Although this campaign has concluded, it's easy to give to Ohio University and support the Palmer-Donavin Scholarship honoring Ron Calhoun, BBA '72.
With Ron’s retirement, the Palmer-Donavin Board of Directors wishes to honor him with a scholarship in support of a place he loves so dearly. Additionally, this expands the partnership between Palmer-Donavin and the College of Business beyond the Schey Sales Centre where they serve as an organizational partner. Shawn Richard, Vice President of Human Resources, said, "Working with the Ohio University College of Business and the Schey Sales Centre has been a cornerstone of our recruiting efforts. When we hire Bobcats, we know they are joining our company with a great education and the skills necessary to succeed. We look forward to many more years of business success with help from current and future Ohio University alumni."
Palmer-Donavin will match the first $20,000 in gifts with their own $20,000 commitment. This will double the impact of your gift! At least twice a week, Ohio University will update the Palmer-Donavin Matching Gift listing on the Donor Wall. Give now to the Palmer-Donavin Scholarship Honoring Ron Calhoun, BBA '72 to ensure your gift is doubled.
Ron is the former CEO of Palmer-Donavin, a distributor of building materials headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Ron has served his industry as Board Chair for the National Association of Wholesalers Institute for Distribution Excellence, as a board member of Nemeon, an industry buying group, and as a past President of the National Building Material Distribution Association. He has also served his community as a board member for The Columbus Chamber of Commerce and as a board member for I Am Boundless, a nonprofit servicing the needs of the developmentally disabled. Ron has been a servant leader to both Palmer-Donavin and Ohio University; he leaves a legacy of developing leaders both at his company and his alma mater by putting others first through his philanthropic commitments.
Ron Calhoun received his B.B.A. from Ohio University in 1972. He is a former President of Beta Theta Pi’s Ohio University Beta Kappa Chapter House Corporation. Also, Ron has served on the College of Business's Executive Advisory Board—a role he started back in 2003. He was awarded the college's Award for Achievement in Business in 2019. He and his wife Laura (a 1973 graduate of Ohio University) maintain a residency in Dublin, Ohio. They have a son, Patrick, and a daughter, Katie (a 2004 graduate of Ohio University). Ron can regularly be seen at the Beta House or at sporting events.
The new Palmer-Donavin Scholarship Honoring Ron Calhoun, BBA '72 will be a long-term scholarship for the Ohio University College of Business Emerging Leaders program. Ron has a passion to support strategic leadership development and was the first donor to help start the Emerging Leaders program. This endowment gift helps to provide funding in perpetuity to support these up-and-coming business leaders at Ron’s alma mater. The first recipients will be selected in the Spring of 2022.
Palmer-Donavin’s century-long legacy continues as an industry leader in residential building material distribution and door fabrication. They partner with local dealers and help supply the best materials for their projects. Their extensive product selection and endless commitment to great customer service help them build trust with local dealers so they can be confident in knowing they have the right materials and information for every job. As owners of the company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), all employees are driven by Palmer-Donavin’s mission to deliver products, expertise, and solutions that help their customers succeed. They do this by delivering high-quality products, a strong work ethic, a commitment to continuous learning and using new technology to build the highest level of trust with their partners.
Ron led Palmer-Donavin to become an employee-owned company (ESOP) in 2007.
Palmer-Donavin was founded in and currently headquartered in Columbus, Ohio (Area Code 614)