8 ways leaders c*b build greater trus$

fs rnusr oN Irs way to becoming an lendangered species? With an everchanging business climate-and uncertainty being the name of the game-it's no wonder that less than half of employees have trust and confidence in their senior leaders, according to a recent Watson Wyatt survey of 12000 workers.

But while distrust may be understandable, it can be detrimental to success. Without trust, employees are less productive, less dedicated, and less willing to take initiative. And, lacking trust can create a ripple effect that spreads throughout the organization.

Here are some ways to build employee confidence and greater trust internally: l,.We're in this together. Always speak in terms of "us" and "we." Talk about shared responsibility as well as shared hardships. Express belief, as long as it's sincere, in everyone's ability to pull together and meet the challenges that lie ahead. Give people permission to whine briefly about some of the struggles and the crises, but after you have communicated openly, ask them to move on so you can all focus on maximizing efficiency and improving customer service. The leader-employee relationship is one that matters now, more than ever.

2. Share the plan. Outline the challenges that exist and share the strategy for the how the organization will address them. Employees are looking to management for a plan and guidance. They want to know things have been thought through and real steps are being taken to remain competitive and move forward.

Leaders must not become overly focused on what they don't have. They should focus on their teams and what strengths their teams bring. Real leadership wisdom comes from knowing the team-and using that information to create a clear plan.

3.f"U the wholc truth, and nothing but the truth. Communicate often. Don't withhold information or try to sugar-coat the issues. Share what you know for sure. Be honest when you're uncertain. People may not like what they're hearing, but when they know they have full disclosure, they needn't spend energy wondering where things stand, imagining worst-case scenarios, or feeding the rumor mill until an "us vs. them" mentality evolves.

4. Boton"e hardware with human. Don't leave everything to email or other electronic communication. Conduct more face-to-face talks and be sure the leadership team is visible. Walk around more; get a handle on the pulse of the organization. The more aware you are of potential trust issues, the quicker you can step in and address them with candor, concern and credibility.

5. noU employees accountable, High-trust organizations reward top performers while also holding poor performers accountable through discipline, and even termination. If stellar employees see unproductive co-workers getting away with poor performance with no real consequences, resentment and distrust in leadership can build quickly.

6. Let people talk about their concerns and ideas-and listen. To get honest feedback, conduct attitude surveys. These can help you determine if, and why, trust is low. Use survey results to sit down with employees and delve deeper into why trust is lacking and what could be done to improve it.

Get specific employee input for improving the work climate and make constructive changes with the suggestions you receive.

7. Remind people of goals-and the part they each play in achieving them. Companies with high levels of trust are very effective at communicating the company's business goals and the part each employee plays in achieving them. When people understand why certain decisions are made and feel that their roles are vital in helping the company achieve success, they take more ownership and pride in what they're doing.

8. Leqdership needs to show they trust employees.Be sure to talk about the strengths of your organization and how it is the combined effort of the employees that has brought everyone this far. Let them know you believe in their abilities and appreciate their loyalty. And avoid creating an environment where employees feel that "Big Brother is watching." Nothing breeds distrust like distrust.

- Patrick Sweeney is president of international management consulting firm Caliper. Reach him at (609) 524-1200 or patrick@ caliperc orp.com.

Cedar Creek Extends Mid-Atlantic

This month, Midwest wholesaler Cedar Creek, Oklahoma City, Ok., is expanding to the East Coast, opening its fourteenth branch in Richmond, Va.

The property was purchased for $3.85 million from N.B. Goodwyn & Sons Lumber. Bob Rue, ex-Bluelinx, will serve as branch general manager.

Cedar Creek has been serving southern and western Virginia since it acquired Epperson Lumber's Statesville, N.C., facility last year. The Richmond branch will provide better coverage throughout the state and expand service to the Tidewater and Washington, D.C., markets.

"This expansion is further evidence of our commitment to growing the footprint of Cedar Creek and opening new markets," said c.e.o. Bill Adams. "We view this as a great opportunity to increase our presence outside of our traditional mid-South markets and enter what's forecasted to be one of the best growth areas in the country."

Short & Paulk Spins Off Truss Unit

Short & Paulk Supply, Tifton, Ga., has spun-off its truss-manufacturing operation as a separate business division named Georgia Structural Components.

"The wholesale-only orientation of our new GSC division provides an opportunity for substantial development as we continue to expand this distribution channel," said c.e.o. Jay Short. "It just makes sense for us to seek new markets for our growing manufacturing capabilities."

GSC will distribute trusses and engineered wood products through Short & Paulk's four retail locations, as well as its growing network of dealer locations.

L.R. McCoy, Worcester, Ma., is liquidating its inventory and closing this month after 90 years,

Rex Lumber Co., Graceville, Fl., suffered an estimated $500,000 in damage from a July 12 fire that engulfed a dry kiln, but spared the mill.

Robbins Lumber, Searsmont, Me., has expanded its warehouse and is installing a new debarker at its sawmill.

