Firearms distributor Lipsey’s promoted Jason Cloessner to SVP of product development.
David Wascom, a former partner at Baton Rouge, LA-based CPA firm Hannis T. Bourgeois, was hired as CFO after working as Lipsey’s CPA for nearly 30 years.
Cloessner, a 25-year veteran of Lipsey’s, will continue to lead the special make-up firearms division, cultivating industry partnerships, driving new collaborations, and bolstering the company’s offerings.
“Jason’s passion for product and building industry relationships has served him and Lipsey’s well over the past 25 years of his career,” said Flint Virgets, executive industry director for Lipsey’s. “He’s part of the next generation of this company that will continue to guide its future.”
Wascom came to Lipsey’s as CFO in November. His history with the company dates back to 1995 when he began working for the company as an outside CPA. Wascom is a Baton Rouge native and graduated from Louisiana State University in 1991.
“Nobody is more qualified than David to be our next chief financial officer, offered Mark Emonet, president and COO of Lipsey’s. “His professionalism and unique experience with Lipsey’s businesses will serve us well. I am proud to call him a mentor, a friend, and now we get to work together to take Lipsey’s to the next level.”
Laurie Lipsey Aronson, chairwoman and CEO, announced the executive appointments during the company’s January meeting.
“I’m thrilled to have Jason and David on board for years to come,” she said. “Our company’s growth is a direct result of the quality team that we have assembled throughout the years. We promote from within whenever possible, and we also recruit the best talent we can find to join our strong team.”
Celebrating over 70 years in business, Lipsey’s was founded as a wholesale hunting and fishing distributor in 1953 in Baton Rouge, LA. Today, the company is one of the largest independently owned firearms distributors in the U.S., for firearms, NFA items and accessories.
Image courtesy Lipsey’s
