Our Story.
Providing workplace solutions that enhance performance, productivity, culture, and well-being.
What We Believe When teams are supported, empowered, and inspired to do good work, they do.
Inspiration builds passion, and passion fuels performance. We believe it all starts with the workplace. By creating spaces where people feel empowered, connection is encouraged, creativity is supported, and most importantly, places people want to go, we help our clients improve performance, boost culture, and support team well-being.
But our vision doesn’t stop at inspired work; it includes inspired living, with one supporting the other. When people work in an environment that feels empowering and positive, their lives feel more inspired, too. Our passion isn’t just in creating inspiring workspaces, it’s in inspiring lives.
A Family Legacy Led by three generations of the Scholl family.
From a family start up in mid-town Toronto to a national leader in workplace solutions, POI’s story is one of vision, adaptability, and enduring family leadership. For more than six decades, POI has evolved with our clients as the workplace has transformed; embracing innovation while remaining rooted in the vision of creating spaces people want to go to.
1958
A Vision Takes Shape
The story began in 1953 under the leadership of Maxwell Scholl when he founded an office supply company providing the work essentials of the time; pencils, paper, and the everyday staples that made an office work in the 50’s. As the workplace itself began to change, Max recognized the opportunity to help organizations shape how people worked, not just what they worked with. This vision led to POI becoming one of Canada’s first Steelcase dealers in 1958, marking a pivotal evolution from office supplies to office interiors This shift laid the foundation for a trusted partnership of nearly 70 years with Steelcase and leading organizations in Toronto and beyond.
Building the Dream
The opening of POI’s Victoria Park Avenue location marked the fulfilment of Max’s vision for the company. The new headquarters combined a working showroom and warehouse under one roof in a standalone building. This brought all teams at POI together to seamlessly deliver end to end service for POI’s customers and to be able to execute larger more complex projects to our growing customer base. An integrated space finally told the full POI story in one place. This collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach continues to define how POI works today.
1982
New Leadership and Continued Growth
Gary Scholl took the helm as CEO in 1982, and POI grew in many ways over his 38-year leadership. POI expanded across Ontario with regional offices added in Barrie, London, Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Sault Ste. Marie. Office furniture remained the core offering of POI and it evolved from the early days of desks, chairs and files to an era dominated by workstation systems. At the same time the company also grew its product and service offerings as workplaces evolved, introducing various complimentary sproducts and services including Relocation Management, Modular Interior Construction, and A/V Solutions to meet clients’ evolving needs.
1986
Raising The Bar
In 1986, Gary relocated POI’s headquarters 5 kilometres north to Markham, expanding upon the bold vision for a purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility. Designed using the same integrated concept of bringing all functions together under one roof, the new headquarters featured a combined working showroom and warehouse and doubled the size of the the Victoria Park Avenue location to 60,000 square feet. The result was an iconic facility that the office furniture industry had never seen in our market and has not seen since. Under Gary’s leadership, POI further strengthened its reputation in 2015 as the market leader in Ontario becoming Steelcase’s exclusive regional dealer.
2020
A New Generation of Leadership
The transition of leadership to Jonas Scholl in 2020 marked the third generation of the Scholl family to guide POI. Under Jonas’s leadership, POI has invested in research and technology that drive smarter, more human-centred spaces. As work continues to change faster than at any point in POI’s history, Jonas’s leadership has positioned the company to help clients navigate the shifting landscape with clarity, empathy, and purpose. The company has continued to expand its offerings and strengthen key partnerships.
The LivingLAB Comes to Life
In 2021, POI built its third design-build headquarters in 3 generations. The LivingLAB, a purpose-driven workspace that doubles as a real-time research environment, became more than POI’s new headquarters, it redefined its mission and values. Here, clients can experience the future of work firsthand – testing, learning, and co-creating solutions that balance wellbeing, productivity, and connection. The LivingLAB has since become a cornerstone of POI’s identity and a living example of what inspired work can look like.
2025
Growing Beyond Ontario
POI expanded its presence with new regional offices in Peterborough and Winnipeg, marking an exciting step in the company’s continued growth. The Winnipeg location represents POI’s first venture outside Ontario, extending its reach and reinforcing its commitment to serving clients across Canada with the same personal approach and trusted expertise
Our Leaders.
