COE Distributing, a nationwide wholesale distributor of office furniture, celebrated the expansion of its Smock, PA distribution center, on Friday, May 10th with a ribbon cutting ceremony. With COE team members, sales reps, vendors, construction contractors, and local officials present, JD Ewing, President and CEO of the third generation, family-owned company in Fayette County, cut the ribbon on the now 270,000 square foot facility.

Ground breaking for the expansion began almost two years ago, and last February, the construction of the building structure began. Everything wrapped up last Wednesday, two days before the ceremony. Ewing said that the expansion was something they knew they needed six years ago, and was finally able to accomplish, with COE's continued success and growth.

After all of the hard work, dirt moved, and racks built throughout the last two years, Ewing is proud of the finished product, saying that the warehouse workers can "now come to work, smile, and know that they are walking into a facility that's welcoming, bright, and you can get your job done in."

And although there is more square footage to light, the new expansion has been environmentally friendly and energy efficient, with a light gathering feature. Motion detecting lights, that turn off after about 10 minutes of inactivity, and sky lights, all help to reduce the amount of energy used to light the now 270,000 square foot facility.

JD went on to talk about the other growth happening for COE, with a distribution center expected to open up later this year, in Houston, TX. Along with the 180,000 square foot distribution center in Charlotte, NC, COE will soon have three distribution centers operational.

The speech ended with many thanks given from JD to all of the people and local companies that assisted with the expansion, and supported COE through the years. JD was then given the honors of cutting the ribbon and officially celebrating the expansion of the Smock, PA distribution center.