Joe Huffman Announces Retirement

The industry is losing a friend in a couple of weeks. Joe Huffman, whom many knew as the VP Supplier Relations for CED and also known by many distributors when he was VP Sales for Leviton, announced last week that, after over 50 years, he is retiring effective May 1.

Joe shared this announcement:

“After 23 years with CED as the VP of Supplier Relations, overseeing the Management Training Program and 2 National Account roles, and 22 years at Leviton in various sales management roles, leaving there as VP Electrical Distribution Sales, I will be retiring on 5/1/26 after 50+ years in the ED industry. I realize that is a “mouthful” but wanted you to know. “

Kurt Lasher shared an announcement last week to CED’s associates.

Joe joined CED 23 years ago, succeeding Ron Heronemus, as CED’s VP Supplier Relations.  At that time CED was located in Westlake Village, CA, which enabled Joe to relocate back to CA after his stint as VP Sales for Leviton.

I recall many saying to Joe at the time, “now your golf game will improve,” suspecting the role was occasionally vetting a manufacturer and negotiating a rebate but, given it was CED and profit centers were, essentially,  autonomous at the time, he would be able to visit manufacturers and benefit from their largesse as they engaged in “customer golf.”

While his golf game may have improved a little, it reportedly is below what many expected.

Joe used his knowledge of the business, his experience being with a large, family-owned manufacturer (Leviton), managing a direct sales force and manufacturer reps, and interacting with contractors.

I met Joe when I was starting in the industry for IMARK. It was an NAED Western. We were meeting with Leviton’s management (Don Hendler, Bill Cheetham, Bill Marshall) and Joe attended as he was the Western RVP. Our interactions continued, facilitated by NAED Western’s, until Joe became VP Sales of Leviton and then he moved to New York.

In looking at Joe’s announcement, it totals, 45 years so I asked him about the discrepancy. After all, he was VP Supplier Relations and 50-45 leaves a difference.

He shared that he started with the Union Insulating Company in West Virginia selling non-metallic conduit bodies. His first sales call was on Hughes Supply. Union was eventually bought by GTE Sylvania. He also served as a product marketing manager for a dry-type transformer company, hence has some switchgear background.

There are many national account managers / manufacturer senior management who will miss Joe’s sage advice and honesty. He also knew the CED structure and could help navigate it.

And for distributors, since he called on them at Leviton, he knew many (and the history of their company.)

He was also very supportive, and frank, with associations, and was a friend to NEMRA and NAED.

Personally, Joe has been a friend for 30 years. I appreciate the willingness to support me, be a guide, share his insights, and to always be available.

After 50+ years, he will be missed.

As the supplier community knows, Mike Shapiro has taken over Joe’s supplier relations responsibilities. His other areas of influence were reassigned to two other people, plus Mike (which gives you a sense of his sphere of influence.)

Congratulations Joe, enjoy retirement and traveling with Sally and spending more time with the kids. Maybe the golf game will improve but enjoy. You deserve it.

Here’s Joe’s LinkedIn profile if you want to connect, but you’ll see he hasn’t posted or have many connections. Feel free to leave comments below.