Jonas Scholl
Jonas Scholl
Chief Executive Officer
ABOUT
What’s your favourite thing about working at POI?
Being a part of being the best at what we do.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you be and why?
J.R. Ewing
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Cliches
My favourite place I’ve traveled to was…
Paris for the food not the museums.
Julie Hicks
Julie Hicks
Chief Brand Officer
ABOUT
What’s your favourite thing about working at POI?
Being part of something where the why matters, its inspiring.
My favourite place I’ve traveled to was…
Aruba, such a beautiful place, but don’t let the wind fool you SPF 50 is a must!
My favourite television show or movie as a kid was…
Three’s Company, I couldn’t resist the comedy stylings of Jack Tripper!
On weekends you can find me…
Usually in a hockey arena or on a basketball court watching my kids play their hearts out. No other place I would rather be!
Chris Doyle
Chris Doyle
Chief Financial Officer
ABOUT
What’s your favourite thing about working at POI?
Without question, it’s the people and the culture. POI is a place where you’re inspired to come to the office. I also love the events our teams put together – they’re a great reminder that while we work hard, we also know how to have fun.
My favourite place I’ve travelled to was…
It’s a tie between England and Malaysia, where I had the opportunity to live and work. Experiencing different cultures, sports and everyday life created lifelong memories and learnings.
On weekends, you can find me either…
At a hockey arena, soccer pitch, or golf course – usually following our boys around and finding time to play myself.
How would your loved ones describe you?
Always carrying a “to do” list, losing things all the time, providing unwanted coaching moments, incapable of sitting still, and somehow always laughing at commercials.
Anthony Goad
Anthony Goad
Executive Vice President, Sales
ABOUT
What’s your favourite thing about working at POI?
The people.
My favourite place I’ve traveled to was…
Scotland
My favourite television show or movie as a kid was…
Back to the Future
Tell us about your pet(s).
5year old Beagle named Miggy.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a professional baseball player.
Krista Ingham
Krista Ingham
Vice President, Client Experience
ABOUT
What’s your favourite thing about working at POI?
Honestly? The people. I’ve worked in a lot of places, but POI is different. People here actually want to collaborate, they root for each other, and they care about getting it right for our customers. That kind of energy is hard to find, and it makes even the busiest days feel worth it.
Tell us about your pet(s) and kid(s).
In our house, the kids run the show – including the furry ones. We have a playful golden retriever, a cat with plenty of purr-sonality, and an energetic young son who keeps life busy, fun, and unpredictable.
On weekends, you can find me…
Spending time with my son, exploring local parks or new activities, or catching up with family and friends. I also enjoy trying new recipes in the kitchen, some more successful than others. Weekends for me are all about recharging and enjoying the little moments.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Rewatching the same rom-coms more times than I’d like to admit (or a superhero movie if my son is in charge of the remote) and never saying no to a sweet treat!
Richard Hudon
Richard Hudon
Vice President, Sales Market Development
ABOUT
What’s your favourite thing about working at POI?
The people and the passion….one team, one goal!
My favourite place I’ve traveled to was…
The Azores…..drats, people are starting to find out about it! By far the most relaxing place I have ever been.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A broadcast journalist….I need an audience.
What is your favourite sport and why?
Golf by a long shot (pardon the pun)…not only is it my sanctuary, but most of my deepest friendships are somehow related to my love of golf.
Randall Bier
Randall Bier
Vice President, Operations
ABOUT
My favourite place I’ve traveled to was…
Hawaii – It is almost always sunny and hot, and has a very active outdoor lifestyle. It has secluded beautiful beaches, yet the conveniences of an American city. I love water sports, such as windsurfing and surfing, and it is one of the best places to challenge yourself in the waves and wind.
Tell us about your pet(s).
We have Maui, a cream-coloured miniature poodle and Lily, a lilac siamese cat. Both are elderly, full of energy, and demand attention. After 10+ years they have learned to tolerate each other. We had another Siamese cat name Roxy, who recently passed away after 19 years. She was tiny and ruled the house. In her absence Maui and Lily are trying to figure out who is in charge.
