About CMC

Everyone has a story. Mine can be summed up with timely opportunities combined with formidable business training, a strong work ethic, and decades of leadership experience; always learning, always growing. When I was 18 my father passed away and going to college right out of high school was not in the cards. So I went to work full time to help my mother and was able to attend college, part time in the evening. After a few years I had the amazing privilege of being wed to Cheryl Warring and have been for over 40 years. Her support allowed me to pursue a career, while attending college by taking business courses at night, as we raised three beautiful daughters and built a life together. She is still my #1 connection and has been a most trusted and wise advisor. Faith, family, and the friendships I have established over the years, both professionally and personally, have enabled me to become the man I am today. Now, I would like to help others who are growing their business, or just getting started, to realize their dream. I have hands-on experience at every stage of business, and will use that extensive experience and strong business acumen to help connect you to the solutions, ideas, and strategies for success.

My management career began at the age of 22, while working for Wickes Lumber Company in Frederick, MD. For over 10 years I operated a full service lumber yard, meeting the needs of both professional contractors and retail consumers alike. Wickes Lumber provided an intensive training and development program that was the bedrock of learning in my formative years. From Sales and Merchandising to Logistics, HR and Loss Prevention to Customer Service, they treated their managers as small business owners and made sure we were well equipped to succeed - and succeed we did! Taking marginally successful stores and turning them into solid income producers, year-after-year, by upgrading our staff through training & development and improving our operations in every department. It was an exciting time to learn and grow!

While at Wickes Lumber I was recognized for the success I was having and recruited to join Hechinger Company, a national big box hardware and lumber retailer, where I was among the first managers hired from outside the company. I quickly earned their respect and trust, and within a few years I was managing the Annapolis Home Project Center; the top producing location in the company. I was recruited internally to teach new managers a wide-range of skills, including how to establish & effectively manage multiple priorities, how to motivate and retain employees, and how to successfully operate a multi-million dollar location with upwards of 300 employees in a very fast-paced environment. From there I was promoted to Corporate Director of Commercial Business, where I was responsible for Commercial/Contractor Sales & Operations in all 237 locations, after Builders Square and Home Quarters had merged with Hechinger (BHQ). I successfully grew that business unit and through innovation and collaboration, was responsible for creating "BHQ Commercial Business Distribution Center" in Virginia Beach, VA; the first of its kind in the industry. 

The incredible experience, connections, and invaluable training I received from both Wickes and Hechinger over an 18 year span, prepared me in a number of ways for my next endeavor; as the C.O.O. and then President of Colliflower, Inc.; a leading industrial parts distributor of Parker Fluid Connectors (FCG), headquartered in Baltimore, MD. When I arrived, Colliflower had seven locations; six in MD and one in VA. By building a well-trained, talented, incentivized team, we expanded the business over the years through both organic growth and select acquisitions, to 38 locations (and growing) served by four distribution centers, strategically located throughout PA, NJ, MD, DE, VA, WV, DC, GA, and FL. We established Colliflower as the "best in the industry" in every market we served. During this time I also served as President of Parker's FCG Distributor Advisory Council (DAC) for four years, representing all the distributors in the U.S., to help increase sales, reduce cost, and remove obstacles that impeded our mutual success; to benefit the distribution network as well as the manufacturer, but ultimately to benefit the end user, our valued customers. 

On December 31, 2021, after 23 years of successful service, I retired as President of Colliflower, in part, to follow my desire to consult businesses and individuals in need of experienced advice from a trusted advisor with a proven track record. Consultation that is based squarely on your particular business, with your goals, your objectives, and your mission always at the heart of every recommendation. My service includes a comprehensive consultation to help me understand your business and identify gaps and opportunities. My goal is to help you succeed as you define success. I would love to have the opportunity to help you reach your goals. I have worked in a number of situations and settings that have helped mould me into the successful business leader I am today. I would like to help you and your business realize that same level of success. 

Thank you.

Jim Beachley

President

Connections Matter Consulting