OLS INSIDER - Q1 2026

A MESSAGE FROM BRIAN PRICE

FORTITUDE HALL OF FAME

ACQUISITIONS & GREEN/BROWNFIELDS

MARKETING

OPERATIONS

HUMAN RESOURCES

PRODUCT

STORES

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

EVENTS

ANNIVERSARIES, BIRTHDAYS & PROMOTIONS

Team OLS,

I want to personally invite each of you to our upcoming All-Employee Virtual Town Hall on May 11th at 2PM Central. This is an important opportunity for us to connect, share updates, and have an open dialogue about where we are and where we're going. If you have not received an Outlook invite, please email Kathy Granger directly to have it forwarded to you. 

 

Q&A will be a big focus on this Town Hall. To make sure your voice is heard, please submit your questions in advance using this link (also available inside the meeting invite you were sent) on, or before, May 4th: 

Questions can be submitted anonymously and will be answered by me and members of the ELT.

 

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge what some of you may be feeling right now.

 

There's no question we've introduced several changes this year - including new SOPs, inventory management expectations and purchasing controls. Change, especially at this pace, can create pressure and uncertainty. That's real, and it's understandable. We've also been working through challenges in AP and cash flow that have impacted how we do business, which has created some stressful moments for many of us.

 

Here's what I want you to know:

• These changes are necessary to build a stronger, more scalable company.
• We are already seeing progress.
• Our AP issues should largely be behind us within the next month.

We are in a period of both economic pressure and startup growing pains. While that combination isn't easy, it's where great companies are forged.

It is in times like these, where our FORTITUDE culture matters most:

• FUN: Don't lose sight of enjoying the work and each other.
• OPTIMISM: Believe in where we're going.
• RESPECT: Treat every challenge and every person with care.
• TEAMWORK: Solve problems together.
• INTEGRITY: Do the right things always.
• TRUST: Lean on one another.
• UNITY: Stay aligned and supportive.
• DRIVE: Keep pushing forward.
• EMPOWERMENT: Take ownership and make an impact.

I also want to assure each one of you, the foundation of our business remains strong. Our Private Equity investor (Trilantic) and Board of Directors continue to support us and the decisions we are making. We are well-positioned to navigate this challenging period and move forward with confidence.

We didn't choose an easy path - we chose one with real opportunity. I firmly believe that what we're building is worth it, and that we will come out of this stronger - together.

So, stay focused. Support and believe in each other. And always speak up (ask questions / give feedback / bring forward ideas).

Know that I, and the entire ELT, appreciate the effort, resilience, and commitment we see across this team every day.

Congratulations on your induction into the Fortitude Hall of Fame for the months of January, February and March! If you haven't received your Fortitude pin, look for it in the mail soon.

• Jayden Santana | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Roswell, GA
• Pedro Quiroz | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Roswell, GA
• Kimberly Burdette | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Roswell, GA
• Jacob Brigman | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Roswell, GA
• Ron White | Willow Creek Landscape Supply, Rome, GA
• Mario Vega | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Duluth, GA
• Jeremy Rollins | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Kennesaw, GA
• Dave LaCroix | Corporate - Stores
• Bill Newell | Corporate - Operations
• Cameron Hall | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Greenville, SC
• Tyler Harrison | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Greenville, SC
• Logan Holmes | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Pineville, SC
• Celia Epstein | Nova Stone - Landscape & Masonry, Ashburn, VA
• Ashley Alvarez | Corporate - Marketing
• Katie Peterson | Apache Stone, Apache Junction, AZ
• Michael Kirn | Apache Stone, Apache Junction, AZ
• Stephanie Marconi | Corporate - IT
• Peter Sherbrick | Geobunga, Aiea, HI
• Jessica Gum | Geobunga, Aiea, HI
• Doug Sodetani | Geobunga, Aiea, HI
• Dominic DeBiasio | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Norristown, PA
• Jordan Haines | Corporate - Stores
• Matt Kardos | Schofield Stone, Bridgewater, NJ

We're excited to share that Q1 2026 brought significant growth across our footprint as we continue expanding to better serve our customers and communities. 