On weekends you can find me…
When my daughters were young, I used to spend a lot of time in hockey rinks, coaching their teams. Now I am either on the ski hills, on the water with my family, or getting chores done so I can be on the ski hills or on the water.
What is your favourite sport and why?
I love playing hockey for the teamwork and quickness of the game. I love skiing, snowboarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing and surfing for the speed, the challenge and reliance on nature.
Dave Bouffard
Dave Bouffard
Vice President, Connected Solutions
ABOUT
My favourite place I’ve traveled to was…
It’s a combination of Austrian Alps in Italian Dolomites.
My favourite television show or movie as a kid was…
Spiderman cartoon
On weekends you can find me…
Golfing
What is your guilty pleasure?
I have no guilt for anything I take pleasure in. Which is why I have no kids and no pets!
Anne Gowan
Anne Gowan
Vice President, Corporate Accounts
ABOUT
If you could be any fictional character, who would you be and why?
Wonder Woman. Being able to leverage her superpowers when necessary, would be the ultimate advantage– plus I would like to be able to fly.
My favourite television show or movie as a kid was…
The Partridge Family. Every Monday night at 8:00 p.m., I would tune in to watch my favourite musical family and their antics. Shirley, Keith, Laurie, Danny, Brian, Tracey and of course Mr. Kinkaid. Posters of David Cassidy adorned my room.
On weekends you can find me…
At the barn – either watching my daughter ride her horse, Avatar, or walking my dog Barley throughout the grounds in the nearby trails.
What is your favourite sport and why?
As of the last 10 years, it has become Equestrian. Learning about the sport and experiencing the connection between the two athletes competing – horse and rider – is the most powerful, exhilarating, and interesting journey I have had the privilege of watching firsthand.
Lynn Routh
Lynn Routh
Director, Continuous Improvement
ABOUT
What’s your favourite thing about working at POI?
Our culture is what makes POI such an incredible place to work. We have a fantastic group of employees who work together on everything.
My favourite place I’ve travelled to was…
I love to travel, I am not sure I can narrow it down to just one place. My favorite international location would be Austria, but closer to home, we often travel down the East Coast of the US, enjoying seaside glamping.
On weekends, you can find me…
In the warmer months, we spend weekends on our RV, travelling around North America. Winters are spent indoors on hobbies or doing renovations to our house.
How would your loved ones describe you?
Probably a combination of a world traveller and a homebody. I love to travel to experience other parts of our world, but I always like to come home again to enjoy the comforts of home.
Veronica Cowan
Veronica Cowan
Vice President, Human Resources
ABOUT
What’s your favourite thing about working at POI?
Hands down the great people but working in a beautiful and inspiring space is pretty awesome too!
My favourite place I’ve traveled to was…
Iceland – the landscape is beautiful and unique.
My favourite television show or movie as a kid was…
Too many tv shows to mention but one of my all-time favourite movies is Grease. I think I can sing every song.
Tell us about your pet(s).
McDuff is a West Highland Terrier with a big personality; he is more like a sibling than a pet to my kids.
Fatima McIntosh Nicol
Fatima McIntosh Nicol
Director, Sales
ABOUT
On weekends you can find me…
Going for long runs; training for my next race.
Tell us about your pet(s).
I have two dogs that I refer to as my other two kids named Harry and Sally. Can you tell I have an affinity for classic rom coms? 😊
Tell us about your kids.
I have two kids that are my dream come true, and I love having a front row seat to watching them grow and achieve their own dreams.
What is your favourite sport and why?
Baseball. My mom passed on her love of the Blue Jays to me and to say I am a ‘fan’ is an understatement…I do not miss a game.
Susan Fitz-Gerald
Susan Fitz-Gerald
Director, Sales
ABOUT
My favourite place I’ve traveled to was…
Scotland
What is your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate
What is your favourite sport and why?
I loved any sport my children played. I am more of a playoff fan.
What’s your favourite thing about working at POI?
That I get to do creative work and the wonderful people I have grown up with.
INSPIRING SPACES
Complete workplace solutions.
Today, people want more from their work. They want fulfillment, a sense of connection, and life balance. We believe it all begins with the workplace environment. Using our breadth of insights and knowledge about elevating workspaces, we partner with organizations to offer innovative solutions to help create an inspiring workplace your team will be excited to be a part of.
