Joe Comitale, the Executive Vice President of M-D Building Products and the President of the Professional Flooring division, M-D PRO and Canadian Consumer division, M-D Canada, will be retiring as Dec. 31, 2025, after 48 years in the industry.
Trained in mechanical engineering, Comitale began his industry career in 1977 in Mississauga, ON, Canada, at Drummond Metal Products, a Benson Group company. He was a part-time machine operator as well as a shipper/receiver, all while working his way through school. By 1982, he was working full-time for the Benson family and promoted to Assistant Plant Manager at Drummond Metal Products. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Bengard Manufacturing, another Benson Group company, known for its aluminum extrusion fabrication, finishing and packaging expertise, and was promoted to Plant Manager in 1985.
He spent most of his early years at Bengard revamping the machines and changing the business model to focus on flooring trims as the core business. In 1991, he became the Vice President of Sales, and by the age of 34 he was named President of Bengard Manufacturing by his mentor, Bill Benson, Sr. In 1999, Bengard Manufacturing merged with the Flooring portion of Drummond Metal Products, and the combined entity was sold to The Loxcreen Company in Columbia, S.C., in 2000.
During his time at Loxcreen, Comitale dove headfirst into product development, using his engineering background to develop PROVA Tile Installation Products with his team. What started with a single tile underlayment product has grown into a complete line of tile underlayment, shower waterproofing, and building accessories that are among the most advanced in the industry.
“Joe has mentored many people over the years and created pathways for their professional growth and development that they may not have had without his investment in them,” said M-D Building Products CEO and President Ryan Plotkin. “The strong relationships that he has fostered with all stakeholders have transitioned to the current leadership team and create a springboard for the company to continue forward successfully in the market for decades to come.”
Comitale’s quick advancement and extraordinary leadership earned him a nomination to Young President’s Organization (YPO), and he later graduated to World President’s Organization (WPO). He has also been a participating member of many industry associations. He was an active board member for the former Flooring Installation Association of North America (FIANA), an integral part of the Flooring Institute of Ontario (FIO), and is currently Chairman of the Board for the Canadian Home Products Trade Association (CHPTA) and a board member for M-D Canada.
He will continue to offer his expertise to M-D Building Products on an as-needed consulting basis and will help his successors transition into their leadership roles. Comitale also plans to carry on utilizing his expertise in business strategy and consulting services as the founder of the newly incorporated Dark Horse Business Strategies, Inc.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with small businesses and plan to find some fledgling companies to work with to pass on some of my experience to help them scale,” he said.
About M-D Building Products
M-D Building Products, Inc. has a rich history of product development and manufacturing expertise. Beginning in 1920 as Macklanburg Duncan, the M-D story encompasses over 100 years of innovating and manufacturing products demanded by customers and the markets they serve, with industry-leading products in weatherization, flooring tools, flooring accessories, caulks and sealants, and digital levels. M-D Building Products is also a major supplier to the OEM market for custom aluminum and vinyl extrusions spanning a range of products limited only by the imagination.
About M-D Canada
A division of M-D Building Products, M-D Canada provides a broad range of floorcovering installation accessories, building products, and hardware accessories. Its core business includes PROVA Tile Installation Products, a complete selection of aluminum and vinyl extruded transitional floor moldings that aid in simplifying flooring installation, as well as a complete selection of weatherization products, door and window screens, caulks, and sealants.
