Ruth Mitchell

Succession in the wholesale distribution channel is never simply about a title change — it’s about stewardship, legacy and the responsibility to lead a business forward while honoring the foundation that defines it. For nearly a century, The Collins Companies has built its reputation as one of the Northeast’s most trusted industrial distributors of engineered specialties, pipe, valves and fittings.

There is a rhythm to distribution — it can be felt in the way orders are placed, trucks loaded and products moved. That rhythm is built on relationships, trust and the expectation that when a customer places an order, the answer is yes — we have it, or we can get it. Within that rhythm exists another layer, one that lives beneath the surface.

There are leaders in this industry who build companies, and then there are those who build people. The difference matters. Buildings can be expanded, acquired or rebranded — taking care of the shell that holds the product. However, it’s individuals whose generous spirit instills a culture that is felt — who build confidence in others and pass forward their beliefs in business and in life — who are the true people builders. They are also the changemakers.