Ace Hardware

As Executive Vice President since October 2000, Rita is responsible for the Merchandising, Finance, Human Resources, Administration and Strategic Planning for the company. She joined Ace in 1986 as an Assistant Controller. In June 1988, she was promoted to Controller, and in December 1991 was named Vice President, Controller. In December 1993 she was named Vice President Finance and in September 1997 was promoted to Senior Vice President Wholesale. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Rita earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1978. Before joining Ace, she worked for Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., where she spearheaded the audit team from 1978 to 1986.

Ray assumed his role of President and CEO in April 2005. He joined Ace in 1994 as a Director of Retail Operations for the Western Division. He was promoted to Vice President Retail Development and Marketing in September 1997 and was named Vice President of Merchandising in September of 1998. In October 2000, he was promoted to Executive Vice President Retail and in April 2004 was named Executive Vice President and COO. He then became President and COO in January 2005. Prior to joining Ace, Ray was president of Coast to Coast. He is a 1975 graduate of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill., where he earned a bachelor of science degree in business.

Dorvin joined Ace as Chief Financial Officer in March 2008 to oversee all financial-related activities of the company, including treasury, retailer financial services, general and operational accounting, budgeting and forecasting, tax, insurance, payroll and audit services. He came to Ace with extensive financial and accounting experience from leading private and public retail corporations. Most recently, Lively served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Maidenform, Inc., where he enhanced its financial reporting process and managed cost-saving initiatives surrounding gross margins from supply chain. From 2000 to 2004, he held the position of senior vice president and corporate controller at Toys "R" Us, Inc. Other positions include vice president and corporate controller at Reader's Digest (1998 2000); vice president, chief financial officer and secretary at Silverado Foods, Inc. (1995 1998); assistant controller at Pepsi Cola International (1992 1995); professional accounting fellow at Financial Accounting Standards Board (1990 1992); and senior audit manager at Arthur Andersen, LLP (1980 1990). In 1980, he graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor of arts degree in accounting.

Ziegler is Vice President of Z Hardware Co., a 10-store Ace chain in the north western suburbs of Chicago. Ziegler earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Drake University and went on to become a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to joining the family business in 1979, he worked for three years at Arthur Young & Co.

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