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Meet one of the new owners of Steel Sales & Equipment Company of Arkansas. New is only a figure of speech, Mike has been at Steel Sales since 1994, so he is hardly new at what he does. Most customers will never see a difference in Steel Sales day to day operations and that is exactly how they want it. Steady growth over the past 30 years has been a trademark at Steel Sales and as the old saying goes . . .”If it aint broke, don’t fix it.”
 After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Henderson State University in 1994, Mike went to work right away for his Dad. Some people may think that would be a piece of cake to start working for the company your father owns. Well, those people do not know Mike and Bob Bearden. While there will always be the connection between father and son, this is truly a professional relationship while at the office. After more than a decade of working together, their personal and professional relationship could not be stronger.
Mike has had the opportunity over the past 13 years to learn from the best in industrial distribution. Mike doesn’t mind being recognized as his father’s son, he takes that as a compliment. He always knew he had to be better at what he did because of who he was, but that is something that Mike truly enjoys. Not only is it enjoyable, but he excels in every aspect of his job. Mike’s knowledge and level of service has come to be trusted and relied upon by all of Steel Sales’ customers. Mike is also a firm believer that you have to have fun at what you are doing. When you are dealing with Mike, you hardly think that he is working, but don’t let that fool you . . . his professionalism and integrity is never lost on any customer at Steel Sales. |
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David is the other half of the Steel Sales recent transition into a partnership. David and Mike have been accused of being brothers for years so it’s only right that these two longtime friends are now the co-owners of the company they have helped grow over the past dozen or so years. Maybe it’s because he and Mike have known each other since 1990. Maybe he and Mike rubbed off on each other too much from being roommates for three years while attending college. Whatever the reason, David has just seemed to fit right in at Steel Sales.
 After graduating with a bachelors of science in education degree form Henderson State University in 1994, David taught school for two years in Texarkana, Arkansas. Bob contacted David in early 1996 and asked him if he thought he would be interested in coming to work for him at Steel Sales & Equipment. Bob knew the type of young man he would be getting and did not consider this hire to be the least bit risky. His only concern was that it be something that David would enjoy doing. In sales, you are selling yourself and Bob knew that David possessed the personality, initiative and above all, integrity, to represent Steel Sales. The timing could not have been better and by the end of the school year, David jumped headlong into learning what it took to be a trusted leader in industrial distribution.
The learning still continues today. While working for Bob was truly a rewarding experience, David credits most of what he has learned and continues to learn to Steel Sales customers. David has learned that if you are honest and work hard for your customers, not only will they come back, but they are only too happy to share some of the knowledge that they have with you. |
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Every team has that “go to” person and Steel Sales is no different. Since beginning with Steel Sales in 1999, Charlene has mastered every task that she has taken on. While Charlene is more than likely the first person you will speak with when calling in to Steel Sales, she is much more than the personable voice at the other end of the line.
Among other things, Charlene is our internal software specialist. When Steel sales upgraded its software in 1999 to Profit 21, she took the bull by the horns and decided not just to use the software, but to make it do what she needed it to do for Steel Sales. Some of Charlene’s other responsibilities include daily material receiving, shipping, customer billing, purchasing and most importantly, customer service. Charlene’s number one priority is inside sales and she is great at what she does. In the eight years she has been at Steel Sales, she has gained the trust of every customer that Steel Sales has. That’s because Steel Sales’ customers know that when you need to get something done, Charlene is the person that can make it happen.
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Marie is the glue that holds it all together. Since 1991, Marie has handled many duties at Steel Sales. While having virtually done it all at one time or another over the past sixteen years, she has settled nicely into the demanding position of Office manager. Marie embodies all of the characteristics you look for when searching for a team leader . . . tireless, hard working, caring and trustworthy.
Bob and Marie have known each other for decades. They have literally watched each others families grow up while having shared the same church home for more than thirty years. Mike and David count themselves lucky to have a trusted friend with the financial savvy that Marie possesses through her years of experience at Steel Sales.
As Office Manager, she has streamlined the inner operations of Steel Sales into a finely tuned machine. Along with being the Office Manager, Marie is also in charge of accounts payable and accounts receivable.
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After 31 years at the helm of Steel Sales & Equipment, Bob Bearden is finally going to slow down. After selling Steel Sales to Mike and David in January of 2007, Bob is now filling the role of consultant at Steel Sales. As co-founder in 1975 with Ted Bluemle and sole owner since 1994 after Mr. Bluemle’s retirement, Bob has definitely been around the block a time or two. His name had become synonymous with industrial distribution in Arkansas over the past three decades. 
Key personnel hires coupled with massive software renovations and innovative product line additions helped Steel Sales grow under Bob’s leadership. So don’t be surprised if you call Steel Sales and Bob actually answers the phone. Bob just felt that is was time to spend a little less time on the road and a little more time with his family.
Thanks Bob for everything you have done and continue to do for Steel Sales. |
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