WHO WE ARE
The Founders Group name represents our proud legacy of being a 3rd generation family business that began with the founder of Johnstone Supply, John Shank. For decades, John’s son-in-law, Greg Popma, and his wife Penny, ran the business and founded GAP Supply (Greg and Penny Supply). Later, Corky and Matt Popma (John’s grandsons) assumed leadership responsibilities and continue to own the business to this day. Our deep Johnstone heritage is also highlighted by the fact that we own and operate the first three Johnstone stores (Clackamas/Salt Lake City/Tukwila) as well as the sixth store (Eugene), all of which were personally opened by John Shank and Greg Popma.
As we grow and expand our reach, we also look to the past with pride, acknowledging the founder of the company, and how a little appliance shop in Portland (now store #1 in Clackamas) became a $4.5 billion dollar business with over 450 Johnstone Supply stores throughout North America. Acknowledging our status as the first Johnstone and The Founders Group means accepting responsibility for upholding the values and principles set forth from the beginning of the company. We strive to incorporate the values set forth by John Shank in 1953 while we also stay grounded in our current mission and core values.
About The Founders Group
OUR MISSION: MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE AND COMFORTABLE
Our Core Values
CUSTOMER FOCUSED
ACCOUNTABLE
ALWAYS LEARNING
SOLUTIONS MINDED
COLLABORATIVE
The Story of JOhnstone & The Founders Group
From Humble Beginnings to Industry Leader
Discover the milestones that have shaped our company. From humble beginnings to where we are today, our timeline highlights the key moments, achievements, and growth that define who we are and what we stand for. Explore the story behind our success and the vision that drives us forward.
Today
A New President
In 2023, The Popma family decided to slowly begin stepping away from the day-to-day operations of business and start focusing on the overall company strategy. They hired a professional management team to lead the business forward.
The new President, Steve Porter, brings over 30 years of distribution experience and has assembled a leadership team that will set the Founders Group up for success for many years to come. The current Founders Group store map encompasses 6 states with 20 locations in Oregon, Washington, California, Utah, Idaho, and Alaska.
As the Founders Group continues to grow and expand, we continue to embody the beliefs that drove the company to its early success.
“If they get better and faster service at Johnstone than elsewhere, this is where they will trade.”
– John Shank
1945
Meet Our Founder
John M Shank was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He served in the Army AirCorp during WWII. He was a fighter pilot in the South Pacific, flying P-38 Lightnings. He flew 60 combat missions and was awarded the Flying Medal. He was discharged with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in 1945. He continued his passion for flying as a private pilot throughout his life.
John Shank came to Portland, Oregon from Minneapolis with his wife Bette and three daughters.
1953
Johnstone Supply Is Born
Having sold his father’s millinery business and eager to start a new career at the age of 34, Mr. Shank bought a small appliance parts house for $19,000. Thus, Johnstone Supply was born!
At that time, Johnstone Supply was primarily a commercial refrigeration business with very low margins and well-established competitors. Mr. Shank began by implementing a “consistent and aggressive merchandising program backed up with a kind of service people had never seen before.” He started a monthly mailer using the slogan “Ride the Mail to Johnstone”. None of his three member staff would go home at the end of the day until all orders had been shipped and stamped with “This order shipped same day as received.”
1959
Just Getting Started
By the close of the 1950’s, Mr. Shank had developed his strategy for growth: Hire a resident salesman to develop enough volume to assure a branch would be profitable. And when sales grew to a predetermined number, open a branch and make the salesman the branch manager.
1960
Salt Lake City Opens
In October of 1960, Johnstone Supply opened the first company-owned branch in Salt Lake City. One year later, the first franchise branch opened in Denver. The seeds were sown for what was to come.
1965
Continuing to Grow
By 1965, Johnstone Supply had eight company-owned stores and two branches opened by independent distributors in the Rocky Mountain region.
1980s
The Next Evolution
In 1981, Mr. Shank decided to retire, and in doing so created a cooperative business model where stores would rely on each other to buy in bulk to create price efficiency and leverage vendors. The first board of directors was founded in 1981 and featured the founder of store #1 (Portland and now Clackamas), Greg Popma Sr., Mr. Shank’s son-in-law.
Greg and his wife Penny founded GAP Supply (Greg and Penny Supply) and began building their chain of stores across the Northwest. As the Johnstone Supply Co-Op grew, they built their headquarters close to the original location in North Portland near the Portland International Airport. Portland has been, and continues to be, the national home of Johnstone Supply and The Founders Group.
1990s
A Family Affair
During the 80’s and 90’s, Johnstone Supply experienced exponential growth as demand for the brand exploded across the nation. As owners of the new co-op franchises began to get older, their children started to take over.
Corky Popma, Matt Popma and Mike Martinson (Greg’s Son In-Law) took over operation of the business and pushed for expansion and growth in both the Northwest and in the North Bay area of California. Following in Greg’s footsteps, the three men helped lead Johnstone into a new era of digital commerce, consolidation of ownership groups and expansion into new states.
