We are excited to add 3 new faces to the DAC this year. Ricardo, Kevin and Jim have already proved their enthusiasm in representing our distributor partners in this Council and we are sure that they will bring a lot of energy and fresh ideas along with them. Please join us in welcoming them. Here is their contact information and their story in a nutshell.

Ricardo Espeleta

Commercial Director and President
SOMNIO
Nuevo Leon, Mexico
ricardo.espeleta@somnio.com.mx
+52-811-803-4113

After starting his career in the tooling industry 7 years ago, Ricardo Espeleta is now the Commercial Director and President of Somnio S.A de C.V. Somnio was created 15 years ago, with the mission of providing smart solutions to the automotive industry. A family owned company (2 of Ricardo’s brothers also work in the family business), Somnio strives to continually evolve and adapt to an ever changing market. The company provides products and services in tooling, precision gages and holding and assists customers with services such as scrap recovery.

Ricardo graduated with a degree in Business Administration and is an experienced trader. He is always looking for new ways of doing business and has transformed Somnio into a resource optimizer agent for the automotive industry.

Ricardo is also a member of the Social union of Mexican Businessmen.

Kevin Hess

President
AHB Tooling & Machinery
Roseville, MI
kevin.hess@ahbinc.com
810-523-5977

Kevin has been the president of AHB Tooling & Machinery for the past 18 years. AHB is an industrial distributor specializing in all metal removal products, fluids, machinery and waterjet supplies. The company also provides services. Now a fairly renown distributor in Michigan, AHB has locations in Roseville, Saginaw and Jackson and does minor business in Ohio and Indiana as well.

Before buying AHB, Kevin worked as a field salesman with Detroit Industrial Supply, which later bought the Sterlinger Company, in turn sold to J&L Industrial and eventually to MSC.

When embarking on his new journey with AHB, Kevin surrounded himself with a great team of experts. He now has key employees directing all specialty areas of the company, which allows him to spend many weeks in Florida through the year, especially in the winter months. More remote from the daily business, Kevin has overseen several acquisitions that contributed to the development of AHB. He has served on different boards in the past and is looking forward to working with us on the Distributor Advisory Council.

Jim Johnston

President
Johnston Companies
Fresno, Ca.
jim@jiscodirect.com
559-999-3298

Jim is the third generation owner of Johnston Companies comprised of; Johnston Industrial Supply Co., Jisco Abrasives, Advanced Tool & Supply, and Murray Industrial Supply. Johnston Industrial operates out of three stocking locations in Northern California, and in 2007 added Advanced Tool & Supply in Santa Clara Ca. and Murray Industrial Supply in 2012. In addition, Jisco Abrasives located in Fresno manufactures custom abrasives products sold through distribution throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.

Jim started his career with the company in 1997 after graduating high school, working through various jobs in manufacturing and customer service. He has had many positions from production manager, Outside Sales, Sales Manager and has now taken over as president of the entire organization replacing Jim Johnston Sr. who is still very active in the organization as well.

Jim married his wife Leanne in 2002 and they have three children Jimmy (9), Grace (7), and Jack (4).