General Distributors Inc. Announces Senior Leadership Changes
May 29, 2015 – Oregon City, OR – Local, family-owned General Distributors, Inc. (GDI) today announced Senior Leadership changes that will position the company for future growth and success.
Steve “Tiny” Irwin, Business Development Manager, has been named General Manager and will assume responsibilities effective June 29. Current General Manager Steve Mysinger will transition to EVP of Special Projects after nearly 20 years as GM.
“During his tenure as GM, Steve Mysinger has led the company through numerous transformative changes in an increasingly competitive marketplace. His ongoing expertise will be instrumental as we build a stronger GDI” says Charles A. Fick III, President of General Distributors, Inc.
“Tiny is the right choice to lead GDI into the future,” said Mr. Fick. “He is a talented leader who brings deep insights and experience from within the Beverage Industry and has enormous support from our customers. Tiny has tackled every challenge he’s taken on, and we couldn’t be more excited about his new role and vision to lead this company.” Tiny will continue to cultivate the business GDI has with its current supplier partners and lead GDI in its Craft expansion as one of the owners/members of the Great Artisan Beverage Co. “His focused and highly driven sales management style will have an immediate impact on positioning GDI as a premier beverage distributor in the Portland market.”
“It’s a privilege to work with the Fick Family and to be appointed to serve as their General Manager,” adds Tiny. “There has never been a better time to be a part of GDI. Coors Light is the number one brand in Portland, the Constellation portfolio continues to outperform competition, Mike’s Hard Lemonade owns the FMB category and our craft portfolio is outpacing expectations. Portland is the most progressive beverage city in the country and I’m eager to work closely with our valued supplier partners to lead the company into the next phase of our growth.”
Prior to GDI, Tiny served as VP Sales for Rogue Ales and Spirits after spending 12 years at MillerCoors in a variety of sales roles ranging from Distributor Management to Chain Sales.
About General Distributors, Inc.:
GDI is a premier beverage distributor in the Portland Metro market that services 11 counties from Salem to Hood River. The company was founded as “Fick Cigar Co” by Charles A. Fick, Sr. and his brother George Fick, Sr. in 1933. During Prohibition they distributed candy, cigarettes and cigars. After Prohibition repeal they began selling the Olympia beer brand and expanded their portfolio exponentially as the years progressed. The current warehouse and headquarters are located in Oregon City, OR where they employ over 140 people. Their current portfolio includes MillerCoors, Constellation, Mike’s Hard Lemonade in addition to a great variety of national and local craft breweries, cideries, wineries and non-alcoholic beverages.
About The Author
My cousin, Chbarles FickI, and my brother A Wayne Fick, were on the Board of Directors of General Distributing Company when Stuart Durkheimer ( Wadhams )and Company) had control and ripped the Phony shell Company General Distributers off for about one million a year from a forced merger caused by Olympia from 1962 through 1982. I know, My brother Jack and I brought about the split from Olympia. Chuckie Fick I got control by having Wayne Fick join him at a salary and paid him and his son Steven Fick off by appointing them to the Board of Directors. Then Chuckie Fick and Wayne stopped paying dividencs andthen my brother Jack had to sell stock to survive to another person. Chuckie eventually bought the stock and gain 2% to add to his 50% control. Forced us out and eventually Wayne Fick was forced out. What you have is a, in my opinion, a crooked Attorney had to tell Chuckie Fick what to do. That is how Chuckie Fick got control. He is a dummy. Dr,.Robert Fick–I was the presenter to Olympia and with durkheimer. Jack Fick had all of the ” dirt” on Stewart Durkheimer. When Durkheimer was in chage, GDI had one general shareholder meeting once a year with the Board –and all that was on the agenda was to buy, sell, trucks and equipment. Chuckie Fick I, has only a BS degree in Engineering and missed about three of these annual meetings. I have five graduate degrees –three from USC and UCLA.. Durkheimer got off easy because he made a deal that the Fick Family would not sue. I had a more difficult time in separating the firms with Chuckie Fick than I had with Durkheimer. So, Chuckie Fick I will get his Karma shortly when he dies due to aging and so will his crooked attorney . I am age 91 . Karma takes place in both worlds –the physical and also after death.