BSA Honors Templet for Legend of the Industry Award

Joe Templet, (Retired), Essendant, Inc., Deerfield, Illinois, was selected as the honoree for the 2021 Legend of the Industry Award for the Business Solutions Association (BSA).

“Since 1982, Joe Templet has made an outstanding contribution to our Industry. He has inspired and mentored many people over the years in our Industry by setting the Industry standard for managing and maintaining excellent customer relationships,” said Travis Kaste, 3M Company, BSA President. “Joe truly is a Legend of the Industry, and we are pleased to honor Joe with BSA’s Legend of the Industry Award.”

He began his career in 1968, as a sales representative for Procter & Gamble working in Consumer Paper Products. Interrupted by a two-year military stint in the United States Army, Joe completed his tour of duty in 1970, and returned to work with Procter & Gamble, in South Carolina.

Polaroid Corporation recruited Joe in 1973 to work in their Consumer Products Sales division, covering all of South Carolina, half of Georgia and North Carolina. He was promoted to District Sales Manager in 1978 and led his team to #1 out of 15 districts.

In 1982, Joe was named National Sales Director of Parker Pen Company in Janesville, Wisconsin. He soon was promoted to General Manager, U. S. Operations, assuming responsibility for all U. S. Operations and Military Sales worldwide.

He moved to United Stationers Supply Company in 1985 as Vice President of Sales for Johnson & Staley, a large writing instrument, art supplies and college bookstore products supplier. Through the years, he held various positions at United Stationers, which is now called Essendant. Templet retired as Senior Vice President of Trade Development.

Joe has always been actively involved in the industry and has participated in many trade associations. He was President of the Office Products Wholesalers Association and President of the Business Solutions Association. He was elected to the Board of Directors for the Wholesale Stationers Association and the National Association of Writing Instrument Distributors that later became the National Association of Wholesale Independent Distributors.

Joe supported the National Office Products Industry of the City of Hope for 33 years. He served as Co-chairman of the Friends for Hope campaign, and in 2013, he was the recipient of the first City of Hope Hall of Fame Award. In 2016, he received the prestigious City of Hope Spirit of Life Award.

Joe and his wife, Vicki, have been married for 32 years and have three children – Cody, Parker, and Tori. In addition, Joe has two older children, Scott and Robyn, and four grandchildren – Camryn, Paige, Ryley, and Cole.

Templet will receive the BSA Leadership Award at a luncheon on November 11, during the ISG Industry Week, which takes place November 7 – 12, 2021 at the World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida.