From left to right: Mary Deacon - Office Manager, Roxanne Harris - Credit and Collections Manager, Terry Zlotnick - Vice president of purchasing, Tracy Scalen - President, David Scalen - Vice President & General Manager, John Ward - Sales Manager, Chuck Larocca - Vice President Sales

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Tracy Scalen
President and Director of Finance

Tracy Scalen had a wide range of responsibilities when the company first began, including duties in operations and customer service. With the fast-paced growth of the company, her duties have transitioned toward accounting and finance, where she currently focuses most of her attention.

Scalen served as her husband's source of inspiration and encouragement in starting Regional Distributors. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Buffalo and previously worked as a sociotherapist at Crestwood Children's Center. Outside work, she enjoys gardening and taking care of her three children.

David Scalen
Vice President and General Manager

David Scalen started Regional Distributors in 1994 with his wife, Tracy, after seeing increased opportunity in the marketplace. He is responsible for Regional's major account sales, acquisitions, finance and purchasing. He also oversees the company's management team.

Scalen has worked in the wholesale distributing industry for more than 15 years. Before starting Regional, he worked as a salesman at Oken Distributing. Scalen graduated from the University of Buffalo with a degree in political science and pre-law. Outside work, he enjoys reading, working out, playing guitar, coaching soccer and playing with his three kids

Charlie LaRocca
Vice President of Sales

Charlie LaRocca has more than 25 years of experience in the wholesale distributing industry. As Regional's vice president of sales, his duties include growing and recruiting a dynamic and vibrant sales force for Western New York.

Regional owner, Dave Scalen, recruited LaRoccain 2003. Prior to joiningthe company, LaRocca worked as a sales manager and partner at Oken Distributors. Since joining Regional, he has developed a sales team that has increased sales fourfold. LaRocca graduated from Monroe Community College with a degree in business administration. A father of two, LaRocca enjoys working out and going out to dinner.

Terry Zlotnick
Vice President of Purchasing

Terry Zlotnick manages the company's purchasing and marketing, as well as shares duties in accounts payable. Owner, Dave Scalen, recruited Zlotnick in 2002 as the director of purchasing and operations. Since then, Zlotnick has helped lead Regional through much of its rapid growth and constant changes, which includes his key role in choosing the company's application software in 2003.

Zlotnick spent 25 years in food service distribution and, just prior to working at Regional Distributors, worked as the senior buyer for U.S. Foodservice. He graduated with a business administration degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and spent 10 years living out west. In 1981, he proudly started his own wholesale distribution company in Colorado. Zlotnick enjoys golf, skiing, soccer and spending time with his family.

Erica Czop
Marketing Coordinator

Erica is responsible for sales support, events planning, designing brochures and tracking rebates.

Roxanne Harris
Credit and Collections Manager

Roxanne Harris works in the accounts receivable department. Her duties include making collection calls, handling daily deposits, verifying credit applications and setting up new customers. She started in the sales department at Regional Distributors in 2003 and still maintains a portion of her original accounts.

Harris has worked in the wholesale distributing industry for 17 years and has 15 years of experience working in credit and collections. Before starting at Regional, she worked as the office manager at Oken Distributors. Outside work, Harris enjoys boating on Sodus Bay, gardening and playing with her kids.

John Ward
Sales Manager

John Ward is involved in the training and development of Regional Distributors' new sales representatives. As a sales manager, he is also responsible for handling several key account projects. He joined the company in December 2005, after holding sales and sales management positions at SOFCO for about 20 years. Dave Scalen's overall business philosophy and Regional's strength in the marketplace originally drew Ward to the company.

Ward started his career as a sales representative for Cleveland's Globe Paper Company, after receiving a degree in business administration from Ashland College in 1974. A devoted father, husband and fan of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres, Ward enjoys golfing, traveling and spending time at his cottage on Canandaigua Lake.

Mary Deacon
Customer Service Manager and Office Manager

Mary Deacon is in charge of maintaining customer pricing, vendor contracts and major account support, all while managing a group of more than seven customer service associates.

Deacon began her career at Regional Distributors in 2002 as a customer service representative. She played a large role in the integration of the company's acquisitions and helped with the conversion of the new computer system in 2003. Her increased responsibilities led into her management positions in early 2005.

Prior to working at Regional Distributors, Deacon spent 14 years as a payroll specialist and software tester at Paychex. She is a proud mother of two daughters, who she regards as her greatest life accomplishments. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, reading, camping and listening to music.

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