Age isn’t just a number. It’s the journey and the impact along the way. Lion Plumbing Supply is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, but the milestone is about more than looking back. It is an opportunity to recognize the customers, employees, manufacturers and representatives who helped the Miami-based wholesaler reach this moment while highlighting something the company believes remains critical to the PHCP industry: the independent wholesaler.

On Aug. 21, 2026, Lion Plumbing Supply marked its 70th anniversary by bringing together its industry community for a hometown trade show in Fort Lauderdale. The date was anything but arbitrary. The company was incorporated exactly 70 years earlier on Aug. 21, 1956.

And the message behind the celebration was equally deliberate.

“The biggest message we’d like to relay is the importance of the independent wholesaler,” says Sheri Newman, vice president of Lion Plumbing Supply. “We’ve all viewed the American Standard poster that says the plumber protects the health of the nation. Our perspective is that the independent wholesaler protects the health of the industry.

“We preserve competition, service, relationships and margins. If we disappear, the balance of power disappears with us,” she states.

Those words go a long way toward explaining not only the anniversary celebration but also the heartbeat of Lion.

Built on service: The company hosted a trade show event that featured 54 vendors, primarily IMARK Plumbing partners, and drew more than 150 contractors, customers and special guests. Lion wanted to create a different atmosphere for its trade show, something more relaxed and personal.

“We wanted it to be like an extended happy hour,” Newman said. “At buying groups, wholesalers get to see hundreds of vendors. Vendors get to see a couple hundred wholesalers. When can 50 vendors see 150 contractors in a three-hour period?”

Lion is not new to bringing customers and vendors together. For the past decade, the company has hosted a trade show every other year for its Florida Keys market. But this year’s event represented something different: Lion’s first show for its South Florida market and its first in its hometown, Miami.

Lion Plumbing is built around relationships, and face-to-face interaction matters. 

“So much of what we do every day happens by phone and email,” Newman said, adding, “We don’t often get face to face. Sometimes you may know a customer for years but never meet them. The salesman may never meet the person in the field. During COVID-19, we learned how much work we can get done remotely, and it’s a lot. But there’s nothing as productive as a face-to-face meeting.”

Brian Suriner, vice president of national accounts and buying groups at Oatey, was among the vendors who made the trip for the celebration. “It was our pleasure to attend Lion Plumbing Supply’s 70th anniversary celebration on Aug. 21, the date the company was incorporated as a plumbing wholesale distributor in Florida,” he said.

For Suriner, the event was also a reminder of what independent distributors like Lion make possible across the supply chain. “Meeting the Lion team and hundreds of its customers reminded us of the commitment distributors make on our behalf to bring the industry’s highest-quality products and services to professional contractors in the South Florida market.

“It was an honor to recognize Paul Gentile, Sheri Newman and the entire Lion team and celebrate their continued success as an independent distributor.”

Bob Mycoff, president of Harry Warren Inc., sees that same formula behind Lion’s staying power. “Lion Plumbing Supply is all about good people, strong relationships, industry support and integrity,” Mycoff says.

He credits those qualities with helping the distributor succeed for 70 years in the highly competitive Miami market. “What an achievement,” Mycoff adds. “Congratulations to the entire Lion team, and here’s to 70 more years of success!”

From plumbing contractor to wholesaler

The Lion Plumbing Supply story began before there was a Lion.

Charles R. “Chuck” Steele Jr. moved to South Florida in 1954 after serving in the U.S. Navy. After working in the lathing business with his uncle and later taking a plumbing job, Steele joined Leo Ouellette in what began as Leo’s Plumbing Service. The company was incorporated Aug. 21, 1956, with the young plumbing contractors concentrating on service and new residential construction.

Newman says Steele became involved shortly after Ouellette started the business.

“Leo was in business for about three months and needed help because he wasn’t going to be able to do it on his own. And Chuck came on board about three months in,” she said. As the business grew, its direction began to change.

In the 1960s, a retail counter offering repair parts and irrigation products was added. During the 1970s, as construction in Miami slowed, local plumbers increasingly looked to suppliers rather than carrying large inventories themselves. Leo’s responded by expanding its inventory and wholesale capabilities.

Paul Gentile, now president of Lion Plumbing Supply, would become another important part of that evolution. He joined the company in 1972, working at the counter, and eventually became a partner with Steele. In 1982, the company exited the contracting and service business to focus exclusively on wholesale distribution and became Lion Plumbing Supply.

