clients in all 50 states. He specializes in all legal issues relating to the home improvement/remodeling industry, and his firm represents a majority of the Top 500 Remodelers.

D.S. is considered to be the country’s preeminent expert in the field of home improvement law and financing. He is active in all areas of law impacting the design/build construction and home improvement industry, from consumer finance to equity financing and structuring, litigation prevention and defense, corporate quality control, agency representation, advertising and marketing, mergers and acquisitions, tax audit defense, and asset protection strategies.

DS received his law degree from Duke University, and his internship experience includes the Office of Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service in New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, DC.

He is a frequent lecturer, keynote speaker, and regular contributing author to various industry trade publications. D.S. was one of nine attorneys in the United States honored in the 2005 joint Forbes Magazine – American Airlines “Special Tribute to America’s Best Lawyers”. His efforts for those in the home improvement industry are insurmountable. He is without question an icon in his profession.

Scott Berman

Chief Executive Officer of Northfield Holding Corporation, a diversified company that owns manages and invests in multiple private businesses across various industries. With more than three decades of experience in business leadership and home improvement, Scott has built a reputation as an innovator, entrepreneur, and mentor.

In addition to leading Northfield, Scott serves as CEO of Florida Window and Door, which has been recognized by Qualified Remodeler Magazine as the 20th largest home improvement company in the United States. Under his leadership, Florida Window and Door has grown into a nationally respected brand known for its commitment to quality products, customer service, and operational excellence.

Scott is also the Founder of Heavy Set Technologies, a pioneering software company that helps home improvement and service-based businesses deliver an “Amazon-like” customer experience. The platform allows companies to set appointments for leads 24/7 without requiring customers to speak to a call center representative. Through the use of proprietary AI-driven technology, the system confirms appointments instantly, resulting in higher lead conversion rates, fewer cancellations, increased average order values, and reduced marketing costs. This innovation reflects Scott’s ability to merge technology with customer service to drive measurable business growth.

Beyond his executive roles, Scott is deeply committed to giving back to the industry. He actively mentors small and mid-sized home improvement companies, helping them establish the processes, systems, and strategies needed to achieve both sustainability and long-term growth. His guidance has enabled many entrepreneurs to scale their businesses while maintaining customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Scott’s career began more than 30 years ago at The Window Factory in Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked alongside his father and gained firsthand experience in the window and door business. That foundation not only instilled in him a strong work ethic but also a passion for innovation and leadership in the home improvement sector.

Don Bruce

a Nashville, TN native, founder and CEO of American Home Design, one of Tennessee’s largest, successful home improvement companies. Don earned his Bachelor of Science in Marketing at University of Tennessee. He began his career with U.S. Steel’s siding and window division, (a national company) and came home in 1977 to start his own company.
Don built American Home Design on a foundation of customer service and innovation. His philosophy was simple: treat customers with fairness, provide products that improve their homes, and stand behind the work. Today, 25% of the business comes from referrals. American Home Design has grown to employ over 250 people, maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and serve more than 100,000 homeowners across Tennessee.

The company is part of Qualified Remodeler’s Top 50 exterior remodelers. Don was inducted into the Legends of the Home Improvement Industry for his sustained record of excellence and innovation.

Don serves as President and CEO of the Bruce Family Foundation and is involved with Men of Valor Prison Ministry, Grace Place Ministry, the YMCA, and the Jason Foundation. These reflect values instilled by his father, a DuPont supervisor and lay evangelist, who inspired Don’s lifelong philanthropy.

Don Bruce, believes creating lasting value for customers, providing opportunities for employees, serving his community, and living out the principle he learned early on: true success comes through giving to others.

Chris Counahan

Chief Sales Officer of Leaf Home, North America’s largest direct-to-consumer home improvement company, and President of its flagship brand, LeafFilter Gutter Protection. In this role, he leads a high-performing national sales organization and oversees installation services across the company’s portfolio.

Since joining Leaf Home in 2012, Chris has been instrumental in the company’s rise as a category leader. That same year, he created and implemented the Key Point Selling System, a scalable framework that continues to drive Leaf Home’s growth and success today. In August of 2025 QR Magazine cited his company for record sales of over $1 billion - 765 million dollars.

