Author: Jason Ewing
Procurement & Sourcing Manager
February 11, 2025Lubker Distribution Inc., a family-owned industrial supply distributor in West Chester, PA is seeking a highly experienced and analytical Procurement & Sourcing Decision Maker with a strong background in the fastener industry to join our team. This role is critical in directing purchases, sourcing products, optimizing our supplier base, evaluating sourcing strategies, and ensuring a competitive and reliable supply chain. The ideal candidate must possess strong inductive reasoning and decision-making skills, have a deep understanding of fastener sourcing, vendor management, and industry-specific procurement practices to support our distribution operations across hundreds of vendors.
Key Responsibilities
Procurement, Sourcing, and Management (Hands On)
- Maintain and oversee the approved supply base, ensuring strong supplier relationships and optimal performance.
- Use inductive reasoning (emphasizing precedence) to provide accurate and timely decisions in response to department questions received from purchasing/sourcing staff, sales team, and operations.
- Evaluate and direct product purchases, including both domestic and overseas sourcing, to align with cost, quality, and lead-time objectives.
- Identify, evaluate, and qualify new sourcing opportunities to support business growth and customer demands.
- Manage procurement personnel and processes, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and strategic alignment with company goals.
Sourcing & Vendor Evaluation
- Provide sourcing expertise support to the sales team, identifying products (requiring sourced) and pointing source (supplier) options.
- Identify opportunities for cost savings and supply chain improvements through strategic vendor evaluation and realignment or alternative sourcing strategies.
- Utilize industry expertise to research and identify new suppliers for fasteners and related products, ensuring the highest quality and competitive pricing.
- Evaluate suppliers based on lead time reliability, product range, industry reputation, and capacity to support customer demand.
Market & Trend Analysis
- Stay ahead of fastener industry trends, material cost fluctuations, and supply chain challenges to proactively adjust sourcing strategies.
- Monitor supplier issues, including price changes, shortages, and lead-time fluctuations, and develop mitigation strategies tailored to fastener distribution dynamics.
Inductive Reasoning Decision Making
- Utilize ERP system to analyze purchasing data and support strategic decision-making.
- Rely upon precedence when providing timely decisions in response to department questions, concerns, problems.
- Coordinate with the IT team to enhance reporting capabilities and improve communication of sourcing insights to the sales team.
Qualifications & Skills
- A proven Decision Maker with 5+ years of sourcing and procurement experience in the fastener industry is required.
- Strong knowledge of fastener specifications, sourcing challenges, and supplier networks. Strong analytical skills with experience in data analysis, supplier evaluation, and cost analysis.
- Effective sourcing strategist capable of effective, accurate, and timely research and supplier identification (Internet, Thomas Net, etc.) of ‘non-standard, non-core’ parts and components.
- Significant training and hands-on experience in procurement, supply chain, or a related field in lieu of a formal degree.
- Quick and interested learner with ability to easily retain (and retrieve when needed) knowledge and precedence.
- Expertise in supplier negotiation, cost analysis, and strategic sourcing within the fastener market.
- Proficiency in ERP systems and Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, etc.).
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills for supplier interactions.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume distribution environment.
Why Join Us?
Opportunity to play a key role in optimizing procurement strategies for a leading and well-respected fastener distributor.
Work with a dynamic team that values data-driven decision-making and operational excellence.
Competitive salary and benefits.
Celebrating ISO 9001:2015 Recertification: Congratulations to Ed Moore and the Team!
October 21, 2024We are thrilled to announce that our team, led by Ed Moore, has achieved ISO 9001:2015 recertification, following a successful audit by Perry Johnson Registrars. We are especially proud that this audit concluded with no findings, reaffirming our commitment to quality and excellence.
Lead Auditor George E. Cipolla commended our team’s dedication and effectiveness and highlighted our robust Management Review Meeting (MRM) process, which supports our continuous improvement initiatives. “Your MRM process is comprehensive, driving advancements in front office expansion, cross-training, and operational transparency,” he remarked. This, combined with our efforts to leverage technology for seamless distribution and managed inventory, demonstrates your ambition to lead in this space.
He also recognized our team’s efforts in risk management, supplier approval processes, and warehouse realignment, describing them as “effective” and instrumental in maintaining both quality and delivery performance. “Your system allows for a paperless environment, immediate access to parts inventory, and effective quoting, order processing, and traceability,” Cipolla added.