Stone Center | Landscape & Masonry celebrated a successful Grand Opening in Clayton, NC, and has soft opened its newest location in North Kingstown, RI — with a grand opening celebration to come.

The Rock Place also soft opened its Franklin, TN location, with a Grand Opening on April 22. We're thrilled to see the momentum continue as we deepen our commitment to delivering exceptional service and product expertise to Middle Tennessee.

Have marketing questions or ideas you want to discuss? Please visit the Marketing Intranet page or click here.

Physical Inventory Process Update

Need key documents for operations? Please visit the Operations Intranet page or click here.

Stay Safe from Heat Illness This Summer

As temperatures climb, so does the risk of heat-related illness -- especially for employees working outdoors or in hot environments. The good news: most heat illnesses are preventable with the right habits and awareness. Early recognition is critical.

Symptoms and warning signs of heat illness:

• Heat Rash Cramps
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Fainting
• Heavy Sweating
• Severe Cases Can Include Hot, Dry Skin and Loss of Consciousness

These are not situations to ignore; heat stroke is a medical emergency. 

Tips for Preventing Heat Illness: Prevention starts with hydration. Drink water every 15-30 minutes, even if you're not thirsty. Avoid caffeine or alcohol. For extended or intense work, electrolyte drinks can help replace what's lost through sweat.

Breaks are just Important: Regularly step into shaded or air-conditioned areas to cool down and recover. Don’t wait until you feel overheated — by then, you’re already behind.

If symptoms appear, act fast: move to a cooler area, hydrate, and seek medical help if needed. Staying alert and proactive keeps everyone safer on the job.

OMADA (For those Enrolled in an OLS BCBS Medical Plan)

Open the door to better health. Omada is an online program that can help you lose weight, feel great and lower your risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Omada combines science and support to help you develop healthy habits that last. You get personal support and interactive tools to get and keep you motivated.

Visit omadahealth.com/bcbsmn1 today! 

Save For Your Future by Contributing to Your 401K

Contributing to your 401k and taking advantage of the OLS employer match is a great way to save for your future. Completing the Retirement Readiness tool in ADP Retirement can help you see if you are on track for retirement. 

ADP offers many resources under their Financial Wellness section. Some of the topics you can find are: 

• Healthy Financial Habits - Learn how to build emergency savings, save for retirement, and manage existing debt, and so much more. 
• Budget Calculator and Creating a Budget - Learn how to decide what to spend money on, and what's breaking your budget, tracking expenses and more.  
• Debt Management - Learn the types of debt, strategies for paying off debt, including different methods. 
• Getting Started with Investing - Learn what investing is and why it's important, along with how to invest, analyze if an investment is too risky.  
• Retirement Readiness - Learn strategies for saving in retirement, and how to plan for your future retirement expenses. 

Log into ADP from a computer to check them out! 

Have employment, benefits or payroll questions? Please visit the Human Resources Intranet page or click here. 

A Note on Our Inventory Markdown Promotion

As we've discussed, improving cashflow and reducing aged inventory has been a priority — and we're taking action. We received the green light to begin our markdown process and launched one of our first company-wide promotions on March 30th.

What's included? At launch, we identified approximately $9M worth of inventory across our stores — roughly 20% of total inventory — where current on-hand quantities exceeded everything sold in all of 2025. We kicked things off at 25% off to move these items efficiently.

A few important details:

• Marketing assets — Digital assets rolled out by March 30th. Physical banners shipped to each store and were expected to arrive the week of April 6th.
• How the discount works — This promotion is running through NS. Every qualifying item and store combination was loaded at launch, and the 25% discount is being applied automatically to sales transactions — no manual entry needed on your end.
• Need to remove the discount? Changes can't be made directly in the sales order, but if you'd like to remove the promotion from a transaction, simply reach out to me and I'll take care of it.
• What's next — We're actively reviewing sell-through over the next two weeks to determine whether additional discounting is needed to keep things moving. Additional promotions are already built in NS and ready to deploy if we need to go further.

Running a spring promotion on excess inventory is new territory for us — we've historically tackled cleanup in the fall — so we're also gathering data to better understand what steps we can take going forward to avoid building up this level of inventory in the future.