With nearly three decades of experience in construction and remodeling, Chris brings a proven record of leadership and results. He began his sales career at Erie Home, where he quickly rose through the ranks, earning Rookie of the Year and Sales Manager of the Year honors before advancing into senior leadership. Erie Home came together with Leaf Home in September 2025, further connecting Chris’s career roots to his current leadership role. Prior to Leaf Home, he also spent more than 11 years as Vice President of Sales at Owens Corning, a global leader in insulation, roofing, and composites.

Chris currently serves on the Board of Erie Home and is a member of the Board of Business Executives at Gridiron Capital. He earned his B.S. in Sociology from the University of Akron, where he was a four-year football letterman.

Brian Elias

Brian Elias is an unconventional entrepreneur who currently serves as the CEO of Refloor and CCRL. With over 35 years of experience in the home improvement industry, Brian has built a reputation for being dynamic and innovative. He has always had a “Get It Done” attitude, which he attributes to his business achievements.

Brian is not a typical success story. He didn’t go to college. His strength lies in his relentless drive to succeed. In 1988, Brian built 1-800-HANSONS, a nationally recognized home improvement and remodeling company, from the ground up by knocking on doors. The business grew into a juggernaut with seven offices, 70 salespeople, and arguably one of the most innovative marketing plans and highly effective call centers in the industry, generating more than $80 million in annual sales. Thirty years later, Brian sold 1-800-HANSONS to private equity but continues to serve on its board.

Without missing a beat, Brian and his son Daniel used their expertise in “in-home selling” to build a flooring company. In just five years at Refloor, Brian and Daniel have surpassed what took Brian three decades to build at Hansons. Brian looks at business as a recipe: “Once you have a good recipe, repeating it isn’t hard.”

Brian has been recognized by the industry with multiple honors, including the Qualified Remodeler Top 500, the Remodeling Big50 Award, the Fred Case Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the Legends of the Home Improvement Industry Award, just to name a few.

Jim Felton

James E. Felton Sr., affectionately known as “Crow,” was born in 1938 in Augusta, Georgia.  His early years were shaped by family, community, and involvement in Cub Scouts, Soap Box Derby, and youth baseball, which he later coached. A lifelong member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Jim's spiritual foundation guided him throughout his life.

At age 12, Jim began working as a delivery boy for The Augusta Herald. After graduating from Richmond Academy in 1957 he attended Augusta College, he served in the U.S. Army Reserves. His early career included sales positions with Kellogg’s, Gerber, and Sears. He found his true calling in home improvement. In 1966, Jim founded Southern Steel and Aluminum, which grew into Southern Industries Home Improvements. At their peak they have 20 offices in 5 states, with over 100 salespeople and annual revenue exceeding $100 million. They also own a home improvement products distributor (Southern Wholesale).

Jim is a founding member of HIMS, a 38-year-old home improvement think tank group. He was awarded a Legend of the Home Improvement Industry and Hall of Fame of Richmond Academy award along with many more accomplishments.

At age 44, Jim made a life-changing decision to stop drinking and joined Alcoholics Anonymous. This turning point deepened his faith and fueled his passion for service. He helped establish recovery-focused nonprofits such as Hope House for Women and Hale Foundation in Augusta, Georgia.

Brian Gottlieb

Brian Gottlieb is the bestselling author of Beyond the Hammer, a Forbes-published leadership book that blends parable and strategy to help business owners build stronger teams and better cultures.

An inspirational business leader, Brian founded Tundraland Home Improvements in 2009 with just $3,000 and a plastic folding table. Over the next twelve years, he grew it into a family of multi-state businesses with 600 employees and nearly $1 billion in cumulative sales.

Brian’s leadership philosophy is simple but powerful: have a clear strategy, empower your team, provide world-class training, and execute with consistency. He believes that building a business starts with building people—and that aligned teams significantly outperform their rivals.

His commitment to impact extends beyond business. He founded Windows for a Cause, a charitable art initiative that repurposes discarded windows to raise money for families in need, and Baths for the Brave, which provides free, safer showers to veterans struggling with mobility.

A Harvard Business School executive education graduate and Guinness World Record holder, Brian is also an active angel investor, board member, and keynote speaker. He is known for helping others reach their potential by blending inspiration with actionable insights.

Beyond the Hammer is available in print and audio and continues to resonate with leaders who want to build winning cultures through belief, alignment, and purpose.

