Family Owned and Operated
Josh Steele
Director of Sales
Bowhunter, furtrapper, agrarian, amateur chef, a degree in classical Greek. Likes to pretend he knows how to use his Canon AE-1, Yashica Samurai, and Panasonic G9. Thinks cover songs are often better than the original. Orchestrated a fledgling distributor’s genesis by convincing an internationally renowned analog film and paper manufacturer to come on board. This is Josh Steele, the man with the plan. The guy who keeps the Roberts Distributors machine running by dealing with our awesome vendors, sales team, and warehouse. Legend has it, the man of Steele donned his red & blue tights (or was it skinny jeans and a bowtie?) many times to bring unparalleled success to a then rinky-dink photo specialty team in upstate NY. The good news for all of us is, he’s doing it again, every day.
Meredith Reinker
Managing Partner
As managing partner of Roberts Distributors, Meredith wears a lot of hats across Roberts Distributors, Roberts Camera and UsedPhotoPro; including marketing, HR, retail, e-commerce, education and events, and a few other things. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. This is a labor of love for Meredith, who has been working at Roberts since she was in diapers. After working in employee relations and talent management in Chicago, Meredith made the decision in 2011 to move home to Indy to make Roberts a third-generation family owned business. Over the last twelve years, every day has proved to be an adventure and she thrives on the fast paced, ever-changing, exciting industry that is the photo specialty channel. When not on her email, she is enjoying each and every moment with her husband and two hilarious little girls.
Anthony Valentine
Sales Manager
With about 300 years of distribution sales and management under his belt, Anthony has dealt with every photo dealer from sea to shining sea at one point or another. If you don’t know him, don’t worry, he probably knows you. And while longevity has filled his portfolio with oodles of experience, it’s not without detriment, taking the form of what we call “the technology curse”. This man’s mere presence causes macbook seizure, smartphone explosions, and widescale wi-fi revolt! Since technology shuns Anthony, he embraces the analog life to its fullest, right down to the unending stream of scribbles he fills his vast collection of moleskins with. Bonus points if you bring up the Beastie Boys or old school hip-hop on your next call…
Nate Bova
Sales & Customer Relations
When he’s not trying to stop Thanos from snapping his fingers, Nate is probably trying to figure out how he recently waltzed into his 15th year in the distribution industry. A professed pop culture and comic book nerd, as well as keeper of a massive vault of the heaviest metal this side of Norway, Mr. Bova prides himself in keeping his customers fat and happy. If he’s not untangling a stress-cry inducing shipping quagmire, he’s making sure you get every piece of product Roberts Distributors carries (hopefully many times over). And if you challenge him to a friendly game of cornhole… Well, you may get sick of hearing “4 bag!!!” pretty quickly…
Justin Bockman
Channel Manager
A youthful glow and child-like innocence masks Justin’s battle-tested resolve forged through many years in the distribution world. A walking encyclopedia who can function on a handful of cashews and a single drop of hot tea, he is Roberts’ secret weapon. Baseball enthusiast, Star Wars aficionado, pop culture debate team president, C.S. Lewis fanatic…a list of prestigious titles that only hints at the scope of his multi-faceted knowledge. And when he picks up the phone, we know he’s mere minutes from sealing a deal of epic proportions…the kind of deal that makes his customers ecstatic and his co-workers envious. But he did quit coffee recently, and that worries us…
Birgit Buchart
Content Marketing Manager
It all started with a roll of film in a tiny village in the Austrian Alps, that kicked off Birgit’s analog photography journey. Fast forward many years, countless rolls, and perhaps one too many camera purchases later, she’s now living in another tiny place: a NYC apartment. After several years as the Marketing Manager and then General Manager for a film photography brand, Birgit made the leap to freelance, putting her obsession with film photography to good use at Roberts Distributors. When she’s not testing out the latest film stocks or crafting content for our dealers, you’ll find her crammed into a car with her “photo-friends” and a trunk full of camera gear, driving across the U.S. hunting for sunsets, abandoned houses, and the perfect shots.
Amber Burd
Distribution Warehouse Manager
Coming straight from the ranch, Amber Burd struts into work wearing cowboy boots and a ten gallon hat. Every day, she wrangles the distribution team together and makes sure those packages make it out the door. You can always hear her approaching because country music echoes wherever she goes. As American as apple pie, she’s sharp, she’s a shooter, she’s a sharpshooter.
Frederick Durham
Distribution Warehouse Associate
“Win some, lose some, but you live to gamble another day” — Words to live by for a big winner like Fredo “$$$$” Durham. High roller, photographer, and a man of many sayings. He’ll tell you he’s a player, but he won’t tell you his game.
Diana Childers
Distribution Warehouse Associate
Diana works in the distribution department, picking and packing film products and photography gear for photographers near and far. They’re also a wedding photographer who loves documenting genuine, unscripted moments. When they’re not working or shooting a wedding, they’re spending time with their 12-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son or tending to their garden.
Bruce Pallman
General Partner
On August 21, 1957 Robert and Rose Pallman opened the doors of Roberts Distributors in downtown Indianapolis. This also happened to be their son, Bruce’s, 5th birthday. To say that Roberts and Bruce have been one and the same ever since would be an understatement. After graduating law school in 1978, Bruce decided he would rather work in the family business than work with lawyers. Since then Bruce has spent each and every day moving Roberts forward. From retail to e-commerce to distribution, Bruce loves it all. He is the leader, joke maker, vodka drinker and ultimate purchasing agent…and we would all be lost without him!
Corey Reinker
Director of Operations
After spending eight years in the wine distribution business, Corey made the move to Indianapolis to work with his wife’s family business…yikes! Since 2011, Corey has learned the ins-and-outs of the photo industry. In 2012, he turned his focus toward expanding Roberts used camera business under the UsedPhotoPro brand. Fast forward seven years and a lot of used camera gear later, Corey spends each day in the trenches of operations, order processing, shipping and logistics. When he’s not talking eBay customers off a ledge, Corey can be found cheering on ANY Cleveland sports team, drinking a good glass of wine and hanging with his wife and two daughters.
