WESCO had operating profits of $402 million in the third quarter, an increase of 75% year over year and a record for the distributor. The company's net sales totaled $5.4 billion for the quarter, 15% higher than the same quarter last year.

SpartanNash is consolidating its retail banners down to Family Fare, Martin's Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market and Supermercado Nuestra Familia. Family Fare will cover the company's conventional supermarket segment and Supermercado Nuestra will focus on global products while D&W Fresh Market and Martin's Super Markets will serve as upmarket stores.

Ingram Micro has built its company culture with a focus on giving back to the community, and the technology company hosts dozens of events and opportunities throughout the year to empower employees to raise funds or volunteer for various causes. "Bringing people together outside of the normal work environment, you see a different side of people," said Therese Ferullo, a vice president of sales who helps organize community efforts at Ingram's campus near Buffalo, N.Y., which have included a school supply drive and an Adopt-a-Family campaign to help provide local families with holiday dinners.

Another railroad union group narrowly approved an agreement with freight railroads on Saturday, becoming the seventh of 12 unions to ratify a contract. Fears of a strike remain, given that two unions have rejected deals, and business groups want the president and Congress prepared to intervene if all parties aren't satisfied by a Nov. 19 deadline.

Ports on the West Coast have gotten some much-needed relief in recent months, with the Port of Los Angeles receiving 27% fewer shipments in September than in the same month last year. However, East Coast ports are grappling with delays and increased congestion.

An executive education class at the Kellogg School of Management shows "how cutting-edge data analytics and data science can inform sales leadership," professor Joel Shapiro writes, explaining the difference between business intelligence and advanced analytics. One student said in a course evaluation that the material offers "a completely new way for me to look at sales."

Team members perform better when they know what's expected of them, writes Suzi McAlpine, who offers a six-step GETSET model that involves setting clear, explicit expectations, offering encouragement and tracking results. "With clarity, you're giving your team members a better chance to succeed," McAlpine writes.

Measure your leadership effectiveness by assessing profitability and relevant benchmarks as well as seeking feedback directly from your team or hiring a third-party to gather input, writes Rashan Dixon, a senior business systems analyst at Microsoft. If adjustments are needed, own any mistakes made, seek a role model and set new, clear goals, Dixon writes.

The NAW Billion Dollar Company Roundtables are an exclusive community of thought leaders from Billion Dollar distribution enterprises who congregate to network with noncompeting peers in multiple lines of trade on key issues. The companies invited into this community are from distribution firms at or above $1 billion in annual sales. Register today!