E. WALPER & COMPANY (The Walper Group), Rockville, MD
ABOUT ED WALPER
Today, Mr. Walper runs a private (and ongoing) consulting practice. Among Eds clients was a major Saudi Arabian investment company seeking to develop a contract office products business in their country. That unique assignment included building design, warehouse layout, catalog production, importing arrangements, and trade negotiations. Ed conducts ongoing work within the trade to this day, and recently concluded a research project on behalf of a group of large, regional distribution companies. The Walper Group has recently expanded services to include franchise consulting, business brokerage and business evaluations.
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
This is a current and ongoing role. Ed and his staff operate over 60,000 square feet of warehousing, pick and pack operations, purchasing and inventory control systems as part of a shared services partnership serving thousands of clients and over 125 employees.
Major Contract Office Products Company
Executive Vice President
Ed's principle responsibilities included company operations, trade negotiations, development of GSA division and new business projects.
BPGI (Business Products Group International), Washington, DC
President & CEO
Mr. Walper ran the largest consortium of Office Products Dealers buying groups in the world, with responsibility for negotiating contracts impacting nearly $2 billion in direct and wholesale purchases of its members worldwide. He traveled the world speaking to numerous dealer groups about making their independently owned businesses more viable and competitive in todays market. Ed signed new partner groups in Spain and Denmark.
U.S. OFFICE PRODUCTS COMPANY, Washington, DC
Senior Vice President, Merchandising
Ed reported directly to the President of what was then a Fortune 500 Company. His responsibilities included catalog publishing, vendor negotiations and program development for over $1.5 billion in annual purchases, coordination of global contracts with the companys UK, Australian and New Zealand operations. Ed served as liaison with regional presidents, providing operational support and assistance.
Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Walper worked with company principals to rebuild and energize an established distribution business. Work included a complete redesign of company operations and facilities and an overhaul of key operational staff.
Vice President, Merchandising & Operations
Ed ran all purchasing, merchandising and warehouse operations for one of the largest, privately owned business products dealerships on the eastern seaboard. He helped develop and implement the first bar-coded warehouse facility in the industry, and produced the companys first full catalog in 1989.
President
Ed built this division of a dominant decorative products manufacturer and distributor into a recognized wallcovering wholesaler from New England through Georgia.
General Manager, Mid-Atlantic Division
Operations Manager, Boston Headquarters
Mr. Walper joined one of the nations leading manufacturing distributors of fine wallpapers. He reconfigured and redesigned the companys inventory management process and all work-flow related procedures. He ran all company operations, and was promoted to open and manage a new Mid-Atlantic Division.
Education/Professional Training and Associations
Member, IBBA (International Business Brokers Association)
Associate, Business Brokers Network
Associate, Business Alliance, Inc.
Interviewed in numerous trade journals.
Former Board member, (SHOPA) School, Home and Office Products Association
Current member, SHOPA Commercial Advisory Group
Current member, National Office Products Association (NOPA) Scholarship Trustee Board.
Northeastern University & Assumption College
Studies in Business Management
Numerous trade activities and seminars.
Numerous professional study programs, including Harvard Universitys Program on Negotiating.
Personal
Married 35 years, 3 grown children.
Health, excellent.
Golf, remarkably poor.