Anixter International's role with Habitat for Humanity

An interview with Ted Dosch, executive vice president, finance and chief financial officer at Anixter International Inc.

Q: Tell us about Anixter International.

A: Anixter is a leading global distributor of network and security solutions, electrical and electronic wire and cable solutions and utility power solutions. We say that we help build, connect, power and protect valuable assets and critical infrastructure. Anixter helps build the systems and the infrastructure that sustain communities and businesses - from power lines and substations to data centers and surveillance systems to industrial controls and lighting.

Q: Explain the history of the company.

A: In 1957, brothers, Alan and Bill Anixter, had the idea to sell wire and cable by the foot instead of by the reel, which was a revolutionary idea in those days. They founded Anixter Brothers with a $10,000 family loan and turned that into $300,000 in sales in their first year, selling primarily to distributors and wholesalers. In 10 years, the company reached $100 million in sales and went public. Over the next few decades the company moved into the data communications, security, OEM supply and utility power businesses through a series of acquisitions and consolidations. Today, Anixter operates in 50+ countries, has 8,800 employees and is a Fortune 500 company with $7.6 billion in sales.

Q: How is Anixter involved with Habitat for Humanity?

A: Anixter supports Habitat for Humanity through our Anixter Cares program with both financial contributions and by having hundreds of employees volunteer with the eight local affiliates. Anixter believes it is important for our employees to help make the communities in which we operate better.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your personal history.

A: I grew up in a small town in southeastern Ohio with parents who instilled a very strong work ethic into me and my four brothers. Years later as I began to work with Habitat for Humanity and had the opportunity to work side by side with Habitat partner families building their new homes, I was so impressed with how hard working these families were as they worked to become homeowners for the first time. I quickly realized that something that I had always taken for granted, a safe, decent, affordable home, was just what these families wanted for their children. I have been privileged to work with Habitat for Humanity building homes on five continents as well as serve as a board member at both the local level and the international level. It is very rewarding to be part of an organization that helps a family somewhere in the world every 10 seconds. Despite that, the need is so great that we still have so much more work to do.

Q: What are some of Anixter's products?

A: At a very broad level, we offer our customers about 600,000 products in total, and they fall roughly into the categories of wire and cable, communications, security, industrial communication and control and utility power solutions. At a more micro level, let's take a look at just some of the products we can supply from one of our largest businesses, the Network and Security Solutions' segment.

Q: Tell us one interesting fact about Anixter.

A: Anixter is a multibillion dollar global B2B distributor that most people have never heard of with a unique company culture. Integrity is an integral part of company culture with a belief that "we would rather lose money, a customer, a supplier or an order rather than violate our ethics."