We're excited to see the progress we continue to make on these aged items, and the Open to Buy headroom it will free up (more on that relaunch soon). Please share this with your teams, and don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Introducing the ProSelect Nursery Program

A smarter way to source plants is here. The ProSelect Nursery Program is now available at select locations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions — and it's designed to take the heavy lifting out of plant sourcing for contractors and project-focused customers.

Here's how it works: customers submit their project and plant list, our team handles the quoting and sourcing through a network of select regional nurseries, and they choose pickup from the yard or direct delivery to the job site. Annuals, perennials, flowering and evergreen shrubs, deciduous and evergreen trees — if it grows, we can source it.

This program is a meaningful add-on for locations already serving landscape contractors, giving them one more reason to source everything from us. A consolidated quote, reliable sourcing, and job site delivery? That's a hard offer to walk away from.

For questions about the program or participating locations, contact Kristyn Chafe.

Have product questions? Please visit the Product & Sales Intranet page or click here.

The Rock Place, Smyrna, TN

Tucked into Smyrna, Tennessee, The Rock Place has built a reputation as a go-to destination for contractors and homeowners alike — a well-organized, accessible yard where serious project-doers come to get the job done right.

Fun Facts:

• One of the most accessible yards in the region — spacious layout designed for easy in-and-out, even for contractors hauling large trailors
• A true full-service yard carrying bulk gravels, natural stone, pavers, wall block, and masonry under one roof
• Serves an even split of retail customers and contractors, with a team that speaks fluently to both

Well-Balanced Product Mix that Had the Most 2025 Sales Coming From:

• 39.1% Pavers & Wall Block
• 29.6% Bulk Product
• 17.1% Natural Stone
• 6.9% Masonry & Veneer

A Yard Built for the Work:

The Rock place isn't just stocked — it's designed. The larger yard layout means contractors with full rigs can pull in, load up, and get back to the job site without hassle. Every product category is accessible, organized, and ready to move. For homeowners, the same ease of access translates to a stress-free shopping experience where you can actually see, touch, and compare materials before you buy.

Know Your Customer:

The Rock Place draws a customer who means business. Whether it's a contractor planning a large install or a homeowner researching their first patio, the common thread is curiosity and commitment — customers who want to understand what they're buying and why it's the right choice for their project. Their bestsellers reflect that no-nonsense mindset: 

• Bulk Gravels - A workhorse product with broad appeal, from drainage solutions to decorative finishing
• Natural Stone - Timeless, versatile, and always in demand for both hardscape and accent applications
• Pavers & Wall Block - The backbone of any outdoor living project, with options for every style and budget

Service That Stands Out:

At The Rock Place, honesty isn't a policy — it's a practice. The team communicates clearly, sets realistic expectations, and gives customers the information they need to make confident decisions. In an industry where customers are often making significant investments in their property, that straightforward approach builds the kind of trust that brings people back. 

Results That Matter:

In 2025, The Rock Place's digital presence delivered real results: 96,000 website sessions and 331,000 pageviews as customers researched products and projects — while the location reached 346,000 people on Facebook and Instagram through a combination of organic and paid content.

The Moment We're Most Proud Of:

Some wins show up in the numbers. This one shows up in a person. The Rock Place recently promoted a team member who first joined the yard as a 15-year-old associate. Now 22, he's grown into one of the location's top sales professionals — and the team couldn't be more proud. It's a testament to what happens when you invest in people, give them room to grow, and build a workplace worth growing into.

What's Next:

The Rock Place is riding serious momentum into 2026. As a region, a team, and a family, they've just celebrated the opening of their fifth location — a milestone that speaks to the strength of the people behind it. With a solid foundation, a loyal customer base, and a crew that shows up every day ready to work, the best may very well be ahead.

 133 Strong: OLS Comes Together in Nashville 

The 2026 IGNITE Leaders Meeting & Product Expo brought 133 OLS team members to the Sheraton Music City in Nashville, TN, February 9-12, providing an important opportunity to come together, align on 2026 priorities, and kick off the year united in adopting The OLS Way. 

