This was one such time. Bob Christiansen, this year's incoming president of the Southern Wholesalers Association, is one of those effervescent individuals with a knack for putting people in a good mood. Only 42, he looks even younger, and carries an infectious enthusiasm that makes problems seem a little smaller.
His company, Chris-More Inc., headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., with a branch in Nashville, was started in 1972 by his father, Bill Christiansen, and partner Doug Morehead. In 1983, Darryl Skipper bought Morehead's share of the business and has been Bill's ally ever since. Bill is still active in the business overseeing the big picture, but lives in Birmingham and delegates day-to-day management to Darryl, the branch managers and sons Bob and Bill Jr., the latter serving as operations manager of the Nashville facility.