Murray Gross

Murray Gross began his career in the home improvement business as a kitchen designer (salesperson) in 1960 at age 22. At age 25, he started his first company in partnership with Busy Beaver Home Centers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company was acquired by its partner in 1968 and operated as a wholly owned subsidiary until 1972, when it was purchased by Cyclops Corporation, then ranked 240th on the Fortune 500. Cyclops aimed to expand the business into mega home centers selling home improvement products, appliances, and furniture, but later abandoned this strategy. The company was sold to a private equity firm in 1982. Murray Gross left the company in 1981.

 Murray became a partner in Facelifter Home Systems, a cabinet refacing manufacturer selling directly to homeowners. The company went public in 1991 and was acquired in 1995 by Amre, a public corporation and Sears licensee. After a bankruptcy filing by Amre in 1996, Gross and a group of business associates bought it back, renamed it US Home Systems. The investors took the company public on NASDAQ in 2001, making it the exclusive cabinet door supplier to The Home Depot until its acquisition by Home Depot in 2012 for nearly $100 million. Gross has been retired since but remains an advisor and mentor to those whom he guided earlier in his career.

Murray Gross is known for his penchant with numbers, constantly analyzing the sources and cost of all leads, and sales performance. He observed that the return on leads was more important than the sheer volume of business generated by a salesperson. He coined the metric “net sales per lead issued” (NSLI), a key performance indicator now widely used in the industry.

Michael Hoy

Michael Hoy is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of driving growth and fostering a thriving organizational culture. As the former Chief Executive Officer of Great Day Improvements, currently serving as Executive Vice Chairman, Michael has spearheaded the company's expansion and success since assuming the role in 2015.

With nearly a decade of dedicated service to Great Day, Michael has been instrumental in charting the company's course toward excellence and expansion. His visionary leadership style emphasizes a commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and employee development. Michael leads by example, inspiring those around him to strive for greatness and embody the values of integrity, collaboration, and accountability.

Drawing upon a wealth of experience garnered from a distinguished career in the building products industry, Michael brings invaluable insights and expertise to his role. Prior to his tenure at Great Day Improvements, he held pivotal leadership positions at direct-to-consumer companies such as Renewal by Andersen and Pella Windows and building products leaders BMC/Stock Building Supply, the Wolf Organization, and 84 Lumber where his experience and strategic acumen consistently drove success and profitability.

Throughout his career, Michael has demonstrated a relentless commitment to excellence and a passion for delivering results. Under his guidance, Great Day Improvements continues to thrive, setting new benchmarks for innovation, growth, and attracting and retaining the best talent in the industry. As a visionary leader, Michael Hoy is dedicated to shaping the future of Great Day Improvements and leading the company’s continued growth and success.

Gary Iskra

As a long recognized industry leader, Gary has a rare ability for scaling businesses nationally while staying true to his entrepreneurial roots. From the start of his career, he combined an entrepreneurial mindset with a hands-on owner/operator approach, immersing himself in every detail of the business to ensure quality and trust at every level.

He began his sales and marketing development with Koolvent, a highly recognized company which utilized “step selling” which he practiced and supported “customer satisfaction selling”. Gary’s vision and leadership transformed a regional operation into a high-performing business built on innovation and customer focus. That success paved the way for the evolution into Sears American Home Improvement, a nationally recognized brand under his direction. His ability to expand operations while maintaining personal involvement set him apart as both a strategist and a practitioner. Sears acquired his company in 1999.

After selling his company Gary shifted gears to become an angel investor and board advisor. In this role, he not only provided capital but also guidance rooted in decades of real-world experience. His dedication to mentoring entrepreneurs has helped shape many of today’s leaders in the home improvement industry, reflecting his belief that true success is measured by the people you help elevate. Today, he enjoys what can be called an “out of retirement” experience guiding, directing a “startup” yet now well-established bath remodeling business in the New England market together with Capital Construction a large established home improvement company.

Looking back, Gary Iskra’s career reflects persistence, reinvention, and an unwavering commitment to building—whether companies, opportunities, or talent. His legacy is defined not just by the businesses he scaled, but by the generation of leaders he has inspired along the way.

