Kansas City-Based TIVOL Names New President and Vice President as Part of its Leadership Team
Kansas City, Mo. (PRWEB) November 10, 2015 -- Cathy Tivol has named her son, Hunter Tivol McGrath, as vice president of TIVOL. In the same move, she also announced Brian Butler, formerly the general manager, as the new president. Tivol will maintain her role as the active CEO.
Before officially joining TIVOL in 2011, McGrath was a CPA with a Master’s in accounting from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. After becoming a TIVOL sales associate, he quickly began pursuing his graduate gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America, and he spent four years learning about various areas of the business, such as diamond buying and long-term strategic planning. Also during his first few years on the job, McGrath regularly consulted with Harold Tivol, his grandfather and an iconic figure in the history of TIVOL.
“I just wanted to be a sponge and learn about the history of our company, as well as the technical aspects of the business,” McGrath said. “And joining TIVOL, which was started by my great-grandfather, and then working with my grandfather—it’s been an honor and a joy.”
McGrath has also enjoyed the experience of working with his mother on a daily basis, even though for some, thatcould be a daunting proposition.
“I’ve always just known Cathy as my mom, so it’s been interesting to see her in a new light,” McGrath said. “But she’s great to work with and work for. She has very high standards, expects the best from everyone (including me) and she’s always professional and fair. Best of all, she’s fun.”
The year 2015 has been a pivotal one for McGrath beyond his new position at work. In May, he and his wife, Gloria, had their first child. The baby was a girl whom they named Brooke in honor of McGrath’s sister, who passed away in 2011.
McGrath’s mentorship was overseen by Butler, the newly announced president of TIVOL, who has been
with the company for 17 years.
Butler has had a lifelong passion for the jewelry industry, with his gemstone fascination beginning from a young age.
“During my junior year, I was in a Rotary exchange program, and I spent time in Brazil,” Butler said. “The country is home to about 50 percent of the world’s gem production, and I was able to buy stones directly from the miners. Around the same time, I was able to visit H. Stern, a large jewelry house in Brazil, and that’s when it really hit me.”
By 1985, Butler was working full-time in the industry, but he credits his 1998 transition to TIVOL as a key opportunity to really grow his career.
“TIVOL gave me the chance to continue following my passion for jewelry and gemstones,” Butler said. “But I was also able to be heavily involved in the construction and remodeling of our stores as well as the management of our staff and business strategies. It’s fascinating and exciting work to help TIVOL continue its legacy of making fine jewelry and selling the best product available while also keeping an eye on our future. Being a part of those processes is something I treasure.”
Besides being a devoted father to his children, Jeremy, 23, and Jessica, 20, he and his partner Jim have been together almost 15 years.
“My biggest passion outside my family is my Morgan show horses. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of my work life to the tranquility of riding serves as a great escape.”
Cathy Tivol, who oversaw both McGrath’s and Butler’s promotions, is excited about the important roles they both will play in the future of the company.
“As our general manager, Butler has been an invaluable asset to TIVOL,” Cathy Tivol said. “He has been a trusted employee, business confidant and dear friend, along with having the key role in grooming Hunter into this new leadership role. I can’t tell you how proud I am of both of them and how I look forward to seeing the things we accomplish together in the coming years.”
For more information, visit TIVOL.com, call (816) 531-5800 or follow TIVOL on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter @tivolkc. TIVOL is headquartered at 220 Nicholas Road in Kansas City, MO 64112.
About TIVOL
Established in 1910, TIVOL was founded in downtown Kansas City, Mo., by immigrant Charles Tivol. The company now has store locations on Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza and in Hawthorne Plaza in Overland Park, Ks. TIVOL remains family owned to this day.
The iconic retailer provides an array of fine jewelry and timepieces to the Kansas City market and beyond, all while providing heroic, uncompromising customer service. TIVOL also enjoys a strong network of renowned designers and jewelry artisans as its partners—many of whom credit the company with helping them establish an industry name and reputation.
For more information, visit TIVOL.com or follow TIVOL on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter @tivolkc.
Adan Gebhardt, TIVOL, http://www.tivol.com/, +1 (816) 751-0319, [email protected]
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