The company name started as Barry Pipe and Equipment, which was a provider of steel pipe and military surplus equipment. Barry Pipe and Equipment was originally located at the intersection of Waterloo and Cherokee Roads in Stockton, California.
In 1962, Frank Gorham acquired Barry Pipe and Equipment and changed the name to Cal-Sierra Pipe. A key milestone occurred following the acquisition, as Frank Gorham discontinued the military surplus equipment operation and expanded the steel pipe segment of the business. Cal-Sierra Pipe started with a pickup truck and trailer delivering the materials to our customers. The Company moved to its’ current location at Highway 99 and Mariposa Road in Stockton in 1964 to better serve our customers and facilitate the expansion of the Company’s services and its inventory of products.
Under Larry’s tenure, the Company experienced significant growth with a strong emphasis on availability of inventory and an unparalleled commitment to quick and reliable delivery of the highest quality pipe, valves and fittings. In Larry’s 29 years as president, the company became a major supplier of Northern and Central California’s steel and other engineering materials for water and drainage infrastructure applications.
Larry completed an orderly and successful transition from leadership in 2011, in order to enjoy his retirement and be more available to his grandchildren. In searching for a company leader it was important for Larry to identify a professional who understood the importance of maintaining the reputation of the company with each of its valued customers. Larry sold the company to Montage Partners, a firm known for buying quality businesses, helping founders transition to the next generation of management, and building on successful platforms. Larry remains a vital advisor to the business even to this day.
He was hand picked by Larry, who had known the Dunn family for over 30 years. Steve, a native of Stockton attended USC with a degree in Business Administration. He went on to work in the general engineering construction business for over 20 years. Steve led the Cal-Sierra team for over 7 years. In that time, the business saw limited growth, and faced some extremely challenging economic times. Through sheer grit and determination, Steve was able to maintain healthy inventory levels and high fill rates. Customer service remained at the core of the company’s identity. Steve preserved a base of loyal customers and suppliers throughout his tenure as president.
In 2017, Steve made the decision to move on to a career in commercial real estate. At that point, Montage began a search for a new president. They spent months searching for just the right candidate, insisting that it be someone with a proven track record of distribution center management and a demonstrated commitment to customer service. After interviewing countless candidates and conducting exhaustive interviews, they made their selection.
A central valley native, John has a B.A. in Economics from CSU Stanislaus and an MBA from the University of Tennessee. He has over 15 years of distribution center management and several years in executive roles with national corporations. John is a seasoned importer and purchaser, with a track record of running effective distribution centers. In 2019 John and the Cal-Sierra team opened the the Paso Robles Yard.