Norman Kailian

Born in 1930 in Kavala, Greece, Norman Kailian’s early life was shaped by the turbulence of history. He grew up during the Nazi and Bulgarian occupation, followed by the Greek Civil War. In 1948, seeking a new beginning, Norman immigrated to the United States and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

It was in Philadelphia that Norman met the love of his life, EvaMarie. Together, they built a strong and loving family, raising three sons and two daughters all of whom eventually worked for and are given credit for the company’s early growth and stability. His journey into the business world began at Tilo, a manufacturer of asphalt roofing and asbestos siding who sold and installed the product directly to homeowners, where he was hired by Dave Yoho to sell roofing and siding. His leadership, sales ability, as well as an entrepreneurial spirit led to his transfer to York, PA, where he successfully opened a new Tilo branch.

Norman remained with Tilo until 1977, when the company was acquired by Reynolds Aluminin. Undeterred, he embarked on a new venture, founding Appleby (Thermo-Guard), in the upstairs of an old schoolhouse. With the support of his family, Norman grew Appleby into one of the largest and most profitable home improvement companies of its time.

In 1993, Norman fulfilled a long-held dream by purchasing a factory and engineering Appleby’s own replacement window. This move allowed the company to control every aspect of production, enhancing its value proposition and solidifying its reputation for quality and innovation and the ability to open branch offices.

By 2000, Norman successfully transitioned the leadership of Appleby to the second generation. The company has stood the test of time as it is now entering a thriving third generation. His legacy is not only one of business success but of unwavering integrity. Everyone knew when Norman Kailian gave his word or made a promise, you could take it to the bank.

Adam Kaliner

As co-founder and president of Power Home Remodeling, Adam Kaliner is responsible for overseeing and providing direction for the company’s business strategy and expansion plan.

Since the company’s inception in 1992, Adam’s clear vision of creating a home improvement company focused on the customer experience has remained POWER’s north star. His leadership and the foundation he built has launched POWER into a company with 25 branches, 4500 employees and 2024 revenue of $1 billion, $400 million dollars.

Adam serves as the president and chair of the board for the Riverfront Alliance of Delaware County, which is focused on the physical, economic and social revitalization of the City of Chester, PA. He also sits on the Advisory Council for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), POWER’s corporate sponsorship of ALSF has raised more than $10 million to fight pediatric cancer.

Adam was a member of the Remodeling Futures Steering Committee for Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. He has won several awards during his career including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, The Philadelphia Business Journal CFO of the Year award, and is a recipient of the Legends of the Home Improvement Industry award.

Richard Kaller

Richard Kaller began his career in 1964 working for his father in Ardmore, PA who had worked for a large national roofing/siding company called Tilo Roofing. They had 60 branches and 500 salespeople. He acquired his father’s company eventually building expertise in all types of roofing — from small residential projects to million-dollar commercial installations to significant historic restoration projects featuring slate and copper work.

Over thirty years in the roofing business, Richard acquired five long-term established roofing companies in the Philadelphia area. With these companies averaging 700-1,000 roofing-related contracts per year, Richard gained firsthand knowledge of the problems and challenges that roofing contractors face in their businesses.

Richard became a professional contractor trainer who shared his insights through seminars and training materials.  His audio-cassette training series helped thousands of contractors substantially improve their businesses and their bottom lines profits, covering topics from overcoming common problems to improving sales, installation quality, dispute resolution, and organizational excellence.

Richard founded CCN (Certified Contractors Network) in 1996, recognizing that most contractor challenges were similar across markets. He created CCN to network different contractors, reducing consulting costs while providing hands-on support. CCN grew to include members in most states in the USA and Canadian provinces, offering a complete marketing, sales, and management system for contractors.

Richard Kaller passed away in 2006 at the age of 60, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence the home improvement industry. His systems, training materials, and the network he built continue to help contractors build better, more profitable businesses while delivering superior customer satisfaction.

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly is Chairman of the Board and former President of Neil Kelly Company, a nationally recognized design/build remodeling firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Founded by his father, Neil Kelly, in 1947, the company has grown under Tom’s four decades of leadership into one of the largest and most respected firms of its kind in the United States—known for its innovation, sustainability, and exceptional client service.

The Company’s theme of leading in innovation began with namesake Neil Kelly, who was an early pioneer of the design-build model in the 70s, then propelled further by second-generation leader Tom Kelly. Neil Kelly opened up shop in his basement with just $100 and a whole lot of grit. Today, the company has more than 200 employees and $55 million in revenue across its offices in Portland, Eugene, and Bend, Ore. and Seattle.

