Experience (Background)
In 1980, Steve Ware began his career with IBM in sales. In 1982 he became a Distribution Industry Specialist working with all types of distributors including food brokers, auto dealers, parts suppliers, grocery companies, C-store operators, HVAC distributors, etc. His main task was to help these distributors find solutions to their business needs that operated on IBM platforms. This often required project management of taking third party software suppliers and integrating with IBM hardware and operating systems to provide productive and cost effective solutions for end users. As his expertise grew, he was assigned more advanced opportunities as a Wholesale Drug Specialist working with the top drug wholesalers in the U.S. These companies were responsible for developing many of the leading technologies used in warehouses today, like pick modules, A-frame systems, sortation systems, track and trace technology, and security of picked orders that were delivered to end users. He was involved in the initial implementation of a newly developed warehouse management system before WMS became a buzzword in the industry.
In 1994, Steve left IBM and joined with Don Downs, the owner of Birmingham Industrial Products Company, Inc. and Distribution Consulting, Inc. Don’s consulting business had become so successful he needed help with managing BIPCO and turned this task over to Steve. For 26 years Steve ran this business which consisted of providing material handling equipment and systems for distributors and manufacturers. Thru continuing education and field experience Steve became proficient in the use of all types of material handling equipment and systems, including carousels, conveyors, sortation, controls, dock equipment, racking, fork trucks, etc. Steve became a valuable asset to his clients suggesting the correct solutions and modifications to existing systems to maximize productivity and cost savings allowing some clients to more than triple their size in 15 years. Projects ranged from $100K to $5M and today Steve is welcomed into every client he has done business with in the past.
Beginning in 2015 Steve began working with Don assisting in his consulting business. Until Don’s unfortunate death in late 2019, Steve and Don worked together on many successful projects delivering great value and solutions for many different clients. This new enterprise, GAWICH Warehouse Consulting, was formed to be able to continue to provide expertise based on knowledge and experience to existing and new clients.
