About DTS
Division 10 & Safety Direct, LLC (DTS) is a locally owned and operated wholesale supplier & installer of residential appliances, specialty construction accessories and safety equipment. We are a certified Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) and service a variety of industries including retail, single-family builders, multi-family builders, and property management companies. We believe in relationship-based business for both our clients and our vendors. We invite you to visit our Builder Showroom in Chalmette, LA and meet with any of our knowledgeable consultants!
Who Is Division Ten & Safety Direct?
Division 10 & Safety Direct, LLC (DTS) was conceived on November 9th, 2018 at Ochsner-Baptist Hospital. A day earlier, Jeanne Wehlen, our CEO, had delivered her identical twins. While killing time, her husband, Chris had a “Price is Right” moment and was showcasing to Jeanne the hospital cubicle curtains. This was part of his pitch for a Specialty Construction Material Company. Chris knew there was a demand for these items and considered them ‘low hanging fruit’.
The goal was to earn extra income while keeping their “day jobs” to help supplement their growing family; the twins had made them a family of 6! Jeanne agreed and used her time during maternity leave to register a name, acquire insurance, and all other tasks to start a business on paper.
After successfully delivering some small projects, DTS was asked to supply appliances for a 70-unit condominium. This job was a success. Jeanne and Chris invested their earnings into a box truck and a storage container. Over the next 12 months, DTS continued to earn small to mid-sized projects throughout the New Orleans metro area. Jeanne ran the office while Chris and his dad, Jerry ran deliveries and installs.
Eventually the workload became too much to manage with full-time jobs and the couple decided to make DTS their sole endeavor. Over the next months, DTS was coming of age and the business was growing fast. DTS had a handful of signed contracts and some outstanding quotes that they fully expected to turn into business.
Today, DTS supplies & installs construction supplies and appliances on a massive scale throughout the southeast region and has truly become a family affair with Chris and Jeanne’s brothers joining the DTS Team!
Our goal is to establish long-lasting relationships with customers and vendors to be a partner in their success. As a comprehensive solution for appliances, construction accessories, and safety equipment in the residential and commercial industry, we strive to simplify the building process, which in turn saves everyone time and money.
Our Process
DTS representatives are knowledgeable, dependable, and easily accessible. We will always go the extra mile to provide exceptional customer service. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to replace your broken appliance, building your dream home or a commercial contractor we offer you our full attention and resources to make our portion of your process as seamless as possible
SERVICES
Estimates
We review plans and do material take-offs
Consultation
We meet with owners, architects, or retailers in our showroom
Supply
We keep a well-stocked warehouse of inventory for local delivery. We also have factory direct options that supply truckloads of material across the country
Installation
We offer install services for most items that we supply.
Service
We have a dedicated in-house team to facilitate any after-purchase service issues
Experience
As partners in life and now business Jeanne and Chris make a dynamic duo with a combined 30 years of experience in the commercial foodservice equipment and construction industry.
Jeanne Wehlen,has a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration from Holy Cross College and an MBA from UNO. She was previously employed at Wallin Foodservice Resources where she honed her marketing skills and received the best business education working for her father and mentor.
Chris Wehlen,began his career in the construction-supply industry in 2005. Before DTS, Chris worked at Absolute Appliances, Ferguson Enterprises and Ideal Appliance. From each place of employment Chris was able to gain knowledge in the construction industry and is well-respected by his fellow peers.
CULTURE
At DTS we operate by the credo: “work hard play hard.” Our team likes to have fun and we view work as an engine to do so. We know that the more efficient we do our job, the more time we have to do the things that we enjoy doing. This is evident on our out of town trips, we really like meeting for dinner and bonding over a beer and game of pool or darts.
Our staff is competitive but we truly care about each other’s well-being. It is a healthy work atmosphere and helps keep things moving along.
OUR TEAM
Jonathan Albert
Jonathan Albert
Jonathan or J-Mann was the first DTS employee not related to Jeanne and Chris. He began his career at DTS assisting with deliveries. While riding shotgun he would manage inventory real time and work on quote take offs. Eventually he became too valuable to be on the road and moved inside to fulfill the role of Warehouse Manager and Commerical Quote Specialist. Jonathan is extremely detail oriented and ensures the day-to-day operations of DTS run as smooth as possible. When he isn’t burning the midnight oil finishing quotes, he spends his free time playing pool and darts with his buddies. Jonathan brews a pretty mean Moonshine too!! The more layers of the J-Mann onion peeled reveal a true “Jack of all trades!”
Jack Chapoton
Jack Chapoton
Jack or Big J as we call him is part of DTS’ Logistics Team & Install Crew. His favorite part of working at DTS is being able to collaborate with his coworkers to coordinate job flow and strategies on multi-family jobsites. Outside of work, Jack enjoys being on the water, golfing or watching sports with his friends. Every year Jack volunteers at Jesuit’s Thanksgiving Food Drive “Hams for Fams” to provide Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets to underprivileged families in the greater New Orleans area. He also participates in numerous philanthropy events through his student organization at LSU.
