General Tools is a leader in the design and development of precision specialized tools. We are committed to innovation and dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without our people. To commemorate our 100th year in business, we’re showcasing some of the outstanding employees who have been instrumental in our success.

A Career in Tools: Meet Vaughan Holzer, Purchaser

Joined: September 1991

Before Vaughan joined General Tools, he owned his own hardware store for four years. After he sold it and began looking for another job, he spotted an ad in the New York Times and applied to for a job expediting purchase orders. Over the next five years, he worked his way into purchasing as an assistant buyer and today he’s responsible for purchasing hand tools.

“I was familiar with the quality of General Tools through my hardware store, and since I joined the company, I like that every day offers different challenges,” says Vaughan.

Because he was in his 20s when he first started working at GT, Vaughan has fond memories of what he calls his ‘Work Moms’.

“I had lots of them watching over me – including Norma, Molly and Laura – making sure I ate enough and that I was doing well, and sometimes, it was more than what my own mom did,” laughs Vaughan.

“It was like that for years, even after I got married and had kids.”

Vaughan says he was also lucky to have supportive mentors during his career, especially Chris Edwards, who was a Buyer and then Vice-President before retiring.

“He taught me how to deal with vendors and customers and guided me through all the ins and outs of purchasing. Now, Shernette Matthews is my new mentor. She never has a problem taking time out of her busy schedule to teaching me something new. She’s a great motivator and has helped me succeed.”

When Vaughan started GT, many customers only had a few sku’s in their lines, but being aggressive when came to buying and having a great order fulfillment rate, the sales team was able to increase business and prove to customers that GTI was a great vendor to partner with.

Vaughan finds GT’s Digital Fractional Caliper especially handy.

“You can measure the width of a tube or the length of a screw in fractions,” he explains. “I also use the Telescoping Magnetic Pickup, which is great if you drop something while you’re working on your car.”

Vaughan’s favorite fun fact about General Tools:

Since General Tool is an established tool manufacturer, selling specialty hand tools and digital tools, since 1922; the public’s perception of General Tools is that we are large company. However, we aren’t as large as people think. We have a great team who have managed to successfully go to market, represent, sell and support a large product line of specialty tools, instruments and gardening tools, making us ‘large’ and recognizable in the eyes of our customers.

About General Tools:
Ingenuity is at our core of every tool we make. With General in your tool belt, you can proudly take on the title of “Genius At Work”. Check out generaltools.com for all your precise tool needs.