Steve Friedman
Account Director
Steve Friedman has joined the Hermitage Team and brings 40 years of national account experience and knowledge from the manufacturing side of the industry.
Steve was most recently with Cree Lighting where he was a VP & Director of Strategic National Accounts for the past 7.5 years. Prior to that, Steve was with Security Lighting, a division of Hubbell Lighting, and was the VP & General Manager from 1998 – 2012 after rising through the ranks joining the new manufacturing company first as a sales person and then serving as National Account Manager through 1997.
Steve has been working with Hermitage and the generations of the Fleischer family since the late 1980’s when they became his first national account distributor customer and this successful relationship has been maintained since. It seems fitting that this great partnership has now brought us together on Team Hermitage! Steve looks forward to further success on the distribution side of the business and the value of unlimited product offerings that this opportunity will make available in servicing national account customers.
Funny fun fact about Steve; his first sale almost didn’t happen when as a young sales person his first meeting with purchasing manager from electrical contractor led to immediate order opportunity and need of a buy price for large quantity of 2x4’s when Steve replied, “appreciate the opportunity for order however, I do not sell lumber”. He later found that the terminology used was the same as lay-in troffers and the rest as they say is history.
Steve attended Northern Illinois University where he played hockey.
Steve resides in the north suburbs of Chicago along with his wife Mindee of 36 years and his three children Cory, Ali (twins age 32) and Spencer age 23. Steve is also a grandfather of Leo who just turned 10 months old.
Cell: 847-830-1444 | Email: sfriedman@gohermitage.com