Our success in recertification reflects the hard work of every team member and our shared dedication to maintaining a world-class quality management system.
Congratulations to Ed Moore and the entire team on this outstanding achievement!

Lubker Distribution Announces Ownership and Name Change
February 12, 2024West Chester, PA – February 2024
Rick Lubker, President of Lubker Distribution, has announced the purchase of all remaining corporate stock, becoming the sole Owner of Lubker Distribution.
Since its inception in September 2001, Lubker Distribution, a Carrlu Company has been owned and operated as a partnership between Rick Lubker and Jim Carrigan. The twenty-three years together produced a multitude of positive operational and sales changes resulting in consistent year-on-year growth. The company has become a trusted quality supplier to leading OEM’s and service companies located throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.
In late 2023, Jim announced his intent to retire. He provided ample notice and support of task reassignment and maintained that the ultimate ‘date’ would coincide with corporate readiness. The goal at retirement remained the same for Jim as it did on day one, to ensure the ultimate success of the company.
Following significant restructuring that included new personnel hires, and existing personnel reassignments and promotions, the company proved its readiness in early 2024. The transactional necessities proceeded smoothly; the ownership change commencing February 2024.
In concert with the change, the corporate name has been updated to reflect current ownership, now known solely as Lubker Distribution, Inc.
Lubker Distribution is a supplier of fasteners and related products, specializing in WIN Systems Vendor Managed Inventory supply programs. Lubker Distribution is committed to best-in-class customer service and on-time delivery and has ensured a seamless transition of customer accounts and sales leadership to Vice President of Sales Steve Gillmor.
For more information about this announcement or to request additional information about the company, please contact Jason Ewing, General Manager, at jewing@lubkerdist.com or Steve Gillmor, Vice President of Sales, at sgillmor@lubkerdist.com
Lubker Distribution Announces Key Promotions
May 22, 2023Lubker Distribution is excited to announce several significant changes within our company’s leadership team. These changes reflect our continued dedication to recognizing and nurturing exceptional talent while embracing opportunities for growth and improvement.
First and foremost, we are pleased to announce the promotion of Steve Gillmor to the position of Vice-President of Sales. Over the past few years, Steve has played a vital role in our company’s growth, while demonstrating exceptional leadership. Steve has been a trusted mentor to the sales and operations staff, providing guidance, support, and inspiration needed to help the entire Lubker team surpass targets and exceed customer expectations. We are confident that Steve’s strategic mindset, exceptional sales acumen, and unwavering commitment to success will continue to positively drive our initiatives. In his new role, Steve will play a pivotal part in further expanding market presence, optimizing sales strategies, and elevating overall corporate performance.
Furthermore, we are excited to welcome Jason Ewing to our team as the newly appointed Director of HR. Jason brings with him expertise in human resources, coupled with an extensive background in operations and process management, making him an ideal fit for Lubker Distribution. In addition to traditional HR responsibilities, Jason will also be responsible for management of departments including Information Technology and Accounting. Jason has ‘hit the road running’ in this new position and has proven to be an outstanding leader and mentor to the entire staff. We are excited to see the continued positive impact he will have on our team.
Lastly, we are excited to announce the promotion of Sean Michels to the role of Inside Sales Manager. Sean has been an essential member of our sales team for several years, and we are thrilled to see him take on this new leadership role. As the Inside Sales Manager, Sean will assume additional responsibilities including team leadership, sales optimization, and forging strong client relationships.
These promotions signify our commitment to recognizing and rewarding outstanding talent within our organization. We are confident that Steve, Jason, and Sean will flourish in their new roles, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to their respective departments.
It is important to note the departure of Jeff Laub from the position of General Manager. While Jeff’s departure required significant redistribution of tasks and responsibilities, it has provided us with a valuable opportunity to reassess the importance of various tasks, improve our processes, and empower our staff to take greater ownership of their disciplines. This period of transition will undoubtedly lead to enhanced collaboration, increased efficiency, and improved overall performance.
We are immensely grateful for the dedication and resilience demonstrated by each and every member of our team during this transition period. We continue to encourage embracing this moment as an opportunity to further develop skills, take on new responsibilities, and contribute unique perspectives to the shared team success.
Please join us in congratulating Steve Gillmor on his promotion to Vice-President of Sales, extending a warm welcome to Jason Ewing as our new Director of HR, and celebrating Sean Michels’ promotion to Inside Sales Manager.