During his 43-year run as president, Kelly has been integral in new company initiatives, one of which was introducing a separate handyman service in 1995, which generates over $9 million in revenue. A large focus for Kelly has been sustainability.

 A dedicated civic leader, Tom is the founder of Oregon Business for Climate and a former Chair of the Portland Development Commission (now known as Prosper Portland). He has played an active role in numerous trade, environmental, and community organizations throughout his career.

Among other accolades, Tom has been recognized with the Volunteers of America of Oregon DePriest Award and the Fred Case Award for Entrepreneur of the Year.

Between a competitive hunger and remaining ahead of the curve, Kelly says success in this industry comes from those you surround yourself with and the opportunities you seize.

Rob Levin

Rob Levin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland and began his career in public accounting, where he obtained his CPA certification. He soon transitioned into the remodeling and building supply industry, serving as Controller and later Executive Vice President for Mid-South Building Supply, a Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia regional distributor of siding, windows, and cabinets.

After relocating to Dallas, Rob became Controller and Vice President at Southland Building Materials before moving to Austin in 1982 to join American Remodeling as a partner. Under his leadership, the company grew from a $1 million operation to a publicly traded business, AMRE, with 56 offices, 1000 salespeople, and annual revenues exceeding $300 million by 1990. In its time, the largest specialty home improvement company in the country.

Retiring was not a consideration. In 1994, Rob co-founded Statewide Remodeling, another successful home improvement company, which he and his partner sold in 2019. Today, he owns and operates Woodbine Mansion in Round Rock, Texas - - a beautifully restored 125-year-old Greek Revival estate now serving as a premier wedding and event venue hosting more than 130 events annually.

David Moore

Chairman and CEO of Moore Holdings, which manages a variety of private companies. He is CEO and majority owner of seven Renewal by Andersen replacement window businesses (New York Metro, Long Island, San Francisco, Atlanta and Georgia, Toronto and Ottawa, Canada, Indianapolis, South Bend, Cincinnati Chattanooga, Nashville and Knoxville). In 2025 the firm will complete over 45,000 projects and employees over 2,000 people. David has held a wide range of executive positions, including CEO, Register.com; Board Member of Spanx, Inc., Alternative Investment Management, Relationship Science, Community Co, Network Solutions, and CBS Marketwatch.com. He was also Vice Chairman of Marquis Jet, Inc. He began his 40+ year career in the remodeling and home improvement industry when he joined his family business, Garden State Brickface Company, following graduate school.

David is currently President of the Jewish Community Relations Council in New York. He completed a four-year term as Chair of the Board of UJA-Federation in NY with a $250 million annual budget and a $1 billion endowment. He was President of the City Parks Foundation, that operates programs in 700 parks in NYC. He is an active alumnus of Amherst College. He served as President of the Alumni Association and was the College’s youngest ever recipient of the Medal for Eminent Service in June 2000.

He is a part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA and the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL. He is a professional stand-up comedian, performing in clubs such as Carolines on Broadway and Gotham Comedy Club in NYC. He received a BA in Economics, magna cum laude, from Amherst College and an MBA from Harvard
University.

Patrick O'Toole

Patrick L. O’Toole is Executive Vice President and owner of SOLA Group Inc., Qualified Remodeler, Kitchen & Bath Design News and Residential Design magazines. He serves as chief of content for the company as well as publisher of Qualified Remodeler.

With SOLA, he has overseen the launch of two important conferences and events, TOP 500 LIVE and FAST Remodeler Live. Prior to SOLA Group, Patrick served as Editorial Director and Publisher of Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler magazines.

Patrick O’Toole began his career in journalism as a Newsman with the Associated Press in Chicago. Today he brings all these skills to the activities of the home improvement industry.

Andy Palframan

Born and raised in Yorkshire, England, Andy began his professional journey in the family HVAC business, working alongside his father while completing a four-year technical college program.  At the age of 20, he immigrated to the United States in the late 1980s, eager to explore new opportunities and build a future.

Shortly after arriving in the U.S., Andy began working with a local RainSoft dealer, installing water softeners.  His curiosity and drive quickly led him beyond installation to sales.  That decision marked the beginning of a lifelong career in the water treatment industry.

After four successful years in the field, both selling and installing RainSoft systems, Andy joined the RainSoft corporate team.  Over the next decade, he collaborated with hundreds of dealers worldwide, helping them grow their businesses and elevate RainSoft’s revenue and presence in the marketplace.

