Meet the Instructors
Learn From a Faculty of Experts and Experienced Retailers
University-Level Instructors
Dr. Rob Mathews
Executive Director, Entrepreneurship Leadership Institute, Ball State University
Mathews specializes in how to build highly effective teams. His teaching style combines the theory of human capital development and his experience previously owning a home center.
Dr. Mike Goldsby
Chief Entrepreneurship Officer, Ball State University
Dr. Goldsby specializes is leadership, innovation and business strategy development. He authorized the “Entrepreneurs’ Toolkit” from Great Courses, as well as numerous books on small business strategies for success.
Wil Davis
Founder, Noble Why LLC
Davis developed “The Noble Why” which helps students determine their personal and professional roles and purpose to help propel their organizations forward.
Brian Landis
President, Ancrage Consulting LLC
Landis spent much of his career with Accenture and now consults with small to mid-market sized businesses specializing in business process development and improvement.
Industry Experts
Phil Mitchell
President and Co-founder, Discovery Retail Group
Mitchell teaches retailers to understand that a store focused on creating favorable customer experiences produces increased shop times, increased impulse sales and a better bottom line.
Gary Petz
Vice President and Co-founder, Discovery Retail Group
Serving in both retail and wholesale hardware and lumber operations, Petz’s experience allows him to help retailers focus on the customer experience their stores create.
Jim Close
Principal, Risk Management Loss Prevention Services Inc.
Close previously served as Director of Loss Prevention for Ace Hardware Corp. helping retailers reduce shrinkage in their businesses.
Jim Robisch
Principal, The Farnsworth Group
Robisch is a principal of the Farnsworth Group, the leading industry research consulting firm specializing in pricing perception of today’s consumers and pro customers.
Scott Wright
Executive Director, Advanced Retail Education Programs, NHPA
Wright’s primary role with NHPA is to launch and administer retail-focused education programs, including roundtables, leadership courses and this program.
Kim Peffley
Retail Consultant, NHPA
Before joining NHPA, Peffley served as general manager for a 5-store chain in Indiana. She has experience building training and mentoring programs and is a certified DiSC facilitator.
Home Improvement Retailers
Josiah Gates
Executive Vice President of Retail, Aubuchon Hardware
An RMCP alumni, Gates is a top executive for Aubuchon Hardware, with 105 stores located throughout the Northeast.
Darrell Baker
Vice President of Branch Operations, Koopman Lumber
Baker oversees all hardlines, purchasing, marketing, personnel, e-commerce and operational functions of Koopman’s 7 locations.