[Chip Hornsby]'s desire to increase profitability came as a housing market slowdown was pressuring Wolseley, the world's largest distributor of heating and plumbing supplies. So the company laid off workers and has delayed the construction of its new Wolseley North America headquarters in Newport News until the market regains strength.

Hornsby says that even as Ferguson shed 30 workers in Newport News in January, Wolseley North America has been bringing in high- paying new jobs over the past year. Wolseley can't wait too long to break ground on the new headquarters, either, because its training space is packed.

Wolseley created its North America division, which includes Ferguson, Stock Building Supply and Wolseley Canada, in 2005. Amidst great fanfare, then-Gov. Mark Warner announced an almost $7 million incentive package in December 2005 for Wolseley to build its new North American headquarters along Jefferson Avenue.