LOCKE SUPPLY C O M P A N Y ACHIEVING INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP THROUGH EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT WWW.LOCKESUPPLY.COM
LOCKE SUPPLY COMPANY AT A GLANCE LOCKE SUPPLY COMPANY WHAT: A 100% employee-owned wholesale distributor serving contractors and customers across multiple trades. WHERE: H eadquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma WEBSITE: www.lockesupply.com BECOMING ESSENTIAL TO THE INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY IN ACHIEVING INDUSTRY THROUGH EMPLOYEE 1 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07
NDUSTRY THROUGH EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP Y LEADERSHIP E EMPOWERMENT Locke Supply Co. has been a powerhouse in the supply distribution industry since 1955. The company exemplifies unparalleled operational effectiveness and a unique pathway to profitability with its employee-ownership model. Locke’s ESOP (Employee Stock Option Plan) structure fundamentally aligns the focus of every action within the operation towards long-term growth and gratification of its share value. In this dynamic, any one individual’s growth contributes to the collective benefit of everyone in the company. It is a slow and steady approach that demonstrably increases the payout at the end of the day for all employee-owners. 2 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07
Furthermore, this approach also fosters a deep sense of commitment and an emphasis on minimizing wasteful actions within the company’s operations. Internally, Locke Supply Co.’s profitability is secured by meticulous management using a sophisticated ERP system that leverages very effective forecasting capabilities combined with savvy Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) inventory management. This ensures that Locke has sufficient inventory while finding the most cost-effective and efficient way to deliver it to its destination, directly impacting customer satisfaction. The company’s commitment to ethical and transparent partnerships also serves as a natural safeguard for the stability and reliability of the entire supply chain. Companies that partner with Locke Supply Co. understand and agree that loyalty is a two-way street and that when all parties remain transparent and accountable, everyone in the chain benefits financially. With the imminent opening of the company’s new large distribution center, acute operations and partner loyalty will be paramount. This critical infrastructure project directly addresses Locke’s past capacity limitations, signaling a significant surge in its ability to expand and capture a greater market share. Overall, Locke Supply Co.’s success is demonstrated by its remarkable blend of employee-centricity, operational acumen, and strategic relationships. Now, it’s time to discover the details of how these factors consistently translate into such robust financial health and enduring market leadership. A TRANSITION OF FOUNDATIONAL VALUES AND ENDURING IMPACT The Locke Supply Company, founded in 1955 by Don and Wanda Locke in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, began as a plumbing-only enterprise. Mr. Locke, who served in the military and gained experience at Norman Supply Company, a plumbing distributor, began his entrepreneurial journey with a clear vision. Within a couple of years, the company expanded to Oklahoma City. This laid the groundwork for what would become a deeply rooted business that 3 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07 LOCKE SUPPLY COMPANY
prioritized not just transactions but also the wellbeing of its people and the communities it served. That groundwork was the foundation for a pivotal moment in Locke Supply Company’s history, namely its transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) structure. “Mr. Locke always wanted to pass the business on to his associates, and he had a lot of conversations prior to his passing about doing so,” says current President and CEO John Orman III. This shift wasn’t driven by external financial pressures but rather by the founder’s long-held 4 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07
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SATCO | NUVO®: LIGHTING, CONTROL, AND SMART SOLUTIONS—ALL IN ONE For nearly sixty years, SATCO has been the trusted name in lighting, providing electricians, contractors, and lighting professionals with high-quality, innovative solutions across residential, commercial, and industrial markets. As a leading manufacturer and supplier, SATCO delivers a comprehensive selection of lighting products, including advanced LED technologies, decorative fixtures, functional task lighting, and essential lighting components designed to meet the needs of virtually any application. SATCO is more than just lighting. We are at the forefront of smart home technology, integrating security, automation, and connected lighting through STARFISH®, our intelligent lighting and security ecosystem. STARFISH allows users to seamlessly control their spaces—adjusting brightness, choosing from millions of colors, setting dynamic scenes, and automating schedules— all from the convenience of a mobile app or voice assistant integration. With additional security features such as smart video floodlights, cameras, and doorbells, STARFISH creates a safer, more responsive environment without requiring monthly subscriptions. In addition to smart home automation, control systems have become a key focus of SATCO’s expanding portfolio.Through DOMINO, our advanced energy management and control platform, we empower users with precision lighting and automation tools that enhance efficiency across commercial, industrial, and retail settings. Whether optimizing energy consumption, automating environments, or integrating custom solutions, SATCO provides reliable, scalable control systems that adapt to evolving lighting needs. With six strategically located distribution centers spanning North America and over 15,000+ stocked products, SATCO ensures that customers receive fast, efficient service and reliable availability. Our dedicated sales, technical support, and customer service teams work closely with clients to provide tailored solutions, ensuring that each project is met with expert guidance and top-tier product selection. As lighting technology continues to evolve, Satco remains committed to innovation, combining traditional expertise with modern advancements to create smarter, safer, and more efficient environments. Whether you’re looking for decorative or commercial fixtures, advanced control systems, or smart security solutions, SATCO | NUVO® is your single resource—delivering quality, reliability and convenience in every product.
