“What does REB stand for?”

That's always a question! REB was incorporated in October 1962. The original three partners were Roger Sandstrom, Ed Lesko, and Bill Klowsky. Ed & Bill have passed on, but Roger is alive & well, living in Florida in the winter and Oak Brook Illinois in the Summer.

They worked for another sales rep firm in the same industry and decided to become the very first Master Stocking Distributor in Chicago. Their main lines were Steel Shelving, Lockers and Grip Strut Grating.

Roger became the Secretary/Treasurer, Ed was President and Bill was Vice President of Sales. Bill passed away at an early age, around 1972. Ed and Roger retired in 1983, and sold their stock to Tom Lesko, current President. Another partner, Don Hamontree also sold his stock to Tom at the same time.

At that time REB was in a 20,000 SF warehouse and had no other locations. In 1988, we move to our current corporate facility in Chicago, a 100,000 SF warehouse and office facility. We currently have five (5) branch facilities and working on a sixth (6th). In 1983 our sales were around $3 million dollars, today we are currently over $25 million in sales.