Mark Pardini, left, and Mark Reckling both spoke about their affection for the BrandSource family during their acceptance remarks.

Reckling, Pardini enter BrandSource’s hallowed halls

By Alan Wolf, YSN News

Two renowned BrandSource members named Mark were honored Monday for their lifetime of achievement within the group and the industry.

Mark Reckling, CEO of Grand Appliance, and Mark Pardini, principal of Pardini Appliance & Mattress, were inducted into the BrandSource Hall of Fame during the 2022 Convention’s General Session to commemorate their commitment to independent retail.

Reckling’s retail journey began in 1979, when he joined his father at the Waukegan, Ill., business founded by his granddad in 1930. Thirteen years after the younger Reckling assumed the reins, the company opened its second store and has not stopped since. Under his direction, Grand Appliance has expanded into a regional powerhouse that now employs 450 people in 27 locations across four states.

But beyond his retail acumen, Reckling has also channeled his mother Odny’s giving spirit by forming the Grand Foundation, which awards grants promoting education and social harmony to hundreds of local non-profit groups in the communities that Grand Appliance serves.

Related: Reckling Honored by ADL

Reckling attributes his success to his strong work ethic, faith and entrepreneurial spirit, which he says trickled down from his parents and grandfather. He has passed that on to the rest of his family, which now plays an integral role in the success of the independent business.

Pardini’s entrée to independent retail came during college when he acquired a stake in the family business. He would go on to buy out his co-owner dad some 19 years later, and over the ensuing 30 years has not only served his community in Ukiah, Calif., but also became a steadfast servant leader of BrandSource. That role includes a 20-year seat on the BrandSource national board, including three years as national president, and three decades of tireless effort on behalf of the group’s Pacific Rim Region.

During his tenure, Pardini played a key role in aligning the industry’s largest manufacturers with BrandSource’s merchandising initiatives, giving members across the country a competitive edge. What’s more, he regularly shares his insights and best practices with fellow BrandSource dealers through YourSource News, and helped expand the group’s product focus beyond home appliances to include electronics, furniture and bedding, which has contributed to the continued success of BrandSource and its independent dealers.

See: A Different Kind of Safety Reminder from Pardini Appliance

Pardini and Reckling represent the third generation of Hall of Famers, following the class of 2021 and the inaugural 2019 contingent. The latter includes Ron Bemis of Bemis Appliance, John Horst of Famous Tate Appliance & Bedding Centers and the late Bill Pleasants Sr. of Plaza Appliance Mart. Following a one-year recess prompted by the pandemic, the program proceeded last year by welcoming Jackie King of Nampa Appliance TV & Mattress, Tom Balistreri of Colders’ Furniture, Appliances and Mattresses, former AVB/BrandSource board member George “Skip” Ignaczak and AVB’s own Member Relations GM Kevin Werner on board.

Congratulations Mark and Mark!

BrandSource, a unit of YSN publisher AVB Inc., is a nationwide buying group for independent appliance, furniture, mattress and CE dealers.

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