The OLS Way is the shared framework for how we operate — helping us make good decisions and deliver results consistently across every location. By following defined processes, leveraging data-driven decisions, and holding ourselves accountable, we create alignment, improve execution, and drive stronger outcomes as one organization. With 2026 designated as the Year of Accountability, the expectation is clear: take ownership, follow through, and get things done the right way.

The meeting included a Product Expo that featured 35 booths, with 88 vendor representatives in attendance. Attendees connected with both new and existing vendors while exploring products across markets. 

The Natural Stone Solutions (NSS) displays were a key highlight of the general session space, featuring our new waterfall and stair racks along with our new sample boxes — giving store managers clear, practical examples of effective merchandising. Contract-Manufactured walls (CM walls) were also showcased. NSS and CM walls will be a major driver of 2026 sales and gross margin growth.

Happy work anniversary! We are so lucky to have you!

• April: 46 Years | John Seegmiller, 32 Years | Michael Rick, 28 Years | Benjamin Barrera Izaquirre, 25 Years |  Norman Hebert, Jr., 23 Years | Jessica Short, Jorge Lopez, 22 Years | Jonathan Enos, 20 Years | Ryan Shaw, 18 Years | Kenneth Mathieu, 17 Years | Bruce Morse, Layla Dedrick, 16 Years | Gary Cook, 15 Years | Gary Turner, John Oliver II, 13 Years | Craig Barker, 11 Years | Paul O'Donnell, Tracy Gumaer, 9 Years | Ernesto Canela Sandoval, 8 Years | Dina Brickey, Troy Wilcox, Esteban Plascencia Sanchez, 7 Years | Eric Kvelums, Robert Dunn, James Harris, 5 Years | Gary Horne, Brittany Pivero, Todd Bliss, Kailex Welch, Felipe Magallan Camarena, 4 Years | Juan Garza, Jesus Estrada Gomez, Maricela Aguilar Gonzalez, George Pence, Jose Solis Rodriguez, 3 Years | J.A. Falconer, Hannah Palmer, Tyler Strickland, William Owens, Samuel Chong, Jacob Brigman, 2 Years | Scotty Turner, Alec Russell, Joseph LaBuda, James Older, Eric Ambriz Jer-Leon, 1 Year | David Muckle, William Cribb, William DuBose, Alexis Johnson, Wakil Byron, David Schmid, Tyriek Duncan, Armani Hall, Charles Crider, Ashley Resendiz Rodriguez, Alexis Barajas Perez, Jeshua Mumm, Kevin Velasquez, Caleb Stevens, Logan Garza, Jessica Pelletier and William Holliday.

• May: 36 Years | Modesto Hernandez, 24 Years | Hugo Sequeira, 23 Years | Andrew Marcinek, 22 Years | Armando Marquez, 21 Years | Cindy Jones, 20 years | Jose Izaguirre, 18 Years | Jonathan Mayer, 16 Years | Robert Berry, 15 Years | Yanira Ramos, 11 Years | Dominic DeBiasio, 10 Years | Hermenegildo Mendoza Torrez, Jordan Haines, 9 Years | Eric Ochoa, Andrew Loggins, 8 Years | Daniel Lyons, 7 Years | Thomas Morrow, 6 Years | Mark Dalton, Edgar Gonzalez Mancilla, 5 Years | Kenneth Holmes, Melinda Farley, David Avila Cano, Douglas Sodetani, Abish Fonseca Nunez, 4 Years | Guillermo Avila Indio, Jaime Guerra Pantoja, Brenton Kranich, Deborah Siderchuk, 3 Years | Adam Dierken, Benjamin Sousa, 2 Years | Damon Henderson, Adah Keeney, Walter Martinez, Viridian Sanchez-Cisneros, Pedro Perez, Kevin Bussell, Michael Brown, Taylor Ford, Geraldine Alston-Weir, 1 Year | Taryn Colvin, Bailey Goodrich, Dawson Dixon, William Rogers, Jr., Andrews Serrano, Spencer Everest and Shawn Ballard.

