Edward Don & Company, the leading distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies, has named Elias C. Tavarez Chief Financial Officer as part of a long-term succession plan. Tavarez will succeed Jim Jones, who will remain in his current role as Chief Operating Officer and Board Member. Tavarez has over 15 years of experience in senior financial roles.
Prior to joining DON, he served as CFO of Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors in Detroit Michigan. He also served in senior financial roles at Dunns River Brands, LaLa US and PepsiCo where he was known for driving financial strategy and performance.
“I am pleased to welcome Elias to our leadership team,” said Steve Don, President and Chief Executive Officer. “His deep and extensive experience in leading financial operations in a fast-paced distribution business will allow us to continue to create value for the company and our customers. I am confident Elias will provide strong leadership and is an excellent addition to the DON team.”
“I am honored to join Edward Don & Company and continue the great work with Steve Don and team.” said Tavarez. “DON has a strong reputation for servicing customers and I am particularly thrilled to join in DON’s 100th anniversary year.”
As CFO, Tavarez will lead the Company’s finance organization and will be responsible for accounting, treasury, financial planning & analysis, tax and banking relations.
Edward Don & Company has also named Phil Blas Regional Sales Manager. In his new position, Blas will be responsible for managing sales teams and driving new business opportunities for the California and Pacific Northwest Regions. Prior to joining DON, he served 12 years with Smith & Greene responsible for sales out of the Seattle, Portland and Denver offices. Blas worked his way from street sales to sales manager for smallwares to quickly being promoted to FED Sales Manager, where he spent the majority of his time on design, build and remodeling projects.
Blas stated, “I am excited for the expanded territory and growing with DON’s amazing California Team. The West Coast has tremendous potential and all the right pieces in place to make some noise!”
Blas graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Fine Arts – Multimedia Design. He spends his free time with his wife and two kids camping, golfing and traveling by exploring new places and enjoying new experiences.
About Edward Don & Company
Owned and operated by the Don family since 1921, Edward Don & Company is the world’s leading distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies. Headquartered in Woodridge, IL, the company is the chosen supplier to all types of foodservice businesses including independent restaurants, national chains, health care, hospitality, country clubs, schools and universities, government institutions, and foodservice management. DON, with approximately 1,000+ employees, operates a nationwide distribution network supported by seven full- service distribution centers – in Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles and Seattle – and also owns and operates its own transportation fleet. DON serves national and multi-unit account programs with flexible, customized solutions that meet the needs of both the corporate office and the individual units. DON’s Foodservice Equipment Division offers full-service kitchen design, equipment purchasing, and installation.
For more information, please visit www.don.com
