The PennZone

UNIONTOWN, Pa. - PennZone -- COE Distributing Chairman and CEO J.D. Ewing has received a prestigious Top Workplaces Leadership Award recognizing his superior rating from employees for confidence in company leadership.

In an anonymous survey, COE employees gave Ewing and his executive team glowing reviews for commitment to employee engagement and development. Ewing's confidence in leadership scores topped those of all 61 small companies ranked in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's 2023 Top Workplaces program.

COE has been recognized among Pittsburgh's Top Workplaces for four years. From humble beginnings as his grandmother's typewriter repair shop, Ewing evolved COE into one of the largest office furnishings distributors in the United States with more than 100 employees and three regional distribution hubs.

Experience at every level of the business and a passion for employee engagement are the difference-makers for Ewing, who guided his third-generation, family-owned business through exponential growth while establishing a thriving workplace culture.

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"I love what I do every day," Ewing said. "My goal always is to help my employees grow personally and professionally, creating development opportunities for them day in and day out."

The Top Workplaces Award program highlighted 100 companies in southwestern Pennsylvania based on employee satisfaction with issues including pay, benefits, training and company values.

Survey results show COE's Core Values of Customer Service, Respect, Teamwork, Quality, Safety, Innovation and Transparency resonate with its workforce. Team members respond to Ewing's hands-on management style and implementation of employee engagement initiatives including career development opportunities, employee recognition, profit sharing, financial workshops, volunteer paid time off and virtual book clubs.

Additionally, COE has partnered with the Pittsburgh Penguins as the first and only Official Employee Engagement Partner of any U.S. professional sporting organization. The program focuses on the employees of each organization connecting and celebrating both organizations' passion, work ethic and desire to be the best in their respective industries.

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A leader in his industry, Ewing serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Wholesalers' Institute for Distribution Excellence. He also spearheads the Independent Office Products and Furniture Dealers Association's furniture committee, providing education and training programs to help mid-market dealers improve the operation, efficiency and profitability of their furniture divisions, and is involved in IOPFDA's advocacy work on Capitol Hill.

COE Distributing (http://www.coedistributing.com) is a national office furnishings distributor with a passion for creating inspiring work environments. COE sources high-quality office furniture with forward-thinking, well-planned design from around the globe and brings exclusive products to market. Its private label, OfficeSource, offers a line of furnishings and accessories always styled right, built right and priced right. Based in southwestern Pennsylvania with distribution centers in North Carolina and Texas, COE boasts an enthusiastic team dedicated to delivering the right solutions for customers.