National Wholesale Co. was well-prepared long before its founder’s passing

By Paul Miller

But that doesn’t leave Swann without “family” at National Wholesale. Longtime executives like CFO Joanie Lookabill (41 years), Vice President of Advertising-Creative Betty McMahan (27 years) and Customer Service/Telemarketing Supervisor Diane Miller (35 years) are so entrenched in the National Wholesale and Eddie Smith cultures and family atmosphere that today’s operations mostly are run by committee with Swann (40-plus years at the company) calling the final shots.