About "The Dream Store"
Ace Hardware of Gleannloch
Ace Hardware of Gleannloch is the final result of a national
entrepreneurial competition called “Dream Ace” that encompassed
every state in the union and thousands of contestants.  Our owner,
Gower D. Talley, is the winner of that competition.  Gower began
the Dream journey the same way that the over 5400 other
contestants did – online.  He submitted the business management
– leadership test and the three required essays, never really
expecting to hear back.  

On February 7th, 2007, he received a life changing phone call
telling him that he had been selected as the finalist from the state
of Oregon and telling him that he had about a week to be in New
York City to begin the competition.  He, and the other state finalists
met in Times Square and the adventure began
Dream Ace State Finalists at a photo-op at
"The Top of the Rock" in NYC
Based on a series of panel interviews, Gower made the first cut to
20.  Based on a board room presentation of his vision for the new
store, Gower made the next cut to 12 and was named a
national semi-finalist.  

Immediately after the pool of semi finalists were named, they were
taken to a classroom and administered a 3 hour business
management examination.  At that point – the final 12 were advised
that they had a week to be in Chicago to continue the competition.  
Each semi-finalist was to bring to Chicago a complete business and
marketing plan for the new store – to include advertising and
financials.  Gower had completed similar plans in his role of state
Marketing Director for the Oregon National Guard.  Typically they
were 90 day projects.  Gower’s Dream Ace marketing plan turned out
to be something in excess of 7000 words and was
completed in 5 days.
Dream Ace National Semi-Finalists
Meriott Hotel Overlooking Times Square in NYC
with Bill Rancic - Season 1 Apprentice winner
The Chicago phase of the contest consisted of submitting the
business and marketing plan, a process called “Lou Manfredini's
Boot Camp” (a full day test of do-it-your self skills, customer
service skills and thinking on your feet in a real world Ace
environment) and an orientation at the Ace corporate
Headquarters.  Immediately following the Chicago Phase, the
semi-finalists were flown to Houston to take part in the ground
breaking for the new store.

After the Houston events, the semi-finalists were taken to the
airport to head home.  Each was told to expect a phone call (the
following Tuesday) that would say whether or not the semi-finalist
was selected as a national finalist.  It didn’t exactly work that way.  
Each finalist was notified at home by one of the Dream Ace
Spokesmen in person - accompanied by a TV Crew. (You can see
that moment on the video page - link below)
Dream Ace National Finalists - Frank Ali and Gower Talley
The rules to the Las Vegas phase of the contest were simple; you have 5 minutes to make your
case to a convention hall of Ace owners and employees.  The 1st 2000 to arrive will be given
electronic voting devices and will decide your fate – live.  Frank and Gower both made their case
and the assembled Ace ownership chose Gower Talley as the winner of the Dream Ace contest.
In the 60 days that followed Las Vegas, Gower made two trips to Houston (staff
hiring and house hunting), two trips to Chicago (training at Ace corporate HQ),
bought a house, sold a house and moved a family of five 2000+ miles from Oregon
to Houston.  The dream became a reality and the store opened on June 12th 2007.