That contracting heritage never really left the company. In fact, seven decades later, it remains one of Lion’s differentiators.

“We started as plumbing contractors, and so we like to think like a plumbing contractor,” Gentile says, adding, “Who can help you better than somebody that was in your position at one time?”

That understanding is backed by inventory, and lots of it. Lion makes a deliberate investment in maintaining deep inventory, including products that may rarely be requested. The philosophy is simple: When a contractor needs an unusual part, availability matters more than how frequently that SKU turns.

“We have parts from the ’40s and ’50s,” Gentile says, “and we have people who know how to sell those parts.” That combination of inventory and expertise helps contractors solve unusual problems quickly.

Built on service

Lion’s three-word motto carries considerable meaning: “Built on Service.”

For Lion, service can mean opening the doors after hours when a contractor has an emergency shutdown at a hospital or hotel. It can mean making a Saturday accommodation when the business would normally be closed. And sometimes it means sending a truck far outside Lion’s typical delivery territory because a longtime customer working hours away would rather call the supplier it trusts than work with an unfamiliar supply house.

From its single Miami location, Lion normally serves Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. About 15 years ago, it extended its reach into the Florida Keys and today delivers as far south as Key West twice a week. Its business is approximately 70% commercial and 30% residential, with its decorative plumbing showroom adding another dimension to its plumbing focus.

“The one thing that has remained constant throughout our 70-year history is our commitment to taking care of our customers,” Gentile says. “Products, technology and the plumbing industry itself have changed dramatically since 1956, but the belief that long-term relationships matter more than short-term transactions has never changed.”

Michael Whiteside, president of MIFAB, has watched that team up close for more than a quarter-century. “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Paul, Sheri, Rick, Nelson and the rest of the team at Lion Plumbing Supply for more than 25 years,” Whiteside says. That kind of continuity, he says, is part of what sets Lion apart.

Whiteside adds, “Lion has a long-tenured team that is knowledgeable and professional, setting a great example for other independent wholesalers. We are fortunate to supply our products to Lion, and I wish the team continued success in the years ahead.”

For customers, the company has continued to look for ways to provide greater value while preserving the personal service that defines an independent wholesaler.

Lion is a member of IMARK Plumbing, a vertical within Current Distribution Group. Gentile says the relationship has helped the company provide greater value to its customers.

“Joining IMARK Plumbing has been an important investment because it allows us to leverage the strength of a national organization while maintaining the personalized service and flexibility of an independent wholesaler,” Gentile says. “It has strengthened our purchasing power, expanded opportunities with our vendor partners and ultimately benefited the customers we serve every day.”

The company has also invested in its delivery capabilities, facilities, technology and specialized equipment, including a Moffett truck to better serve job sites. But Gentile is clear that technology and systems are tools, not replacements for the relationships and expertise at the heart of distribution.

“Technology has become essential, but it isn’t a replacement for relationships,” he says. “The most successful distributors are investing in better systems and automation while continuing to provide knowledgeable people who can solve problems and add value. Customers still want expertise and trusted partners; they just expect it to be delivered faster and more efficiently.”

Employees become owners

While Lion Plumbing Supply’s history has been built on taking care of customers, its succession plan was designed around taking care of employees.

In 2020, Lion transitioned to an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, after company leadership spent about two years considering succession options.

At the time, Gentile told The Wholesaler that the company had been approached about selling to other wholesalers. But leadership wanted to preserve the company’s team, maintain continuity for customers and reward employees who had helped build the business. The ESOP offered a way to accomplish those goals while maintaining Lion’s legacy.

Every Lion employee became a beneficial owner of the company, while existing profit-sharing and 401(k) programs remained in place.

Six years later, Lion has 39 employee-owners, and the philosophy behind that decision is front and center within the message the company is carrying into its 70th year: Independence has value, but it takes people to preserve it.

“For our employees, we have worked hard to create an environment where people can build careers, not just jobs,” Gentile says.

He points to the company’s investments in retirement programs, professional development and opportunities for long-term growth as examples of that commitment.

“We believe our success begins with our employees,” Gentile says. “The longevity of many of our employees speaks to the culture we’ve built, while the enthusiasm of our newer team members gives us confidence for the future.”

That combination of experience and new talent is something Lion views as one of its greatest competitive advantages.

“One of our greatest strengths has always been our people,” he says. “We are incredibly fortunate to have employees whose careers span decades alongside a new generation of talented team members who are bringing fresh ideas, new energy, and different perspectives to our business.