Greg Diettel
Greg Diettel
Greg “Shotzone” Diettel is the DTS Morale Coordinator. He is an avid Saints and LSU fan, and channels that enthusiasm to be an awesome team player on the install crew. Greg’s sense of humor always helps lighten the mood on the tough days. He is a competitive bowler and extremely accomplished in the sport. In addition to bowling, he is a member of the 7001 Dart team in the Metro Area Fun Dart League. Greg was previously a limousine driver and has driven a ton of famous people! If you meet Greg ask him to tell you a tale.
Ray Johnson
Ray Johnson
Ray Johnson III aka Raymundo is the newest addition to the DTS install crew. As a recent Brother Martin graduate, he is excited to learn the ins and outs of appliance installation and the construction industry. He enjoys bowling and has an ear for the most eclectic music.
Andrew Landry
Andrew Landry
Drew is a part of our administrative team but that was not before he spent last summer as DTS’ first intern. He enjoys the teamwork and the family atmosphere at DTS. Furthermore, other than his day-to-day responsibilities he is a problem solver and is willing to go above and beyond to get the job done! Andrew graduated in 2023 from LSU with a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management and enjoys hunting and fishing in his a free time and is a twin.
Jason Landry
Jason Landry
Jason or Crazy J, wears a few hats at DTS. In addition to managing the showroom, Jason is an outside salesman calling on builders and apartment complexes and helps with quality control. Jason’s creativity and knack for thinking outside the box helps the company stay fresh and on the forefront of industry changes. He has never met a stranger and takes pleasure in meeting new people. He recently built a home in Arabi and has fully immersed himself in the St. Bernard Community where his family hails from. When he is not pruning his garden, he likes to work out, make art and travel, specially to places he can hablar Español.
Joe Panno
Joe Panno
Joe or Joe Solo is a professional CDL driver. With over 20 years of driving, Joe is well known and well respected in the construction industry around New Orleans. Joe is an accomplished musician and enjoys playing guitar and writing music. When Joe is not making music or deliveries, you will find him spending time with his family.
Axel Seitz
Axel Seitz
Axel “Zues” Seitz Jr, puts all his enthusiasm into DTS Outside Sales and assists in installs on multi-family projects. He is a ball of positive energy, and that positivity permeates through the DTS team and motivates everyone to be their best! When he is not hurling lightening sales, he is also a firefighter with the Kenner Fire Department.
Quentin Tauzin
Quentin Tauzin
Quentin Tauzin nicknamed ‘swan’ after Lynn Swann is the mobile foreman and Quality Control Manager at DTS. Swan’s attention to detail helps DTS get to the finish line on jobs with minimal punch list work. Swan is an avid outdoors-man and retreats to his property in Mississippi every chance he gets. Swan is an excellent chef with multiple crawfish cookoff awards under his belt
Jeanne Wehlen
Jeanne Wehlen
Jeanne or Jeammy as her 4 kids call her keeps an impressive hectic schedule. When she does not have to fulfill executive duties, she enjoys being an “appliance therapist” to her clients. She feels an appliance selection is a personal choice and enjoys guiding them on a decision that will truly elevate their home. Jeanne is a passionate chef and manages to meal prep gourmet dinners for the week every Sunday. Her dream was to attend culinary school but she attended college instead! She did get to indulge a little in the culinary world auditioning for “Master Chef!” Although the local chef judge, who shall remain nameless, did not advance her BBQ Shrimp Bread Pudding recipe, she had fun pretending that could be her career for a week! What she loves most about being at the helm of DTS is the flexibility it has given her volunteer at school and not miss a moment with her kids.
Chris Wehlen
Chris Wehlen
Chris aka the Riverboat Hustler took Kenny Rogers’ advice and walked away from his professional poker career on a high. At 22 he was the youngest WSOP circuit champion at that time. Instead of poker, he decided to go all-in on appliances. He has found his niche in the multi-family and residential builder sales. He enjoys seeing a project through from start to finish and is not afraid to take risks and enjoys the challenges that arise in commercial construction. He still satiates his competitive side by being a part of a dart and a softball team. He and Jeanne are married with four children and when they are not at work you can find them relaxing by a pool, taking in live music, attending festivals or at the playground.
Chris is an accomplished coach and enjoys sharing his sports knowledge by coaching his kids’ sports teams.
Kevin Wehlen
Kevin Wehlen
Kevin aka Worm is the DTS Project Foreman and Customer Relations Specialist. Kevin’s energy and positively is as contagious as his smile. DTS was lucky to lure Kevin from Hollywood to start a new career in construction. He had spent his formative years being a donut distributor on movie sets between his acting gigs. His humor uplifts the install crew as you never know when he will be inspired to have a comedic outburst. When he is not hitting bullseyes for his dart team, he enjoys relaxing by the pool or coaching his kids’ sports.
Jerry Wehlen
Jerry Wehlen
Jerry “Big Ern” is the DTS Project Superintendent. He is natural skilled laborer and problem solver. As a firefighter for New Orleans Fire Department, he is used to putting out fires and working in stressful situations. His favorite part of working at DTS is being able to work with his sons. He loves spending time with family and friends in his backyard oasis and traveling. He is married to his childhood sweetheart and besides Chris and Kevin he has twin girls who are seniors at LSU! He is an avid Saints and LSU fan and was the 1982 offensive linemen of the year at Ridgewood Prep.
Cameron Daigle
Cameron Daigle
Lisa Adams
Lisa Adams