Supply House Times Next Gen ALL-STARS

2024 Next Gen All-Star: Jeff Kissler

Top 20 Under 40 PHCP-PVF Professional

By Nicole Krawcke, Natalie Forster, Editorial Director

How long have you been in the PHCP-PVF industry?

13 years.

What drew you into the industry?

I am the 4^th generation into my family company, Kissler and Co. There are only 1,800 companies in the US that are in their 100 plus years. It was/is extremely important to me to keep my family tradition alive and thriving.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working in the industry?

The industry is rapidly changing with new product and innovation. Being able to innovate and stay ahead of the curve with what our customers need make it extremely rewarding.

What motivates you every day?

The relationship and trust we build with our customers. Some of these relationships go back generations between our businesses. Being able to consistently and accurately support them is extremely motivating

What is one thing you wish more people knew/understood about the PHCP-PVF industry?

The industry that we are in is rapidly changing. I like the challenge of staying on top all the current items and creating new ones to better serve our customers. This industry is much more hands on than other industries that I have worked in.

What has been your proudest moment in your career so far?

Our company’s 100^th year celebration. To hit a 100 year was a major milestone and proud moment

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

I’ve been to all 50 states.

Why he was chosen as a Next Gen All Star Top 20 Under 40 winner:

Jeff’s business cards may read “Director of Sales,” but there’s really no title that can describe his impact at Kissler & Co. That’s because, over the last 13 years, Jeff has influenced just about every aspect of our business.

From product development to packaging, accounting to marketing, Jeff is steering our company into the future with a “lead by example” mentality. He truly does it all. Jeff is our liaison to the AD buying group. He trains and teaches new hires on how to use our Netsuite ERP system—a system he helped implement in 2022. And he was instrumental in growing market share within the IMARK buying group, earning Kissler & Co. “Gold Vendor” status for 2023.

Jeff is also proud to represent the fourth generation of Kissler & Co., a business started by his great-grandfather in the 1920s. It’s this legacy that motivates him to become the best leader he can be, even when he’s off the clock. In 2015, he joined the American Supply Associations “Young Executives” group, of which he became a board member in January of this year. He also took it upon himself to get his business MBA from Syracuse University during the pandemic (while working a full-time job).

Kissler & Co. recently celebrated is 100th birthday. And if Jeff’s passion, commitment and creativity are any indication, our next 100 years will be just as successful. Moving forward, we believe Jeff is deserving of a title that accurately reflects his contributions to our company and to our industry: a Next Gen All-Star.

– Doug Tanner, Kissler & Co.

Back to the Supply House Times Next Gen ALL-STARS main page

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Nicole Krawcke is the former Chief Editor of Plumbing & Mechanical. She joined BNP Media in 2014 and served as Web Editor and Business Management Editor of The ACHR NEWS. Prior to joining BNP, she worked at Patch.com, a hyper-local news platform focused on community journalism. She has 10 plus years of writing and editing experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Michigan State University.

Natalie Forster is the director of communications for the American Supply Association (ASA), where she leads the association's public and media relations strategy, social media efforts, and member-focused online and print communications. Prior to joining ASA, she was the Editorial Director of Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times. Before that, she served as an editor and digital content director for Southern Trade Publications, a publishing company focused on the PHCP trades and real estate industries. Natalie holds a bachelor's degree in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.