“That combination is one of our greatest competitive advantages. Our veteran employees have helped shape our culture and earned the trust of generations of customers, while our rising stars are helping us position for the future.”

Beyond the wholesale counter

Over the years, Lion has found other ways to evolve while staying connected to its South Florida roots.

In 2005, the company opened The Kitchen and Bath Design Studio next door to its wholesale operation, giving the company a presence in the luxury decorative plumbing market while allowing the two businesses to share inventory, customers and resources.

The showroom has continued to evolve with the Miami market, expanding its offerings beyond decorative plumbing into complementary categories such as hardware, vanities and lighting. Lion’s involvement with Luxury Products Group (LPG), which it joined at the group’s inception in 2009, has helped provide access to additional lines and industry relationships. Newman and Gentile have both served on the boards of LPG and its parent organization, Current Distribution Group.

Lion’s physical presence in Miami has also become a colorful reflection of its community.

In 2023, Lion and American Standard partnered with Miami artist Diana Contreras on a 31-foot-by-23-foot mural on the company’s building. The artwork depicts Lion’s mascot enjoying a bubble bath, bringing together plumbing, art and a distinctly Miami personality. The project was designed to draw attention to the building and create a connection with the surrounding community.

Remembering Chuck

One person’s presence is particularly meaningful as Lion Plumbing marks its 70th year.

Charles R. Steele Jr. died Feb. 24, 2026, just months before the company he helped build reach its anniversary. He was 93.

Steele’s connection to Lion spanned essentially the company’s entire existence, from its earliest days as Leo’s Plumbing Service through its evolution into a wholesale distributor and eventually an employee-owned company.

But those who knew Steele remember more than his business accomplishments.

“He was so humble and generous. He was honorable and a man of integrity,” Newman says. “It would never dawn on him to take credit when it belonged to him.” The anniversary celebration was held in his honor.

And for Newman, it is difficult to imagine the event without thinking about what Steele’s reaction would have been upon seeing the vendors, contractors and Lion employees gathered.

“There was a tremendous sadness in us knowing that he wasn’t going to be there,” she says. “Because I know if he had walked through that door, he would have said, ‘Wow,’ and it never would have occurred to him that he created it.”

Perhaps that is the most fitting way to understand Lion’s 70th anniversary.

What began with a small plumbing service business ultimately became something much larger: a South Florida wholesale distributor, an employee-owned company, a home for generations of employees, a partner to contractors and manufacturers and an independent business determined to remain just that.

The anniversary trade show brought those pieces together under one roof.

It celebrated seven decades of business, certainly. But it also celebrated the relationships behind those seven decades and the role independent distributors continue to play between manufacturers and the contractors who rely on them every day.

Lion believes its future will require change. Customer expectations will continue to increase. Technology will continue to reshape distribution. New competitors will emerge. A new generation of employees will take on greater leadership.

But Lion’s foundation isn’t changing.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we’re very proud of our history, but we’re also excited about the future,” Gentile says. “The same principles that guided Lion in 1956, including service, integrity, relationships and continuous improvement, will continue to guide us for decades to come.”

The answer, Gentile says, isn’t choosing between innovation and the fundamentals that built the business. It is doing both.

“Technology can improve efficiency, but it can’t replace a knowledgeable sales team, experienced warehouse staff, or employees who genuinely care,” he says. “Developing the next generation of leaders and creating a culture of accountability and continuous learning are just as important as investing in new technology.

“Ultimately, the companies that thrive are those that balance innovation with strong relationships.”

For Lion, however, the most important investment remains the people surrounding the business.

“At the end of the day, the most important investment we’ve made isn’t in a building or a piece of technology; it’s in people,” Gentile says. “Our customers, employees, and vendor partners have been the foundation of Lion Plumbing Supply for seven decades, and they’ll continue to shape our future for many years to come.”

And after 70 years, Lion has some advice for other independent distributors hoping to reach the same milestone.

“If we could offer one piece of advice, it would be to focus on building something that lasts, not just something that grows,” Newman says.

“Growth is important, but lasting success comes from earning trust every single day. Take care of your customers. Invest in your employees. Build strong partnerships with your vendors. Make decisions with the long term in mind rather than chasing short-term wins,” Newman says.

For Lion Plumbing Supply, those are not simply words marking an anniversary. They reflect the partnerships, reliability and commitment to service that have sustained the company for seven decades. They also demonstrate how an independent wholesale distributor reaches 70 years and moves confidently toward the future, one year at a time.