desire to pass the business on to the people who helped him build it. While discussions were initiated prior to his passing in 2000, it was the executive team—including Carter Marsh, Tammi Bryant, Jack Anderson, Chuck Cross, and Louie Sevier—who, after Mr. Locke’s death, formalized the ESOP and purchased the company from his widow, Wanda. This transition honored Don Locke’s legacy and cemented an ownership model that profoundly shaped the company’s culture and long-term strategy. Today, Locke Supply Co.’s leadership views communicating the full value of the ESOP structure to its employee-owners, clients, and other stakeholders as a continuous endeavor. 8 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07 LOCKE SUPPLY COMPANY
Gastite engineers smarter systems that drive the future of building technology. FlashShield+® – The most advanced flexible gas piping system available, FlashShield+ offers unmatched lightning protection and safety for residential and commercial use. With its patented conductive layer and rigorous third-party testing, it’s the trusted choice for performance under pressure. Python® Line Sets – A true copper alternative, Python is built for today’s HVAC needs. Lightweight, UV- and kink-resistant, and ICC-ES PMG-1675 listed, Python eliminates the need for torches thanks to its innovative compression fittings—making installs faster, cleaner, and safer for both standard and mini-split systems. INNOVATION DELIVERED IN TWO POWERFUL SOLUTIONS. THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF CSST POLYESTER LAYER INNER POLYMER LAYER ALUMINUM SHIELD INSULATIVE POLYMER JACKET RESILIENT INSULATION INNER PE-RT OUTER PE-RT ALUMINUM ADHESIVE ADHESIVE KINK RESISTANT LIGHTWEIGHT (HALF THE WEIGHT OF COPPER) THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF LINE SETS gastite.com TWO LEADING SOLUTIONS: REDEFINING TODAY’S INSTALLATION STANDARDS.
GASTITE AND LOCKE SUPPLY: A 20+ YEAR PARTNERSHIP With over 30 years of innovation in flexible gas piping, Gastite has built a reputation for delivering safer, more efficient systems to the trades. Its flagship products — including FlashShield+™, the industry’s leading conductive CSST system, and Python™, a next-generation alternative to copper HVAC line sets — continue to set the standard for performance, safety, and ease of installation. But behind Gastite’s product innovation is a deeper story of partnership — none more enduring than its relationship with Locke Supply. For more than two decades, Locke Supply has been a distributor of Gastite products, helping to expand access to flexible gas piping solutions throughout key markets. What began as a product placement has evolved into a partnership built on mutual trust, aligned values, and a shared commitment to supporting contractors. “Our 20+ year relationship with Locke Supply is a long and successful partnership,” says Jim Kornemann Vice President Sales & Marketing. “They’ve consistently gone beyond the transactional role of distribution — investing in product training, providing hands-on support to contractors, and reinforcing our shared belief in safety, simplicity, and service.” That partnership has been instrumental in driving market adoption of innovations like FlashShield+, which features patented XR3 fittings and a full-length conductive jacket for enhanced lightning protection and easier bonding. With Locke Supply’s deep contractor relationships and multi-branch presence, Gastite has been able to scale education, promote best practices, and ensure product availability where and when it’s needed most. Gastite’s copper alternative for HVAC installations — Python Line Sets — have also seen recent traction through Locke’s network, offering customers a lightweight, flexible solution that reduces labor time and provides ease of installation. Looking ahead, Gastite remains focused on accelerating adoption of FlashShield+ and expanding the Python™ product line, while continuing to work hand-in-hand with Locke Supply to serve the next generation of trade professionals. For more information, visit www.gastite.com or www.pythonls.com
“We’re pretty transparent with our associates about the plan structure and everything we do… There’s not really any secret other than just to communicate as much as you can so associates can grasp and understand the value of an ESOP and the longevity it can provide. We talk about it as much as humanly possible,” Orman III explains. According to Orman III, on average, it takes about seven to ten years for an associate to fully understand the profound, long-term financial value that an ESOP provides. Therefore, the company’s ethos of transparency and extensive education about the plan’s structure and benefits is a critical vehicle to help them achieve this understanding. To bridge this understanding gap, Locke Supply utilizes powerful tools, such as 10-year statements, and management actively encourages employees to speak with seasoned associates, recognizing that real numbers and peer-to-peer advocacy become the most credible and powerful testaments to the ESOP’s benefits. “Once people have been employed for five to nine years, that’s when they go ‘oh okay’ and it becomes very real for them.Then those people usually become the biggest advocates and start communicating the value to others in the company,” Orman III explains. This commitment to continuous, open communication, often reinforced by internal videos featuring employee testimonials, has led to a deep understanding and appreciation for Locke Supply Co.’s unique ownership model, resulting in a more dedicated and invested workforce. APPROACHING THE MARKET WITH CONVENIENCE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE Locke Supply Company distinguishes itself in the industry through an operational model that diverges from traditional supply houses. 11 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07 LOCKE SUPPLY COMPANY
