Company: BCI/Bath Planet, Palatine, IL
Company Description: In 1999, BCI® Acrylic Bath Systems was founded by Tom Barzantny and Scott Rosenbach in Palatine, IL (suburban Chicago area) to address the concerns of many bath remodeling companies in the areas of quality and service. Over the past thirteen years, the company has grown steadily despite the economic downturn establishing it as the fastest growing bath remodeling company in its category.
Nomination Category: Management Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Executive of the Year - Consumer Products - Durables

Nomination Title: Rick Hirschhaut, Senior Vice-President

Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2012 (up to 525 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Rick Hirschhaut, Senior Vice President for BCI Acrylic Bath Systems and Bath Planet is the architect of the strategies that has enabled the company to aggressively grow top-line revenues and bottom-line EBIT over the past three years.  While the remodeling industry has been in sharp decline, BCI/Bath Planet grew 28.5% in 2011 and 30.5% in 2012.  Through March of 2013, the company has experienced 22 consecutive record sales months.  His vision, strategic planning and drive have positioned the company as the fastest growing bath remodeling manufacturer in the country.  In 2012, Rick led our very first Stevie Award application and BCI was recognized as the Silver Medal winner for Company of the Year – Consumer Durable Goods.  
 
Under Rick’s leadership, the company has achieved consistent and impressive revenue growth. Recognized and respected within home improvement circles, Rick has been quoted in over 15 trade and consumer publications in the past year. 

Rick has earned an MBA, as well as a CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist) certification from the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders).  He’s lead the company’s foray into bath remodeling solutions that specifically address the needs of seniors so that they can maintain their independence by having a safe bathing environment in their own home.
 
As a dynamic speaker, he delivered the keynote address at the first Bath Planet Dealership Conference held in January at the Yacht Club Resort at Disney World.  The agenda, presentations, deliverables, marketing and logistics were all developed in-house by Rick and his very talented team.  Attended by over 90% of the Bath Planet dealers from around the U.S. and Canada, this was truly a world-class event that educated, “wowed” and motivated the dealer audience.  At this conference, the company introduced its proprietary iPad-driven sales presentation, along with its new Design Studio visualization software.  
 
BCI is a private-label manufacturer of acrylic bath and shower remodeling solutions.  Under Rick’s direction, in Q4 of 2011 the company launched the Bath Planet licensed dealership opportunity.  The Bath Planet dealership count has ballooned from less than ten at the start of 2012 to 85 by year’s end.  This rapid expansion has created over 500 new jobs through our dealer network and an additional ten at our corporate headquarters.
 
The home improvement “world” has a mere 53% recommendation rate (according to Qualified Remodeler Magazine).  A passionate driver of customer satisfaction, Rick has created a consumer experience that has resulted in a 97% “likely to recommend” rate, as mentioned by Guild Quality, an independent consumer satisfaction surveying organization.  The company is truly becoming the “breath of fresh air” within all of home improvement.
 
Over the past three years, Rick has fostered a strong working relationship with Sears Home Improvement.  Working closely with Sears’ Director of Product Management, BCI quickly became the leading bath remodeling solution within the Sears direct-to-consumer program.  The program has grown from six markets to over 45 markets nationwide.
 
The primary key to BCI’s success has been the people that Rick has recruited, hired, trained, motivated and supported.  While Rick’s nomination for this prestigious award may be for an individual, Rick certainly considers this as recognition for the entire BCI/Bath Planet

Upload a collection of supporting files and web addresses to our server to provide more background information to the judges. You may upload any number of attachments and URLs through the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above. (Do NOT list your URLs below.)

Provide a brief (up to 125 words) biography about the nominee:

Scott Rosenbach and Tom Barzantny began their careers on the retail side of residential bath remodeling. While neither had any plans to become a major manufacturing company, a lack of quality and service hindered their growth.  In 1999, Tom and Scott joined forces and launched a manufacturing operation to provide remodelers with the best quality products and service.  In 2009, Rick Hirschhaut was invited to become Senior Vice President to continue building infrastructure and refine the company’s growth strategies while taking BCI to the next level. In Q4 of 2011, BCI launched Bath Planet, an award winning, consumer oriented brand that has grown rapidly through 2012. Today, BCI/Bath Planet employs 55 very talented people who support over 500 dealers in the Unites States and Canada.