Darrell Baker brings a wealth of industry expertise to NHPA’s Strategic Consulting team, with a strategic focus on retail operations assessment and planning, inventory management and change management,

The former Vice President of Marketing & Merchandising at Aubuchon Hardware, Darrell is also a proud graduate of the Retail Management Certification Program (RMCP) Class of 2015.

An active contributor to NHPA, Darrell has participated in the Marketing & Merchandising Roundtable since 2013 and continues to share his expertise as both an RMCP instructor and an NHPA Media columnist.

With a primary focus on family business coaching, leadership and ownership succession, business growth through acquisition and greenfield expansion and financial analysis and KPI monitoring, Curtis Gillman brings extensive operational and strategic expertise to NHPA’s Strategic Consulting team.

Curtis is the former Chief Operating Officer of Gillman Home Center, overseeing 18 locations and driving operational excellence across the organization.

An active NHPA contributor since 2023, Curtis participates in the Top Guns Roundtable and shares his insights as a regular NHPA Media columnist.

With a tactical focus on strategic planning, problem solving and innovation and customer experience mapping, Dr. Rob Mathews brings a unique blend of academic insight and hands-on retail expertise to NHPA’s Strategic Consulting team.

Rob serves as the Executive Director of the Ball State University Entrepreneurship Center and is the former owner of Mathews True Value Home Center, giving him a deep understanding of both entrepreneurial and operational perspectives.

An active NHPA contributor, Rob has been the lead instructor for NHPA’s Retail Management Certification Program since 2016, co-created the NHPA Foundations of Leadership program and regularly shares his expertise as an NHPA Media columnist.

Jeremy Melnick brings deep expertise in accounting, lease negotiations, and business valuation, helping retailers make informed financial and operational decisions that drive growth.

Jeremy is the former COO of JC Licht, overseeing 60 locations, and the previous owner of Gordon’s Ace, a seven-location retail chain. He has been recognized as NHPA Young Retailer of the Year (2006) and as an NHPA Top Gun (2016).

An active NHPA contributor, Jeremy shares his insights as a regular NHPA Media columnist.

Mike Aylen specializes in pricing and margin management, helping home improvement retailers optimize profitability and make data-driven pricing decisions.

With 15 years of experience as a pricing consultant for retailers across the U.S. and Australia, Mike brings a global perspective on retail strategy and best practices.

An active NHPA contributor, he serves as a 2025 Retail Management Certification Program (RMCP) instructor and shares his expertise as a regular NHPA Media columnist.

Bob provides consulting services to independent paint and decorating retailers concerning all business matters from start-up to exit.Bob was a co-owner and Director of Operations of Babel’s Paint and Decorating Stores in the metro Boston area for 26 years. Babel’s was a five-store chain of industry recognized independently owned paint and decorating retailer. Bob was instrumental in growth of locations, sales and strengthening the Babel’s brand. Bob and his partner sold the business in 2016. Bob was responsible for all aspects of the required due diligence related to the sale of the company. Prior to his tenure at Babel’s, Bob spent 15 years in the retail and wholesale building materials space.

His consultancy focuses on operational excellence for paint and decorating retailers including policy and procedure development, POS system optimization, margin improvement, inventory management controls, back-office efficiencies, personnel consulting and other strategic business matters.