Alamco Wood Products, Albert Lea, Mn., has taken over the nearby former Master Fit Technologies posr and-beam facility and converted it into a laminated utility pole plant. Bart Belshan is now plant mgr. of both Alamco plants.

Richardson Timbers, Dallas, Tx., is now stockino redwood from Redwood Empire, Cloverdale, Ca.

Weyerhaeuser is now dishibuting WindsorOne trim, specialty boards, and mouldings in Texas.

Georgia Structural Components, Tifton, ca., is now a stod'king distributor ot Georgiia-Pacific EWPs.

Sunset Moulding, Live Oak, Ca., is running a new MDF line at its plant in ldabel, Ok.

Advantage Business Computer Systems, rort Worth, Tx., announced a technology integration with BlueTarp Financial, Chartotte, N.C.

Steve Linsky, National Lumber, Mansfield, Ma., has retired after 4"7 years in the industry.

Lauren Litwin has joined the outside sales team at Russin Lumber, Montgomery, N.Y., serving northern Ma., southeastem N.H., and Me.

Chip Adams, ex-84 Lumber is a new dealer sales rep at Dixie Plywood & Lumber, Charlotte, N.C.

Mike Duval, ex-Parksite, is now EWP territory mgr. at Bluelinx, Albany, N.Y. Kevin Karas is a new customer sales rep in San Antonio, Tx. Peter Sarris is new to inside sales in Atlanta, Ga.

Christopher Sackett was promoted to president of American Cypress & Hardwood, Greensboro, N.C.

Carl Amspaugh, ex-84 Lumber, is new to outside sales at Carter Lumber. Lancaster. Oh.

Andrea Spillers, ex-Temple-Inland, is a new account mgr. at Weyerhaeuser, Hot Springs, Ar.

John Maiuri has been promoted to v.p.-marketing & business development at Spruce Computer Systems, Latham. N.Y.

Mike Lombardi, ex-TimberRoots, has been named area operations mgr. for Edward Hines Lumber, Buffalo Grove, Il.

Paul Whatley, ex-Lowe's, is a new dealer account rep at Broad Building Supply, Columbia, Mo.

Michael Harig is a new architectural millwork specialist at Smith Phillips Building Supply, WinstonSalem. N.C.

Ron Long, ex-EcoGreen Forest Products, has rejoined Huttig Building Products, in sales to Va., N.C., and S.C. He is based in Millers Creek. N.C.

Del Oldland, ex-Lee Lumber, is new to pro commercial sales at ProBuild, Waldorf, Md.

Mike Menz is now in sales at MJB Wood Group, Huntersville, N.C.

Gus Welter, ex-Universal Forest Products, has been named president of Granite Valley Forest Products, Marathon, Wi.

John Ritz is now in outside sales for Robbins Lumber, Searsmont, Me. Tonia Tibbetts and Peter Kinney are new to inside sales.

Bill Myrick has been named c.e.o. of American Builders Supply, Sanford. Fl.

Henry Ball is new to outside/installed sales at 84 Lumber, Statesville, N.C.

Mike Russelt, TECO, Shreveport, La., has been promoted to plywood certification mgr.

Michele White, ex-Bluelinx, is a new buyer at Lumbermens Merchandising Corp., Wayne, Pa.

Greg Sagorski was named director of technical services for Atlas Roofing Corp., Atlanta, Ga. succeeding Richard Roe, who retired after 15 years with Atlas. Stanley Bastek is now district sales mgr. for Georgia.

Tom Kochanski, ex-84 Lumber, has joined Lowe's, Stroudsburg, Pa., as a commercial sales specialist.

Robert Hunter, ex-Rex Lumber, is new to inside sales at PrimeSource Building Products, Waterbury, Ct.

Richard Kelly, ex-Bodyguard Wood Products, is now national sales & marketing mgr. for Rockstep and Pro Line stone products at Norse Building Products, Allenton, Wi.

Anne Crowder, ex-Weyerhaeuser, is now general product line mgr. at Boise Cascade, Greensboro, N.C.

Brian Rivers, ex-BASF, is new to sales at Trevdan Building Supply, Chester Springs, Pa.

Bill Tucker, ex-Florida Building Material Association, has joined executive recruiter Schaffer Associates, Charlotte, N.C.

Robert Murphy has been promoted to store mgr. at McCoy's Building Supply, Alpine, Tx.

Jerry Bell has been named warehouse operations mgr. for Horizon Forest Products, Sterling, Va.

Michael Flanagan has been named flooring installation mgr. at Marine Home Center, Nantucket, Ma.

David Grace, executive v.p. and chief financial officer, Beacon Roofing Supply, Peabody, Ma., is retiring Jan. I after 25 years due to health concerns.

Ben Cobb, Home Builders Supply Co., Greenville, N.C., has been promoted to v.p. of finance & operations.

Andrew Randle, ex-Stock Building Supply, has joined Rosen Materials, Sunrise, Fl., as director ofnational accounts.

Kevin Cook has joined the inside sales team at Huttig Building Products. Greer. S.C.

