Trex Company Leader Honored By Virginia Business for State-Wide Economic Impact
WINCHESTER, Va., March 2, 2015 – Ronald W. Kaplan, chairman, president and CEO of Trex Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking and railing, has been named one of Virginia’s Top 50 Most Influential People by Virginia Business. The publication’s annual list, published in the March issue, honors Virginians who have made a significant impact on issues such as higher education, transportation, economic development, philanthropy, the arts, health care and energy throughout the state.
A seasoned turnaround expert, Kaplan came to Trex in 2008, when the company was struggling to improve profitability, increase growth and maintain its pre-eminent brand. Kaplan executed a strategic turnaround formula that included implementing supply chain best practices, developing a best-in-class product portfolio (exemplified by the game-changing Trex Transcend® decking and railing collection), creating compelling marketing initiatives and expanding internationally.
Today, Trex maintains an undisputed leadership position in the industry with annual sales in excess of $390 million, unrivaled channel placement in more than 6,700 retail outlets and unmatched brand recognition. Market share and gross margins have increased, and Trex stock has risen more than 1000 percent during a tough market for building products.
Although headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, the company has recently undergone worldwide targeted expansion throughout Australia, Europe, the Middle East, South America, South Africa and South Korea, with brand penetration growing from a hand full of countries in 2010 to more than 43 countries today. Additionally, by leveraging the company’s extrusion and recycling expertise, Trex entered into new specialty material markets that expand sales opportunities beyond decking and railing products. These efforts, coupled with strong growth in decking and railing, have had an immense impact on Virginia’s economy – the company increased its local workforce by 20 percent in 2014, for a total of 404 Virginia employees.
Beyond his influence on the local economy, Kaplan also has led employees in helping to build a strong community in Winchester through local outreach. The company consistently is one of the top contributors to the United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley’s annual fundraising campaign, and Kaplan served as the United Way Campaign Chair in 2014, as well as a Top 20 chair in 2013.
“Trex is proud of its Virginia roots, and witnessing the impact the company has had on the local and statewide economy is rewarding in-and-of itself,” Kaplan said. “I am deeply honored to be included among this truly exceptional group of peers, who will no doubt continue to inspire and bring further success and prosperity to the state.”
The 50 Most Influential Virginians list is featured in the Virginia Business March 2015 issue. For more information, visit www.virginiabusiness.com.
For more information on Trex, visit www.trex.com.
About Trex Company
Trex Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of high performance wood-alternative decking and railing, with more than 20 years of product experience. Stocked in more than 6,700 retail locations worldwide, Trex outdoor living products offer a wide range of style options with fewer ongoing maintenance requirements than wood, as well as a truly environmentally responsible choice. For more information, visit trex.com. You also can follow Trex on Twitter (@Trex_Company), Pinterest (trexcompany), or Houzz (trex-company-inc) “like” Trex on Facebook, or view product and demonstration videos on the brand’s YouTube channel (TheTrexCo).
Contact: Hunter Hackett or Katie Hatcher
L.C. Williams & Associates
800/837-7123 or 312/565-3900
hhackett@lcwa.com or khatcher@lcwa.com