About Bob Behan
At Pathwise Consulting, you will work directly with someone who has spent a lifetime leading businesses through growth, challenge, change, and opportunity.
Over the course of my career, I have operated businesses ranging from those with less than $1 million in annual sales to those exceeding $300 million in revenue. That journey provided experience across many different aspects of running and leading a business.
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My experience spans retail operations, eCommerce, marketing, vendor relations, events, digital strategy, and website development within the powersports industry. Working alongside business owners across multiple industries has also given me firsthand insight into the challenges entrepreneurs face every day.
Career Highlights
Early Years & Foundation
I attended the University of Minnesota Business School while working a variety of jobs that provided early exposure to customer service, retail operations, manufacturing, hospitality, and hands-on industrial work. Those positions included retail sales at Target Stores, gas station attendant work, event security, scrap metal operations, and I was card carrying union steel worker at National Wire Cloth.
Those early experiences helped shape a practical, grounded approach to business and leadership. They also provided valuable perspective on hard work, operational discipline, customer interaction, and the realities faced by employees throughout an organization — lessons that stayed with me throughout my executive career.
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The following reflects the path of my career — from recent leadership roles back to the early experiences that helped shape my approach to business and leadership.
Dennis Kirk, Inc. (denniskirk.com)
President & CEO
For more than 26 years, I served as President & CEO of Dennis Kirk, Inc., helping lead the company through substantial growth and the rapid evolution of eCommerce retailing. The business is one of the leading powersports aftermarket retailers in the United States, serving motorcycle, ATV/UTV, and snowmobile enthusiasts nationwide.
Dennis Kirk is recognized for its broad product selection, operational execution, customer service, and strong industry reputation. The company now offers more than 185,000 products online, more than any other competitors — while adapting to changing technology, customer expectations, and competitive market conditions over many years.
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Glass House, Inc.
Owner
I operated Glass House, Inc., a gift store product manufacturing and retail business. Although the business ultimately failed, the experience provided valuable entrepreneurial perspective and reinforced the realities, risks, and lessons that come with owning and operating a small business personally.
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Nasco, Inc.
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President & CEO
As President & CEO of Nasco, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of a publicly owned Irish corporation Unidare PLC, I led a national welding and safety supply distribution company operating from 18 warehouse locations throughout the United States. The position involved leadership across operations, distribution, sales, finance, and organizational management.
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Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk & Co.
National Sales Manager, VP of Purchasing, Executive VP & COO, and President & CEO
Over 9 years, I progressed through multiple executive leadership positions within F.O.K., ultimately serving as President & CEO of a wholly owned subsidiary of an NYSE-listed company. F.O.K. operated 1,400 franchised hardware stores across 17 states and was Target Stores’ third-largest supplier at the time.
The business operated across wholesale distribution, franchise operations, and large retail supply relationships, providing broad exposure to operational leadership, organizational management, merchandising, purchasing, and strategic growth.
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Target Stores
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Corporate Buyer – Hardware & Pet Supply Products
I joined Target during an important growth period as the company was evolving into a major national retailer. The role provided valuable experience in corporate retail purchasing, vendor relationships, product strategy, and operating within a rapidly expanding organization.
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Gamble Skogmo
Corporate Hardware Products Buyer, General Merchandise Manager & National Sales Manager
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At Gamble Skogmo, I worked within a large retail and wholesale organization serving more than 1,800 franchise hardware stores across 24 states along with company-owned big box retail operations. The experience broadened my understanding of merchandising, distribution, franchise operations, and large-scale business management.
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Holiday Stores
Big Box Store Hardware/Paint Department Manager & Corporate Hardware Buyer Trainee
My early management experience at Holiday Stores provided firsthand exposure to retail operations, merchandising, customer service, inventory management, and the day-to-day realities of running high-volume retail businesses.