In 2006, Andy was tapped to lead a groundbreaking partnership between RainSoft and The Home Depot.  Under his leadership, the initiative became the company’s most successful sales and marketing program, generating more than $1 billion in gross sales with average in home sales averaging under $1,000.

Recognized for his strategic vision and leadership, Andy was appointed VP/GM of RainSoft in 2009.  Over the next 15 years, he guided the company through significant global expansion and played a key role in two private equity transitions, including the acquisition by Pentair PLC.  His leadership helped position RainSoft as a global leader in residential water treatment solutions.

Now retired from his corporate role at RainSoft, Andy serves as the CEO of Florida Energy Water & Air, the brand’s largest and most successful dealership.  Under his leadership, the company has now grown to include over 500 employees in 13 offices across 10 states with annual revenue estimated at $400 million.

Norman Rales

Norman Rales’ story unfolds like a Damon Runyon novel. In 1930, at the age of seven, Norman and two of his siblings, became wards of the State of New York and residents of the Hebrew Orphan Asylum. His mother had recently passed and his grieving immigrant father believed that the children would have better care as wards of the state.  For eleven years this was Norman’s home.

On his eighteenth birthday (1941), with a high school diploma and $5 in his pocket, Norman was told it was time to go out into the world.  He and a friend hopped on freight trains and worked their way to California as waiters, busboys, and truck drivers and roustabouts.

His travels eventually brought him to Florida where he met his wife, Ruth.  They married in 1948. She encouraged him to become a salesman for her father’s home improvement company. Soon after he started his own home improvement business.

In addition to founding a wholesale building supply company, Norman owned a bank, a part interest in the Texas Rangers and Florida Marlins baseball teams, and two hotels in Florida.  He also developed a time sharing re­sort in Indiana and started a finance company.  He was the first to establish an ESOP benefit for employees in several of his companies.

Perhaps Norman’s greatest legacy is the impact of the Norman & Ruth Rales Foundation.  Over the past several decades, the Foundation funded thousands of college scholarships for students in need, built several group homes for developmentally disabled adults, and supported numerous Jewish causes with a special focus on combatting antisemitism and hate.

Norman Rales epitomized the American dream.

Phillip Schrager and Harley Schrager

A lifelong resident of Omaha, Harley retired as the Chief Operating Office of the Pacesetter Corporation, a nationwide direct sales Home Improvement Company he owned with his now deceased brother Phillip Schrager. He became President of the company in 1976 at the age of 29. Pacesetter was the largest and arguably the most successful privately owned company in this industry. Pacesetter was a publicly owned corporation from 1972-1986, then became privately owned once again after the Schrager’s successfully tendered and repurchased outstanding stock.

At its peak (in 1995), Pacesetter Corporation had 72 sales offices and 550 sales reps, with revenues of $135 million (equivalent 2025 – approx. $700 million). They also owned their own window and door manufacturing plant, and their own finance company. They developed a successful sales and marketing recruiting program and backed it up with extremely successful training systems which their management programmed. Pacesetter was dedicated to internal management development.

Philip and Harley Schrager were trail blazers, and they did in fact become “pacesetters”. Many of those hired went on to become highly successful in related and some non-related businesses.

Harley Schrager was inducted into the Omaha Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame in 2000, and at that time was the youngest businessman to be so honored. He was inducted into Central High School of Omaha and Westside High School Hall of Fame. He has also been honored as Humanitarian of the Year by the National Association of Christians and Jews.

Ron Sherman

Ron Sherman was born on a cotton farm in Fontaine, Arkansas, and raised by his aunt and uncle.  He started chopping, picking, and plowing cotton at the age of ten years old. His fondest childhood memories include going to town and listening to the St. Louis = Cardinals on his transistor radio!  Ron’s life took a big turn when his uncle became ill, forcing them to leave the farm and move into the Trumann housing project.   

At fifteen, Ron decided to walk down to the local radio station,  and behold, he started working seven days week for $1.25 per hour!  Out of high school he went to work at the news radio station in Little Rock.  The GM on the TV side told him to get his hair styled and before long he became the main weather man on the ABC station!  The owner of Haynes Steel Siding saw him, and impressed by his talent, put him on “Live” commercials inside Saturday western movies!  This unique (at the time) form of lead development played an important source for companies to supplement canvassing, direct mail and home show leads with a television lead featuring a personality.