• June: 21 Years | Janice Trumbur, 19 Years | Richard Kearney, 16 Years | Eric Thompson, 13 Years | Carlos Aceituno Izaguirre, 12 Years | Richard Ashford, Jr., 11 Years | David Talkington, Ricky Mathis, 9 Years | Francisco Guzman, 8 Years | Victor Garcia, Dennis Berger, 7 Years | Richard Bratton, Derek Pengitore, Sandra Williams, 6 Years | Emily Fournier, Russell Jennison, Elisabeth Kimmey, 5 Years | Yasmany Guerra, Dominick Moore, 5 Years | David Morris, Nancy Brigham, Abelardo Bautista Ventura, 4 Years | Julian Arzola Nieves, Robert Platt, 3 Years | Luis Panameno, Dallas Leyba, Hannah Douglas, Shawn Gunther, Tyler Harrison, 2 Years | Ronnie Cheeks, Debra Roberts, Charles Long, Jesus Espinoza-Ramirez, Nolan Bliss, 1 Year | Matthew Hupman, Martin Ferro, Deirdre Kehoe, James Brown, Mohmud Khan and Edward Jones.

Wishing you a great birthday!

• April: Arthur Randlett, Jose Izaguirre, Randy Clayton, Glenn Woons, Jorge Lopez, Ronald White, Marvia Grant, Nancy Brigham, Norman Hebert, Jr., James Brown, Timothy Miller, Tracy Gumaer, Jesse Cravath, Scott Walker, Debra Hambright, Charles Ballard, Felipe Magallan Camarena, Eric Kvelums, George Ellison, David Miller, Anival Menjivar, Jonathan Enos, Hermenegildo Mendoza Torres, Manuel Calderon, Mario Vega, Abish Fonseca Nunez, Dallas Leyba, Dustin Greenhagen, Christopher Aboliso Rivera, Kyle Capaldo, Jaime Guerra Pantoja, Cheyanne Ludlum, Alexi Johnson, Edgar Gonzalez Mancilla, Wakil Byron, Patrick Spain, Jorge Sanchez, William Lydick, Isaac Garza, Treyver Stotts, Erik Ambriz Jr-Leon, Dawson Dixon and Cecilia Sorto Villatoro.

• May: Bruce Morse, Agustin Guardado, William Newell, Santiago Izais Chavez, Thomas Throop, Roberto Lopez-Gonzalez, Geoffrey Steer, Michael Tuttle, Kevin Bussell, Jose Arias, Juan Alvarado, Alberto Martinez Escamilla, Glenda Izaguirre Cabrera, Vera Bonifacio, Christopher Shelton, Scott Irwin, Martin Lipira, Michael Dillon, Shawn Gunther, Victoria Russell, Stephanie Bailey, Jasson Hobbs, Troy Wilcox, Ashley Alvarez, Stephanie Marconi, Jamie Vestal, Humberto Piza, Michael Kirn, Charles Crider, J.A. Falconer, Kimberly Burdette, Dominic DeBiasio, Emily Fournier, Gabriel Cornejo, Tyler Broiles, James Aki and Kylie Grogan.

• June: Modesto Hernandez, Andrew Loggins, Marie Brooks, Gary Turner, Edward Jones, Deirdre Kehoe, Brian Price, Christopher Lydick, Luis Panameno, Jason Nichols, Nathaniel White, Shawn Lemke, Shelby LeBlanc, Ernesto Barahona Barraza, Logan Camden, Christian Fillerup, Alec Russell, Nicholas French, Kenneth Holmes, Manuel Cortez, Maricela Aguilar Gonzalez, Yasmany Guerra, Christen Jarnagin, Evelyn Molina, Fredy Pereira Argueta, Mikayla Smith, Alexander Vasquez, Shaun Ballard, Joseph Nugent, Isabel Melton, Luis Nevarez, Jacob Brigman, Taylor Ford, Spencer Everest, Taylor Cooper, Michael Stapley, Pedro Quiroz, Kevin Velasquez, Kapono Balonzo and Hector Mariscal. 

Congratulations on your new role!

• Christopher Shelton | Head of Information Technology & Security | Corporate - IT
• Julian Valverde Diaz | Yard Associate II | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Kennesaw, GA
• Ronald White | Store Manager I | Willow Creek Landscape Supply, Rome, GA
• Tara Smith | Sales Specialist IV | Stoneworld Supply, Rexburg, ID
• Emily Fournier | IT Applications - Team Lead | Corporate - IT