Beacon Award, Young Retailer of the Year Winners Honored at IHI Awards Gala

Independent retailers from across North America came together July 30 at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes to celebrate excellence and achievement during the 2025 IHI Awards Gala. 

The evening spotlighted two signature honors—the Beacon Awards and the NHPA Young Retailer of the Year Awards—highlighting lifetime achievement, the best new stores, digital marketing excellences, and next-generation leadership within the independent home improvement channel.

“Hardware Connection has been recognizing industry excellence through the Beacon Awards for 13 years. It is a distinct honor to tell the stories of retailers who have made such a meaningful impact on their communities—and on the industry as a whole,” said Hardware Connection editor Doug Donaldson, who co-hosted the ceremony.

This year’s Beacon Award recipients included:

• Retail Beacon Award, recognizing lifetime achievement and enduring impact:
  – Randy Andes, Randy’s Hardware
  – Peter Grebeck, Peter’s True Value Hardware
  – Theisen Family, Theisen’s

• Beacon Award for Best New Store honorees:
  – 3 Sons Hardware True Value
  – Coulee Hardware
  – Matt’s Building Materials

• Beacon Award for Digital Excellence, sponsored by WD-40:
  – Sullivan Hardware & Garden

The Beacon Awards were made possible through the support of wholesale sponsors Do it Best, Orgill and True Value, along with Epicor, Ettore, Fluidmaster, and WD-40, sponsor of the inaugural Beacon Award for Digital Excellence.

Young Retailer of the Year Awards Spotlight Rising Talent

During this first-of-its-kind Awards Gala, also celebrated were eight retailers under the age of 35 as part of the NHPA Young Retailer of the Year program. 

“Tonight is about honoring the people who are building, growing, and giving back—at every level,” said Awards Gala co-host Cody Goeppner, director of education and training, North American Hardware & Paint Association. “The Young Retailer of the Year Awards honor the next generation of retailers—those 35 and under who are already making a significant impact in their stores, their communities, and across our industry.”

The 2025 honorees include:

• Jay Engler, Busy Beaver Building Centers
• Jacqueline Fenton, Hassett Ace Hardware
• Ryan Leger, Richibucto Home Hardware Building Centre
• Huong Luu, Luu Color Center
• Brookelyn McClellan, Hardware Sales
• Matthew Spinks, Lumber King
• Mitchell Stadtlander, Cedar Mountain True Value
• Skylar Stevenson, Stevenson’s Ace Hardware

Now in its 29th year, the Young Retailer of the Year Awards are presented by the North American Hardware and Paint Association and supported by American Hardware & Lumber Insurance, Midwest Fastener, Wooster Brush Company and ECI Software Solutions.

Following the ceremony, IHI attendees gathered for the Independents Celebration, a post-awards gathering and networking event that capped off the evening with music, drinks and connection among retailers, vendors and industry partners.

For more coverage of IHI 2025 and full profiles of winners, look for the September issue of Hardware Connection.