Who we are

DBM is staffed and managed by its owners. We are dedicated to providing our customers with the highest levels of service, professionalism and integrity in the industry. The DBM team includes:

	Bob Stange President This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Bob Stange is president and co-founder of Direct Business Media, LLC. Bob has more than 30 years of experience in business publishing. He has demonstrated expertise in sales, marketing, marketing promotion and business management. Bob has traveled extensively around the country calling on businesses ranging from small entrepreneurial companies to Fortune 500 corporations, as well as distributors and business trade associations. Bob also has successfully launched 23 single-sponsored magazines, plus seven business magazines in both the trade and consumer markets.

	Chris McClimon Vice President/Sales & Marketing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Chris McClimon is a co-founder and vice president/sales and marketing for DBM. He is also publisher of Contractor Supply magazine and its Web site and manages select national accounts. Most recently, McClimon was publisher of Construction Supply magazine, which he co-launched with a 132-page debut issue, a first for its industry. In 1998, McClimon was a member of the Construction Distribution magazine launch team for Cygnus Business Media. Chris directed sales and marketing for CD and the *STAFDA Directory* for 10 1/2 years. McClimon was named associate publisher of CD and the *STAFDA Directory* in 2008. Prior to joining Cygnus, McClimon was with West Legal Publishing (now Thomson Reuters) in Eagan, Minn.

	Rich Vurva Vice President/Publishing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Rich Vurva is vice president/publishing and a co-founder of DBM. A 28-year veteran of the publishing industry, Rich is editor and publisher of *Industrial Supply* magazine and its Web site. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Valparaiso University (1979) and was the founding editor of Progressive Distributor magazine (1996-2009). A recognized industry expert on industrial distribution, he also co-authored the book “Restructuring the Distribution Sales Effort for Maximum Productivity” with Scott Benfield.

	Tom Hammel Vice President/Editorial Director This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tom Hammel is a co-founder and vice president/editorial director of DBM. Tom serves as editorial director of *Contractor Supply* magazine and its Web site and manages select national accounts. Tom previously was editorial director of Construction Supply magazine, which he co-launched, and was the founding editor of Construction Distribution magazine for Cygnus Business Media in 1998. Under his editorial leadership, CD became the leading publication in its market within three years. Hammel edited the magazine for more than six years before joining Pfingsten Publishing as editor of MRO Today magazine and conference director of the Lean University conference series. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa.

	Linda Scott-McCabe Chief Financial Officer This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Linda Scott-McCabe is a co-founder and chief financial officer of DBM. Linda holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Administration from Iowa State University (1977). She has held controller positions in agricultural manufacturing and publishing firms. Linda held the position of Business Manager for a successful Fort Atkinson-based start-up publishing company, Spectrum Business Communications, from inception in 1995 through sale in 2000. Spectrum Business Communications produced business-to-business and single-sponsored publications in the construction and industrial markets.

	Deb Pierce Production Manager This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it As production manager for DBM, Deb Pierce is responsible for scheduling ad placements in our publications. She also plays a key role in production activities for the *STAFDA Directory. Deb previously served as production assistant on Progressive Distributor, MRO Today, Contractor Tools and Supplies* and Construction Supply magazines. Prior to that, Deb was a buyer/planner for Weiler Company of Whitewater, Wis., a manufacturer of industrial food processing equipment.

	Amy Klawitter Creative Director This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Amy Klawitter is creative director for DBM, responsible for graphic design and artistic direction on all Direct Business Media publications, Web sites and various products. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a bachelor's degree in fine arts/graphic design, she previously served as senior graphic designer for Pfingsten Publishing and Spectrum Business Communications in Fort Atkinson, Wis.