Fred Kirst

Vice President, Specialty Businesses

Fred Kirst is the vice president of True Value Company's specialty businesses. Kirst guides the rental division, including Just Ask Rental, Grand Rental Station and Taylor Rental. He also oversees True Value's maintenance, repair & operations (MRO) and leads True Value's niche businesses, including Home & Garden Showplace, Induserve Supply and Commercial Sales.

Kirst originally joined ServiStar Coast to Coast, a forerunner of True Value Company, in 1991. He served the company in a number of positions, including automotive buyer, director of marketing, and was ultimately named assistant vice president of international sales in 1997. He was promoted to vice president of global sourcing and emerging business in 2000. In this position, he was instrumental in the global expansion of the cooperative's retail and vendor network as well as the advancement of True Value Company's commercial/industrial, rental, events and meetings and corporate development areas.

Prior to working at ServiStar Coast to Coast, Kirst served as president of Stinger Sam, an automotive parts chain in Arkansas and was also vice president of marketing for Country General Stores. He is a graduate of North Central Technical College.