TAL Holdings appointed Jason Blair as the company’s new CEO. Blair will succeed David Dittmer, who is transitioning into the role of managing director of mergers and acquisitions for TAL. Blair joins TAL Holdings from Wilco, a chain of farm and ranch stores in the Pacific northwest, where he served as vice president of merchandising and marketing.
Prior to his work with Wilco, Blair served as the divisional vice president of sales and strategic alliance accounts at True Value. With True Value, Blair led a team that managed 35 of the company’s largest dealers as well as over 1,300 additional accounts. Blair has also held leadership positions in operations at Higginbotham Brothers and Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Company.
“An enthusiastic and outgoing leader, Jason brings a depth of experience in many parts of our business—from lumber and hardware to lawn and garden,” Bill Cornelius, TAL owner and chairman of the board, said in a news release. “He will make a tremendous impact at our company.”
The transitioning Dittmer started with TAL Holdings in 2013 as president of Tum-A-Lumber Lumber. After acquiring Marson and Marson Lumber in 2017, Dittmer became CEO of parent company TAL. Under Dittmer’s leadership, TAL Holdings has grown to 15 store locations in Montana, Idaho, Orego, and Washington with seven operating brands and $15 million in annual sales.
“Our entire family and company have been blessed by Dave’s dedication and leadership skills,” Cornelius said. “I’m very happy that Dave will continue to work with us in a mergers and acquisition role going forward.”
Vancouver, Wash.-based TAL Holdings had six operating divisions: Tum-A-Lum Lumber, Marson and Marson Lumber, Browne’s Home Center, Gerretsen Building Supply, Lake Chelan Building Supply, Mount Vernon Building Center, and Badger Building Center.
