Front Row

Day 1 in the books! Last week Katie, Laney, James, CJ, Al, and Brandon rolled up their sleeves for our annual volunteer day with and what a way to spend it. Time was spent working on the exterior of a house in North Minneapolis.

Day 2 coming up and we can't wait. Huge thanks to those of our team that could take the time to volunteer and Habitat for Humanity for the work you do every day to make homeownership a reality for families in our community.

Meet Allison Gleason, a 2025 Nick O'Hearn Award winner for Leadership through Core Values. 🌟

Allison brings our values to life every day through how she shows up for her team, our customers, and our vendor partners.

In her words: "What I love most about my role at Front Row is the opportunity to serve others… Both the wins and the challenges have helped me grow, personally and professionally. I'm truly grateful for the support and encouragement my teammates have given me along the way."

Congratulations, Allison. You make Front Row better. 👏

What's better than tacos with your team on Cinco de Mayo? Tacos followed by a yoga sculpt class. 🌮🧘

Fun fact for the day: Cinco de Mayo marks Mexico's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 — not Mexican Independence Day, as many assume.

Grateful for a Front Row crew that knows how to celebrate, learn, and stay balanced all in one afternoon.

Thank you Katie Helmrich for all the work you did to prepare lunch for everyone!

What a way to kick off our first company BBQ of the season! ☀️🍍 James and Sean manned the grill and served up a Hawaiian-style spread with short ribs, hot dogs, brats, and grilled pineapple, with all the fixings and condiments for days. Huge thanks to everyone who came out. Bring back the sunshine soon — we've got many more of these in store!

We're thrilled to spotlight CJ Adair as Front Row's 2025 Inside Sales Rep of the Year!

When a gap opened on the team earlier this year, CJ didn't wait to be asked — she stepped up and took on entering orders, no hesitation. That moment captures exactly who CJ is: someone who sees what needs to be done and does it.

CJ has become a trusted resource for our inside team. She puts customers, vendors, and teammates first. She buys into the "teamwork makes the dream work" mindset wholeheartedly. And whether the day is running smoothly or everything's on fire, she rises to the occasion with determination — and a smile.

Congratulations, CJ. This recognition is well earned, and we're lucky to have you on the team. 👏

What a day in Marshall, MN! 🌱 Front Row was thrilled to be part of the Runnings Training Academy last week — a packed full-day event with 125 Store and Department Managers diving deep into Lawn & Garden and Outdoor Living products.

Big thanks to Ben DeGroot and the entire Runnings team for putting together such a well-run event. Great to share the floor with Jon Sommers (Tricam Industries) and Mike Proctor (Mr. Bar-B-Q). Investing in the people closest to the customer is always time well spent. Here's to a great season ahead! 🌿🔥

Stores

James Hale is our Outside Sales Rep of the Year for 2025.

James showed incredible resilience, flexibility, and commitment throughout the year while navigating a wide range of challenges. No matter what was asked of him, he stepped up — supporting contractor events, helping with store sets, assisting with design work, and doing whatever was needed to support our customers and team.

He earned outstanding feedback from vendors, built strong relationships, and continued to grow sales in his primary account while also taking on additional accounts.

James, congratulations on an outstanding year and on being named our Outside Sales Rep of the Year for 2025.

For 15 years, Rodell has been an important part of the Front Row team.

He is someone we all appreciate not only for the work he does, but for the attitude and reliability he brings with him every day. From helping with store sets and delivering product for customer reviews to stepping in with his handyman skills whenever needed, Rodell always gets the job done with purpose and a smile.

We are thankful for all he does and proud to celebrate this milestone with him.

We’re proud to recognize Al Bickford as Front Row’s 2025 Employee of the Year.

Al’s impact reached far beyond his day-to-day role. From strengthening our infrastructure and improving internal systems to stepping up in a major way during key business transitions, he consistently showed what it means to be a true team player.

He leads with accountability, collaboration, and a people-first attitude — and his contributions helped move Front Row forward in meaningful ways.

Congratulations, Al. This recognition is incredibly well deserved.