About Us

Roberts Distributors is a family owned and operated retail and distribution business located in Indianapolis, Indiana. With over sixty years of experience in the photo specialty channel, Roberts has the expertise to deliver your product to the right customers. Our extensive experience in photo specialty retail, e-commerce and logistics allows us to understand your customer, your product and how to best meet the ever-changing needs of this industry.

Our Staff

Bruce Pallman
Bruce Pallman President & General Partner bpallman@ Olympus OM-2 MD, ILFORD XP2 SUPER

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!

Josh Steele
Josh Steele Director of Sales jsteele@ Olympus OM-2N, Dubblefilm Monsoon

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.

Corey Reinker
Corey Reinker Director of Operations creinker@ Olympus OM-2 MD, ILFORD XP2 SUPER

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.

Mereidth Reinker
Meredith Reinker Marketing Director mreinker@ Polaroid SLR 680, Polaroid Originals Color 600

Director of marketing, HR, retail, e-commerce, education and events, and a few other things, Meredith wears a lot of hats across Roberts Distributors, Roberts Camera and UsedPhotoPro. 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 for seven years, Meredith made the decision to move home to Indy to make Roberts a third generation family owned business. Every day is 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.

John Qualkenbush
John Qualkenbush Inventory & Shipping Manager jqualkenbush@ Olympus OM-2N, Dubblefilm Monsoon

With ten years under his belt at Roberts, John Q (as he is affectionately known), has done it all. From inventory counts to shipping manifests to building shelving to unloading trucks to Amazon shipments and much more, John Q is the man who gets the orders out the door. His small but mighty team picks and packs each order with TLC every single day. And John works here for FREE! kidding…kidding…

Anthony Valentine
Anthony Valentine Sales Manager avalentine@ Olympus OM-2 MD, ILFORD XP2 SUPER

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
Nate Bova Sales & Customer Relations nbova@

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…