2021
A Franchise is Formed
In 2021, The Co-Op decided to accept investment from Redwood Capital and changed to a franchise model. This allowed the company to invest heavily in technology and logistical solutions across the country to better serve their customers.
Ownership
Greg ‘Corky’ Popma
Owner
Greg Popma, Jr. (Corky) graduated from the University of Oregon in 1990 and started his career with Johnstone immediately upon graduation. He always knew he wanted to be involved in the family business after being around his dad and grandfather who constantly expressed their passion for Johnstone. He grew up working in the warehouse, but started his professional career at Johnstone as an Inside Sales Representative, later moving to a Counter Customer Service Associate, before many years as a Branch Manager. As Greg Sr. scaled back his involvement in the business, Corky rose up through the ranks as a Regional Manager, Purchasing Manager and VP of Operations.
For the last 10 years, Corky has served as CEO/COO with an emphasis on the Operations side of the business while Matt focused on the Sales side. During Corky’s leadership tenure, the company has grown from $25M in 2003 to $154M in 2022 while opening 5 new locations during that time. He has deep industry experience, product knowledge and has been instrumental in helping GAP Supply get into the HVAC Supplies and Equipment business. Corky has also been very influential in adding many product lines to the Johnstone enterprise nationally such as Daikin, Glasfloss, Hardcast, Panasonic, Thermaflex, TRUaire and Southwire.
Matt Popma
Owner
Matt graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1995 and started his career in the Seattle area after college. His first job out of school was as a B2B Outside Salesperson in the telecommunications business where he was tasked with making over 100 cold calls every day either over the phone or in person. He soon learned to thrive in sales but decided to switch industries which led him to ADP, where he worked for 7 years (4 years as a top-performing B2B Outside Salesperson, 3 years as a Regional Sales Manager and Regional Sales Trainer) and developed as a professional salesperson and sales leader.
When he came to Johnstone in 2003, Matt began as the Branch Manager of Tigard but soon gravitated towards his true passion which is Sales and Customer Relations. As we’ve grown, he’s served as Regional Sales Manager, VP of Sales & Marketing and spent the last 10 years as President/CMO. Matt also served over 2 Terms as Board Member for Johnstone Supply (2015-2022), which helped him develop both professionally and personally.
Our Leadership
Steve Porter
President
With 25 years at Grainger Industrial Supply, Steve joined Johnstone Supply The Founders Group with extensive experience overseeing major U.S. acquisitions and, in his final role as FVP of Manufacturing Sales, oversaw the largest sales team in the U.S., comprising 1,300 team members and generating $2.3 billion in revenue. He also spent 3.5 years leading a food manufacturing organization, gaining valuable insights from a manufacturing perspective.
He earned a BA in Criminal Law from Western Washington University and has served on the boards of the Chicago Children's Museum and The Sports Shed. Currently, he is a member of the HARDI People & Culture committee and enjoys sharing his leadership and career development expertise through continuing education programs, with an upcoming partnership with Portland State. Steve has been married to his lovely wife for 29 years and has two children.
Mayela Armour
Vice President of People
Mayela Armour is the Vice President of People, dedicated to leveraging human capital for organizational success. With 16 years of experience across diverse industries, she started her career in finance by supporting an international hedge fund in New York City, and most recently worked in manufacturing, gaining an expertise in organizational development, HRIS implementation, and acquisitions.
Mayela holds a Bachelor of Health Science and has served on the board of directors for Legacy Hospital. As a certified Senior HR Professional, she advocates for people and shapes the organization’s strategy to attract and retain top talent in every industry she serves. In her personal life, Mayela enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband and three kids, as well as cheering them on at their various sporting events.
Brad Nollmeyer
Vice President of Sales & Branch Services
Brad Nollmeyer brings 23 years of leadership experience from Grainger Industrial Supply, where he excelled in sales and operations. Now serving as Vice President of Sales and Branch Services at Johnstone Supply Founders Group, he specializes in driving sales and operational excellence. Brad holds a BA in Criminal Justice with minors in Political Science and Sociology from Washington State University and is OSHA 30, HACCP, and QSSP certified.
A Presidents Club honoree for top 1% sales performance, he has risen through roles from warehouse operations to executive leadership. In his free time, Brad enjoys supporting his three daughters’ activities and spending time outdoors on the water and in the sun.
Tony tollenaar
Sr. Director of Sales - West Region
Tony Tollenaar is the Senior Director of Sales - West at Johnstone Supply – The Founders Group, where he leads regional sales strategy and growth initiatives across Oregon, Washington & Alaska. Tony brings more than 30 years of leadership experience from Grainger, where he held multiple leadership roles guiding both sales and operations teams. Known for developing high-performing teams and strengthening customer partnerships, Tony was recently honored with the prestigious John Shank Leadership Award, recognizing his impact, leadership, and commitment to excellence. In his free time Tony enjoys all sports, reflecting his passion for teamwork, competition, and leadership both professionally and personally.
