Transitioning toward retirement, Tom Longust, founder of Mesa, Ariz.-based Longust Distributing, has handed the reigns of the company to a management team that has been in place for over 10 years.

Effective June 1, the company is now owned by a team led by Steve Wallace, CEO; and including John Laird, CFO; Bo Bobertz, CFO; and Drew Mittelstaedt, senior vp marketing.

Longust will remain involved in the 30-year-old company on a consulting basis, and continue as manager and part owner of California-based Longust Flooring LLC.

"There really are no changes to the company other than that Tom has removed himself from the day-to-day operations," said Mittelstaedt. "These are plans that were shared with our key vendors years ago, so the transition does not come as a surprise. It's full speed ahead."

Longust Distributing runs three branches: the 100,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Mesa, Ariz., an 18,000 sq. ft. facility in Las Vegas, and a 12,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Albuquerque. Longust Flooring LLC, which has been in business for five years, is based out of Anaheim and San Diego, Calif. According to Mittelstaedt, the limited liability company will also be transferred in the years to come.