Blain’s Farm & Fleet® Announces New President

2023-08-14 21:29

JANESVILLE, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 14, 2023--

Blain’s Farm & Fleet ® has announced the promotion of Mark Hasting to President and Chief Commerce & Operating Officer. This promotion supports the company’s desire to continue to grow as a family-owned organization where customers are treated as neighbors and associates are treated like family.

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Mark Hasting, Blain's Farm & Fleet President (Photo: Business Wire)

Jane Blain Gilbertson will remain CEO and sole owner of Blain’s Farm & Fleet and Blain Supply, Inc. Under Jane’s leadership, Blain’s has driven huge growth in their national Ecommerce business and opened 10 new stores, including 5 in Michigan, for a total of 45 stores. The company’s distribution capacity and investment in technology enhancements has increased significantly as well. “We are at the point where it just makes sense for me to share more of the leadership responsibilities so that we can increase our capacity for continued growth,” says Jane Blain Gilbertson. “I am extremely proud of the strong leadership team we have here at Blain’s, including Mark, and I have full confidence in their abilities to continue to guide this organization as a team, always focused on our neighbors, our associates, our strong vendor partnerships and our communities. Mark quickly earned our whole company’s confidence with his authentic care and vision and has shown he is a leader of real substance.”

Mark Hasting has been with Blain’s Farm & Fleet for over 3 years and previously held the role of Chief Commerce & Operating Officer. In this role, he has had responsibility for all Stores and Service Centers, Ecommerce Operations, Real Estate, Construction and Facilities and the Customer Service Center of Excellence. In his new role as President, he will increase his responsibility to include Demand Planning and Supply Chain in addition to acting as a strategic partner to Jane Blain Gilbertson in leadership of the company. Since coming to Blain’s, Mark has made an impact on enhancing store experience by supporting store associates with training and tools and improving processes and standards within the stores. “Mark always has the customer experience in mind,” said Sarah Gilbertson, daughter of Jane Blain Gilbertson and the Customer Relationship Marketing Specialist at Blain’s. “He has proven that he really understands the Blain’s Farm & Fleet culture. I am so happy to have him take on a greater role within our organization.”

Blain’s Farm & Fleet has been family owned for all of its 68 years, and this will be the first time a non-family member has taken on the role of President, but this does not mean that the company is backing away from its strong commitment to remain family owned. “My sister and I have made a commitment to keep Blain’s Farm & Fleet family owned. That is important to us and to the company culture,” says Nicole Gilbertson, daughter of Jane Blain Gilbertson. “I remain invested in the future of this special company my grandfather and great uncle founded in 1955. The way we treat our associates like family and our customers like neighbors is at the core of our family culture at Blain’s. I’m confident Mark will continue to do a wonderful job of stewarding that culture as he moves into his new role as President.”

Mark Hasting brings impressive experience to this new role with a strong background in retail leadership. He spent over 20 years at Target, where he had many roles including Store Manager, Group Manager, District Team Leader, Group Vice President and Vice President of Store Operations. Mark has also served as Regional Vice President at Starbucks and Chief Operating Officer at Kum & Go. He has a BS in Marketing from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from Oklahoma City University. “I am humbled and excited to take on this new role. It is my desire to continue to support the growth of Blain’s Farm & Fleet and the amazing associate family that works together here,” says Mark Hasting. “This is a special place, and I have learned so much about leadership from Jane since joining the company. It is my honor to be a strategic partner to her and her family in continuing to help this amazing organization to thrive.” And Jane Blain Gilbertson seconds that thought: “It is not enough to survive as a family company, we must continue to grow and thrive. Our future is so bright, and this promotion is one step toward achieving it.”

Founded in 1955, Blain’s Farm & Fleet is a retailer with nationwide ecommerce business and 45 store locations throughout Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. This Modern General Store ® offers a wide variety of categories and services and unique experiences such as Toyland ®.

Clothing: Carhartt, Columbia, Under Armour, Ariat, Work N’ Sport, Levi's, Lee, Kuhl
Footwear: Skechers, Hey Dude, Keen, New Balance, Work N’ Sport, CAT, Crocs, Birkenstock, Sorel, Dansko
Tools & Hardware: DeWalt, Milwaukee, Stanley, Craftsman, Festool
Paint & Supplies: Benjamin Moore, Valspar, MinWax, Rustoleum, Graco, Purdy
Automotive: Pennzoil, Valvoline, Mobil 1, Mystik, Fram, Prestone, Sea Foam, Meguiar’s, Thule
Tire & Auto Repair Service: Michelin, Goodyear, Cooper
Sporting Goods: Realtree, Scent Blocker, Yeti, Coleman, Rapala, Plano, Shimano, Browning
Home & Housewares: KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Keurig, T-Fal, Lodge, Dyson
Pet Department: Purina, Blue Buffalo, Hill’s Science Diet, Iams, Canidae, Diamond, Taste of the Wild, Kong
Agriculture: King Kutter, Nutrena, Agrimaster, Behrens, Guardian, Manna Pro, Ware, Weaver Leather
Lawn & Garden: Scotts, Miracle-Gro, Estate, Fiskars, Weber, Char-Broil
Outdoor Power Equipment: Stihl, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Milwaukee, DeWalt
Toyland ®: Barbie, Hot Wheels, LEGO, ERTL, Melissa & Doug

Visit http://www.farmandfleet.com or download the Blain’s Farm & Fleet mobile app.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814362161/en/

CONTACT: Gayla Kirshner

Email:gayla@gcw.agency

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA WISCONSIN

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER RETAIL OFFICE PRODUCTS ONLINE RETAIL SUPERMARKET DISCOUNT/VARIETY SPECIALTY DEPARTMENT STORES FOOD/BEVERAGE CONVENIENCE STORE RETAIL HOME GOODS

SOURCE: Blain’s Farm & Fleet

PUB: 08/14/2023 09:07 AM/DISC: 08/14/2023 09:07 AM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814362161/en