However, Ron knew movies would not sustain lead flow going forward, so he developed what became the “Ron Sherman Advertising look Live commercials” that could run Monday-Friday producing tenfold the leads!  His wife Sheila then decided that to meet the rapid demand they should have their own TV Studio! Uploading commercials to over 150 markets per month! And the rest is history!

In 2016, after hundreds of hours of accounting, a strenuous verification process, and sending a copy of all the commercials to London, UK, Ron received the Guinness World Record for producing the most TV commercials in the world!

Ron Sherman Advertising’s clients in 2021 produced over a billion dollars in sales! 

Joe Talmon

Joe Talmon has a 40-year background in all areas of the home improvement industry. His earliest sales training, while still in high school, was with Rainbow vacuum cleaners, a door to door direct to consumer sales organization. Here he first learned the value of a “structured product sales presentation” and at an early age became a top producer. With early training and success, he moved up the ladder to a company selling replacement windows. With this new knowledge, he co-founded an Ohio company which became the largest hi-end vinyl replacement window company in Ohio (Larmco) for many years. That company was eventually sold to an investment group.

He subsequently joined Dave Yoho Associates as a Senior Consultant and for many years was recognized for his systematic approach to making businesses more profitable. He developed programs for teaching others a structured sales and marketing methods utilizing unique methodology to maximize “show and event” performance. He utilized a relatable communication style that combines humor and scientifically proven training. He convinced others to know and understand that training is not a sometime thing, rather a continuing need in organization who wished to grow in revenue and profitability.

Joe developed sales, marketing, hiring, and training programs, as well as turnarounds for some of the largest and most successful companies who sell products and services directly to the consumer with a seldom seen passion for results-oriented consulting.

Nino Vitale

Giovanni (Nino) Vitale entered the world to the sound of church bells ringing, signifying
the end of World War II. Nino was just two months old when he lost his father. Years later, his stepfather struggled to make a living. So, Nino dropped out of school after the eight grade and left home to support himself at the age of fourteen. He worked in restaurants and factories. But opportunities in Italy were limited. Nino immigrated to America when he was 23 years old. He arrived without money or knowledge of the English language. Fortunately, he had a strong work ethic and believed in the American Dream. He flipped pizzas, worked in carpentry, then started building aluminum enclosures in 1968. Condensation was an issue with early enclosures, and Nino solved the problem by using thermal roofs, establishing TEMO in 1971.

Throughout his career, Nino had to show people what he did, rather than tell them, due to his limited English. In the process, his handicap became his strength. He joined SurfaShield in 1980, learning sales methodology from Dave Yoho. Professional sales opened up a whole new world. Nino’s state-of-the-art products combined exclusive features and exceptional value as displayed in his demo/evolution case, inspired by the sales system. TEMO became a leader in the sunroom industry, and he said to himself, “Nino, welcome to America!” Nino considers himself very blessed. He proudly professes “Italy will always be in my heart, but America is my home.”

Joe Zisman

Joe Zisman’s career in home improvement began in the most meaningful way—working alongside his parents, Marvin and Arlene, at Ambassador Home Improvements. As a teenager, Joe was canvassing neighborhoods, unloading trucks, and helping install windows, all while learning the importance of hard work, integrity, and quality craftsmanship. Under Marvin’s mentorship, Joe developed leadership values that would guide him throughout his career.

In the early 1990s, Joe took over the family business and led it through decades of change and challenge. The industry evolved rapidly, but Joe remained focused on modernizing operations, supporting his team, and maintaining an unwavering commitment to customer service.

A defining moment came in 2006 when Ambassador became a Renewal by Andersen affiliate. This bold move allowed the company to expand, innovate, and deliver an even higher standard of service across Central Pennsylvania.

Joe’s journey was made stronger by the support of his family, especially his wife, Linda. Her partnership and steady presence were instrumental in every chapter of the business.

Known not just for his leadership but also for his generosity, Joe quietly supported countless causes—from youth and veterans to food security and beyond. Giving back was not an afterthought; it was a core part of who he was. In honor of his father’s legacy, Joe and Linda also established several endowments through the Jewish Community Foundation of Central Pennsylvania.

Joe’s legacy lives on through the culture he created, the lives he touched, and the purpose-driven work that continues to inspire those who knew him.