Just a few days ago, DPHA received a heartfelt
announcement from DPHA Fellow Marilyn Hermance (Westheimer Plumbing and
Hardware in Houston, TX) informing us that after 40 years, she will be
retiring effective November 1st of this year.
Marilyn is another pioneer in the decorative plumbing and hardware
industry. She held a variety of jobs before entering the world of
decorative plumbing and hardware. She was a child model, owned an
automobile and truck company and taught American Studies at Case Western
Reserve University. In 1977, Marilyn returned to her native Houston.
She became frustrated by the fact that she could not find products for
her new house that she wanted. As a result, she opened Houston's first
decorative plumbing and hardware showroom. For the next several decades,
the business grew steadily thanks to Marilyn's sharp eye for
innovative product and entrepreneurial passion to succeed.
Marilyn recognized the need for her industry to come together and
became one of the dynamic forces that helped to create the DPH sector
within NKBA. She also understood and appreciated the challenges facing
entrepreneurs who may not have had formal business training. That is one
of the reasons she helped to establish the Entrepreneurship Program at
the University of Houston and served as one of the Program's adjunct
professors.
We could continue to go on and on about Marilyn and her
contributions to the industry, but the chances are we can't sum up
things as well as Marilyn herself did in the notice she sent, so what
follows is most of the announcement she sent out on September 28th:
Dear Industry Professional:
With mixed feelings I want to
announce my retirement from Westheimer Plumbing & Hardware as of
November 1, 2018. I could not have imagined a more rewarding or fun
career and I can't believe it's been 40 years! I have made so many
friends over the years - vendors, reps, colleagues, and competitors who
became friends as well as associates - and I wanted to share my
announcement with you personally. Thank you for letting me be
part of creating an industry that continues to inspire people around the
world. It gives me great joy to see so many women in our industry.
I want to thank all of my friends at
DPHA. The organization has changed the industry and has made all our
business more viable and more profitable. I will also add that the
greatest honor I have received in my 41 years in business is to be named
a DPHA Fellow. It has been my great pleasure to be part of the DPHA
group.
As I reflect on my 40 year career, I
remember starting with 800 square feet of space, which included my
office, warehouse area, and showroom. I had no personal computer, no fax
machine, and no cell phones - because they did not exist! I
did have the support and help of my husband, Bob, which made all the
difference - and I got to work with him for 25 years.
At the time, I did not realize that I
was one of the trail blazers, not only as a woman in the construction
business, but also in an industry that was just developing. Most of the
items we sell today would have been beyond the imagination of people in
1977.
Like a lot of companies in the
Decorative Plumbing & Hardware industry, ours is a family owned
business. I have been working with my co-owners, Douglas Hermance and
Mary Ambrose, for over 25 years. There will be no break in the
continuity of ownership of the business.
Best regards, Marilyn Hermance
We still look forward to seeing Marilyn at DPHA events and
remaining a part of the next chapter in her rich and fruitful life.
Congratulations, Marilyn! Kick back and try to take it at least a
little bit easier. You most definitely deserve it!
