Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> March 11, 2002
DANIEL P. SPALDING became Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of School Specialty, Inc. in February 1998. From 1996 to
February 1998, Mr. Spalding served as President of the Educational
Supplies and Products Division of US Office Products. From 1988 to 1996,
he served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of School
Specialty. Prior to 1988, Mr. Spalding was an Officer of JanSport, a
manufacturer of sports apparel and backpacking equipment. Mr. Spalding
was a co-founder of JanSport and served as President and Chief Executive
Officer from 1977 to 1988. He focused on marketing and positioning the
JanSport brand. Mr. Spalding managed JanSport's transition from an
independent company to a division of a Fortune 500 company. Mr. Spalding
originally acquired JanSport from K2 Skis in 1980. He successfully sold
the company in 1985, prior to taking over School Specialty, which was
then Valley School Supply, a $22 million distributor of educational
products. Mr. Spalding then began a consolidation effort buying 32
companies and in the process selling School Specialty to US Office
Products, which was spun out two years later as a separate public
company. Mr. Spalding has been a Director of the National School Supply
and Equipment Association since 1992 and completed his term as the
association's Chairman in November 1997. Mr. Spalding is presently a
director on the boards of StandardsWork, U.S. Tire & Exhaust, Town &
Country Electric, the Appleton Education Foundation and the Community
Blood Center. Profile
Specialty, Inc., and an overview of what you are doing at the present
time?
Mr. Spalding: School Specialty has been in business
