FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Do it Best Corp. has announced the retirement of Vice President of Information Technology Mike Altendorf, capping a career of more than 30 years in the independent home improvement industry. Altendorf’s retirement is effective August 10, 2018.
Altendorf joined Do it Best Corp. in 2009 as Director of IT Business Planning and Architecture and was appointed Vice President of IT seven months later. As Vice President of IT, Altendorf has overseen all IT-related programs, including setting the division’s strategic planning, as well as leadership of all Application Development, Project Management, EDI Services, Support, Infrastructure, Networking and Operations.
Altendorf’s contributions to the co-op also include establishing a business intelligence platform, many new operational systems, and numerous upgrades to both software and hardware systems. This was accomplished with a strong focus on business value and alignment. Altendorf is especially proud of his team and enjoyed contributing to their growth. One example was the creation of Techapalooza, the co-op’s annual in-house, week-long technology conference that draws respected industry leaders and speakers from across the country.
Prior to joining Do it Best Corp., Altendorf served for more than 20 years at Ace Hardware, including five years as its vice president of IT. His first job as a high school student was at a lumberyard and hardware store in his native Chicago, where he worked for 10 years.
“I am so honored to have been able to help lead and grow our IT team at Do it Best Corp. over the last decade,” Altendorf said. “And I’m privileged to have spent so much of my career in the home improvement industry. From my very first experience in this industry as a teenager, I’ve learned how rewarding it is to help independently owned businesses grow and thrive. The industry includes so many wonderful family businesses and great people.