Cooper Lighting Solutions is a leading provider of innovative indoor and outdoor lighting, lighting controls and smart lighting systems. Our portfolio includes trusted brands such as Halo, Metalux, Lumark, Sure-Lites, WaveLinx and more. We build forward-thinking lighting solutions that make people’s lives safer, while making buildings, homes and cities smarter and more sustainable. Delivering a wide range of products designed to meet the needs of residential, commercial, and industrial applications. We question, we seek and we solve. Because building a better world means asking tough questions and pushing harder for answers. Together with our customers, we create solutions that build a better world. At Cooper Lighting Solutions, we push past the ordinary to build brighter. Cooper Lighting Solutions is a business unit of Signify, the world leader in lighting. Together we have a shared purpose to unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. Ambient Recessed Outdoor Architectural Unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. We offer lighting and controls solutions for all applications www.cooperlighing.com Residential Commercial Industrial
In the 1990s, the company evolved to offer a hybrid approach, combining self-service, traditional counter service, and other options across its numerous locations. “We’re a combination of everything…We’re residentialfocused for a large portion of our business, and we try to position ourselves for convenience. We want to be convenient to the contractor and be where they are,” says Orman III. When it comes to the positioning of its facility locations, the Locke Supply Co. takes a page from Sam Walton’s philosophy of bringing the business to the customer and remaining easily accessible to contractors. However, accessibility isn’t the only driving force behind the company’s growth, as its internal operational strategy also plays a significant role. Locke Supply Co. expertly leverages technology to effectively forecast demand and inventory. As an Celebrating 70 years of Locke Supply Co.— a true Oklahoma City success story. We’re proud to support local businesses with the strength, stability and expertise to grow. Behind every Oklahoma City business is a passionate leader. Beside them, there’s BOK Financial. BOK Financial® is a trademark of BOKF, NA. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender . ©2025 BOKF, NA. Discover how a trusted financial partner can help your business reach new heights at bokfinancial.com. 13 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07 LOCKE SUPPLY COMPANY
Infor user, the company utilizes the Web UI platform, employing its forecasting capabilities since 2005. Regarding its inventory management, Locke Supply Co. follows the inventory philosophies of Grant Howard and prioritizes the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) approach. “That was a philosophy change that happened about 15 years ago, where we were using Just in Time inventory for a long time, but that doesn’t yield the best level of customer service,” Orman III says. According to Orman III, the EOQ approach ensures that the company always has the necessary inventory. However, it primarily focuses on identifying the most cost-effective method to deliver that inventory to its designated location. “It’s served us well from a customer service standpoint, so we’re definitely big fans of economic order quantity,” Orman III confirms. Only Bradford White Is Built to be the Best® Whether it’s residential or commercial, tank or tankless, gas or electric, you can have full confidence in the quality of Bradford White. ©2025, Bradford White Corporation. All rights reserved. Learn more at forthepro.bradfordwhite.com 14 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07
Lastly, separate from its management practices, Locke Supply Co.’s partnerships are also a key part of its success.The company places immense value on establishing reliable and ethical partnerships, rather than merely transactional relationships. It maintains open and transparent communication with its vendors, prioritizing true partnerships built on mutual benefit. Locke Supply Co. has even demonstrated its commitment to ethical conduct by severing ties with past vendors engaged in practices it deemed unethical. This philosophy underscores their long-standing relationships, with partnerships extending back 50plus years for some, like Bradford White and Allied Air, and over a decade with Encore Wire and Siemens, the latter having stepped up significantly during a past transition. “We have a lot of premier partners... but I would be remiss to not mention Bradford White or Allied Air or Encore Wire or Siemens. These are our largest partners, the largest that we deal with on a daily basis. They’re what we consider to be exclusive. I would say those are four of the top vendors that we have, the four top vendors that are aligned in each of our divisions, and most of our spend is with those particular partners,” Orman III says. These enduring relationships are built on trust, honesty, and a shared understanding that loyalty is a two-way street. North America RIIFO congratulates Locke Supply Co. on their remarkable expansion and continued success. Thanks for 6 years of support and for recognizing RIIFO as one of their top plumbing vendors for 2023 and 2024. We are proud to be your partner! www.riifo.com 833GORIIFO (833.467.4436) Ideal Piping solutions for everyone. 15 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07 LOCKE SUPPLY COMPANY