Blake deeter
Sr. Director of Sales - East Region
Blake Deeter has been a dedicated member of the Johnstone organization for 24 years, bringing extensive knowledge and experience in the HVAC industry. Throughout his career, he has held various roles, including driver, warehouse associate, manager, operations support, and sales. Blake specializes in supporting the sales industry by fostering and maintaining strong customer relationships through collaborative business consulting, strategic planning, and the alignment of value-driven tools. He Studied HVAC and Electrical at Ogden Applied Tech College and actively supports youth development in mental resilience, strength, and life skills to facilitate effective goal setting. Blake enjoys engaging with his children on wrestling mats, participating in endurance races, hunting, fishing, and spending quality time with his family.
Steve Samuelson
Sr. Director of Branch Services - West Region
Steve Samuelson is the Director of Branch Services for our Western Region. He has dedicated 13 years to the organization, beginning his career as a delivery driver and warehouse associate, before advancing to roles such as CSSA and Branch Manager. With 20 years of experience in warehouse operations and management, Steve specializes in customer service, leadership, team building, process improvement, inventory management, and problem-solving. In his personal time, Steve enjoys playing guitar, fishing, and camping with his family.
Ryan Hunt
Sr. Director of Branch Services - East Region
Ryan Hunt is the Senior Director of Branch Services-East at Johnstone Supply – The Founders Group, where he leads our branch services teams across Utah, Idaho, Eastern Washington & Northern California. Ryan has more than 25 years of leadership experience in the industrial supply industry with a proven record in management, operations, and sales leadership. Ryan thrives in coaching, mentoring, and motivating teams to achieve excellence, while driving strategic initiatives that optimize processes, ensure compliance and safety, and deliver measurable business results. In his personal time, Ryan enjoys skiing, camping, and attending sporting events with his family.
William efird
Director of Sales Operations
William Efird is the Director of Sales Operations for The Founders Group, where he acts as lead for the Sales/Field Support Teams and our primary vendor contacts. William grew up in a family HVAC business, where he worked as an installer, maintenance technician, and manager. He joined The Founders Group in 2019 and has worked in Sales and Product Leadership roles before his current position. Outside of work, William and his wife are empty-nesters with 3 adult children, but 2 dogs still at home. They love cooking for and entertaining guests. William is an active member of his church and Parish Council.
Bill modestowicz
Director of Branch Service Operations
Bill Modestowicz serves as the Director of Branch Services Operations for The Founders Group, where he leads enterprise continuous improvement efforts that strengthen operational execution, consistency, and customer experience across the organization. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in multi-site distribution operations and safety, Bill is known for building practical, scalable processes that improve performance in the field, and has led major initiatives spanning inventory integrity, warehouse and fleet programs, operational audits, and enterprise system deployments including ERP and WMS implementations that improved visibility and execution across multiple locations. Outside of work, Bill enjoys spending time with his family and supporting his son’s baseball adventures.
Ryan Phan
Sr. Director of Purchasing
Ryan Vu Phan, Senior Director of Purchasing, brings 18 years of supply chain experience, having worked with organizations like Adidas, LAM Research, and Johnstone Corp. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Supply and Logistics Management from Portland State University, with a minor in Computer Science, and is a Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) and Lean Principles certified. Ryan has managed nearly $1 billion in inventory and specializes in inventory management, supplier negotiations, process optimization, and risk management. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys house renovations, outdoor adventures, and spending time with his wife and twin boys.
Michael Hines
Sr. Director of Technology Solutions
Michael Hines is the Director of Technology Solutions, bringing a wealth of experience from his previous role as Director of IT Operations, where he spent 26 years. A purposeful IT leader, Michael has over 20 years of experience managing large-scale operations and driving digital transformation in fast-paced IT environments. He is recognized as a mentor and inspirational leader, dedicated to fostering the growth of teams both within and outside the organization. Outside of work, Michael is passionate about leading people and helping them develop their careers. He also enjoys spending time working on the farm.
Sean Hutchens
Controller
Sean Hutchens, CPA, serves as Controller, responsible for leading the company’s accounting function and advancing financial excellence across the organization. He brings over 14 years of experience across multiple industries, along with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accountancy from Oregon State University. Sean has a strong foundation in GAAP, financial analysis, and operational finance, with a focus on building resilient processes and developing teams capable of supporting a dynamic, growth-oriented business. He is passionate about coaching and mentoring, fostering a culture of accountability, and partnering with cross-functional leaders to translate financial results into meaningful business insights. Outside of work, Sean enjoys spending time with family and exploring the outdoors with their two German Shepherd dogs.
Join a team that values innovation, collaboration, and growth. At Johnstone Supply, we’re committed to supporting our employees’ success while empowering HVAC businesses to thrive. Explore opportunities to build a rewarding career with a company that invests in your future.
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Giving Back
Johnstone Supply is proud to support Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing critical financial assistance and resources to military families. Through donations and volunteer efforts, Johnstone helps ensure that veterans, active-duty service members, and their families receive the support they need to thrive. By partnering with Operation Homefront, we contribute to the well-being of those who have served our country, helping them navigate challenges and build a brighter future.