In this episode of the MDM Podcast, Mike Hockett sits down with Steve Snower, longtime leader of Parts Town, to discuss the distributor’s rapid growth, strategic priorities and Snower’s reflections on more than two decades steering the company. Parts Town has evolved from a team of six employees when he joined in 2004 to today’s position as a global leader in mission-critical OEM replacement parts, serving foodservice, residential appliance and HVAC markets. In 2025, Parts Town projects $2.8 billion in revenue with more than 5,500 team members worldwide.

In the Store: MDM’s 2025 Economic Outlook Report (Premium access) 

A central theme of the conversation is employee ownership and culture. Snower highlights the company’s recently launched Town Shares program, which grants equity to all employees, aligning with its core values and deepening its culture of accountability, generosity and shared success. He calls it “the single most important program” Parts Town has ever introduced, enabled through collaboration with its private equity partners.

MDM’s 2Q25 MarketPulse Report (Premium access) 

The discussion also touches on Parts Town’s ongoing logistics and technology expansion. The company’s new global fulfillment center in Phoenix — featuring advanced automation and robotics — strengthens capacity, redundancy and customer service while positioning Parts Town for long-term growth. Meanwhile, initiatives like same-day delivery through its Parts in Town network and a strong push into AI-driven digital innovation illustrate how the company continues to lead on customer-centric technology.

Leadership transition was another focal point. In July, Bill Geary, a former Wesco and Anixter executive, became CEO as Snower transitions into the role of Executive Chairman. Snower emphasizes that leadership continuity remains strong, with a blend of long-tenured executives and new leaders bringing fresh expertise. Despite stepping back from day-to-day operations, Snower remains deeply engaged in guiding the company’s strategy and growth alongside Geary.

In the Store: MDM’s U.S. MRO Market Trends Report

Looking ahead, Parts Town’s priorities are clear: drive organic growth, optimize its global fulfillment network, expand into adjacent product categories, accelerate international growth, and continue to foster its people-first culture. As Snower puts it, Parts Town’s future will be defined by a relentless focus on growth, innovation, and culture.

This candid conversation provides valuable insights into how Parts Town has scaled from a niche distributor into a global powerhouse, while staying true to its cultural roots and innovation-driven mission.

Listen to the episode via the audio player above, and you can find all of our past episodes at mdm.com/podcasts.

Our Most Recent Podcast Episodes

• MDM Podcast: Rexel’s Strategy for M&A, Talent and Tech (July 22)
• MDM Amplify: Rerouted and Resilient — How Distributors & Carriers Redesign for Disruption (July 28)
• MDM Podcast: Inside LGG Industrial’s Rebrand, Upgrades & Tariff Strategy (June 4)
• MDM Podcast: Breaking Down QXO’s Beacon Acquisition and its Impact (May 14)
• MDM Podcast: Unlocking the Secrets of Sales Compensation (April 16)
• MDM Podcast: Be the Steve Irwin of Distribution and Rethink Team Dynamics (April 7)