Camden Carpenter, ex-Rayonier, is now in sales at Riverside Forest Products, Augusta, Ga.

Mike Kudiak is now senior merchandising mgr. for PACOA, Port Washington, N.Y.

William Guzik has been named chief financial officer for Ace Hardware Corp.. Oak Brook. Il.

Kim LaRose now handles customer support for OSB sales at Tolko Industries, Vernon, B.C.

Todd Buehl, ex-Hendricks Holding Co., has been named v.p. and chief administrative officer at ABC Supply, Beloit, Wi. Bob Brechlin is new to outside sales in West Haven, Ct.

Mark Ouellette, ex-BrockwaySmith, is now Northeast territory mgr. for Intex Millwork Solutions, Millville. N.J.

Nick Purdy, ex-Home Depot, is new to sales at Kenseal Construction Products, Long Island, N.Y.

Mike Knight, ex-Gorell Windows, is now Eastern regional sales mgr. for Thermal Industries, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Eric Bernstein, ex-Stanley Black & Decker, has been named v.p.-marketing & product development for Ames True Temper, Camp Hill, Pa.

Bret Cornett, ex-ProBuild, is the new market operations mgr. for Professional Builders Supply, Morrisville, N.C.

Charles VandenBosch is new to Nissan Forklift Corp., Marengo, Il., as senior mgr. of outside sales.

Craig Glander has joined American Lumber Underwriters, Duluth, Ga., as v.p.-field executive sales. Mark Woodhull was promoted to v.p.underwriting. President Bob Finck will retire later this year.

Paul H. Shipp, principal research associate, USG Corp., Libertyville, Il., received the title of fellow and the Award of Merit from ASTM International for his contributions to Committee 805 on fire standards.

Missy Sippy and Lou Ziana have opened a South Central regional sales office for Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

33bokfor innovation."

Nathan Steere, lL Schwieters Building Supply Inc.

Nathan Steere of JL Schwieters in Hugo, Minnesota, knows that a building supplier can't rely on yesterday's technology. So he's always on the lookout for what's new. Like pointSlX Durastrand Flooring, with its innovative tapered edge. Learn something new yourself by watching "Thlee Things I've Learned: Tips from Sea3oned Prosr" one in a series of short high-value videos from pointSlX and Ainsworth Engineered.

DO lT BEST broke ground for a $30 million, 550,000-sq. ft. retail service center at a new 103-acre technology park in Sikestown, Mo. Scheduled to open in2014, the new center will replace an older one in Cape Girardeau, Mo., which opened in '1971.

Legal Troubles Strike Empire

A court-appointed receiver has taken over operations of Empire Wholesale Lumber, Akron, Oh., and two affiliated entities.

According to court records, the receiver-Tim Collins, Collins & Scanlon LLP, Cleveland, Oh.-will operate Empire until its operations are restructured or stabilized, until a buyer or other source of capital is secured to repay the company's debt, or until its assets are liquidated to repay its debts.

Attorneys for Huntington Bank-which is owed $19.5 million on a $30 million revolving credit loan-filed a lawsuit and pushed for receivership when it became clear that Empire could no longer meet its loan agreements or pay its debts. Of special concern is more than $8 million of inventory that was listed as collateral for the loan, but allegedly was shipped to Boix Le Roux, Weedon, Q.C., which is also in receivership. A related company, Lumber Services, owes Empire $2.1 million of accounts receivable, but allegedly has closed indefinitely.

Despite various allegations of fraud, no criminal charges have been filed, but the investigation is continuing. According to Empire, the sole person responsible for communications with Boix Le Roux and Lumber Services recently committed suicide. Vice president John Harvey Graves Jr ., 46 , son of founder Harvey Graves, died Feb. 24 (see April, p.43).

Founded in 1949, Empire had I I branch offices, but the one in Portland, Or., has been closed. Still open are offices in Tampa, Fl.; Clarksville, In.; Lansing, Mi.; Bedford, N.H., Raleigh, Statesville, and Taylors, N.C.; Naperville, Il.; Cannan, Ct., and La Prairie, Q.C.

Hartville Opens Nation's Largest I ndependeht Hardware Storei

Hartville Hardware has rolled three operations into one massive 305,000-sq. ft. store on seven acres of retail space in Hartville, Oh., reportedly creating the largest independently owned hardware store in the country.

"Back in the'80s, my father had a vision for the Hartville Marketplace, Hartville Kitchen, and Hartville Hardware to all be on the same campus," said Wayne Miller, who operates the company with his brother,

Howard. "We wanted to have a destination hardware store-a unique store that people would come to."

Six years ago, the Millers began traveling around the country to research what would set them apart from the big-boxes.

"It's product selection-we have close to 70,000 items and they have about 40900," said Wayne. "We have hard-to-find items and we have the customer service. We have specialists in every department."

The new store has two floors, six different entrances and cash register areas, a three-lane drive-thru lumberyard, and a 1,850-sq. ft. "ideas house." Still being built are kitchen and bath display areas behind four exteriors facades of different architectural styles common in eastern Ohio..

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