A WELL-GROWN CULTURE ADVANCING TOWARD THE FUTURE Locke Supply Co.’s ESOP structure profoundly influences not only its growth trajectory and bottom line but also its employee retention, recruitment, and overall culture. Turnover is low and retention is high due to the understanding that the company’s share value grows directly in line with organizational growth. This inherently aligns all efforts towards efficiency and excellence, without an overbearing rush to accomplish it right away. “I was always a tortoise and hare fan, and slow and steady certainly seems to be the approach we take. Slow, steady, and very consistent growth,” Orman III explains. This patient approach, driven by the fundamental mechanism that is the ESOP itself, ensures that the company’s actions contribute to sustainable, enduring value rather than short-term gains. Everyone involved understands that if the company grows, they grow as well, and that when the company grows, it pays out more to them as individuals. It’s an incredibly powerful positive feedback loop that creates loyal, long-standing employee-owners within the company. Orman III is a prime example of this. Having started in the warehouse at 18, he expresses immense pride Thank you for your partnership! Congratulations on your 70 years of success! fujitsugeneral.com 16 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07
in Locke Supply, viewing it as an exceptional place to work due to its comprehensive benefits and its vital role in providing essential goods to communities. “I can’t think of a better place, a better group of people, or a better industry to work in, it really is that simple,” Orman III expresses. Looking to the future, Locke Supply Company is poised for significant infrastructural advancement. For the past four years, the company has been diligently working on a large distribution center. This expansion aims to overcome previous infrastructure limitations, enabling Locke Supply to further achieve its long-term objectives. This new facility, nearing completion with a planned move-in process for June and July, represents a substantial investment in the company’s capacity for growth. With this increased capacity, Locke Supply Co. will be able to paint an even grander picture of how remaining with the company allows employees to fully realize lifestyles that were previously inaccessible to them. The substantial benefits of the company’s ESOP stand in stark contrast to the misconception that corporate America is inherently negative. Instead, it showcases the value of a company model that works as hard for employees as its employees work for it. 17 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07 LOCKE SUPPLY COMPANY
PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Satco Products / Nuvo Lighting www.satco.com SATCO NUVO Is a leading supplier of lighting products, with solutions for nearly every lighting market across the commercial, residential and industrial landscape. With thousands of products ranging from light bulbs, decorative fixtures, smart lighting and even lighting components, SATCO® is the single resource for all of your lighting needs. n Gastite www.gastite.com Gastite is a trusted leader in flexible gas piping solutions, offering FlashShield+™ for safe fuel gas installations and Python™ line sets for HVAC systems. Serving residential and commercial markets, Gastite delivers innovation, reliability, and ease of installation—backed by decades of experience and nationwide support. Made in the USA. n Cooper Lighting www.cooperlighting.com Cooper Lighting Solutions delivers forwardthinking lighting solutions and an industryleading portfolio of indoor and outdoor lighting, lighting controls and smart lighting systems that improve people’s well-being, while making buildings, homes, and cities smarter and more sustainable. These solutions are specifically designed to simplify and personalize lighting, solve complex business challenges, and leverage data insights. n Bank of Oklahoma www.bankofoklahoma.com At BOK Financial, we’re not afraid of reimagining what’s possible to serve the complete financial needs of individuals, international business, and everyone in between. While we compete nationally, we have deep connections to our communities that make us good neighbors. BOK Financial: We go above, so you can go beyond. n Bradford White Water Heaters www.bradfordwhite.com Bradford White Water Heaters innovates, engineers and manufactures high quality water, space heating and storage products. Our dedicated, talented craftspeople use the finest components and raw materials from around the world to create products that are known for performance, reliability and energy-efficiency. Products that are simply, Built to be the Best®. n RIIFO North America www.riifo.com RIIFO NA is headquartered in Buford, GA. We supply PEX tubing and accessories to both the plumbing and heating markets through our wholesale partners. RIIFO products ship from our warehouses located in Buford, Phoenix, and Seattle for on time delivery with class leading customer service. n Fujitsu General America, Inc. www.fujitsugeneral.com Fujitsu General America, Inc. delivers innovative, high-performance mini-split heating and cooling solutions tailored for every residential and commercial need. With a strong focus on energy efficiency and eco-friendly design, our advanced systems provide superior comfort while reducing environmental impact. Backed by exceptional service, expert support, and comprehensive training programs across Canada, Fujitsu ensures reliability and performance you can trust. 18 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07
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