FIRST PERSON

Treated right

Madison Wood president looks back on 40 years in wood preserving

SL will be retiring at the end of the year as president of Madison Wood, Madison, a. e started in the yard in , moved to sales months later, was promoted to sales manager in , P of sales in , and president in . is longevity and rise “from the ground up” serve as a testament to the lumber industry and an inspiration to others that through hard wor and dedication, they too can climb the ladder to success. Lillard loo s bac and ahead with BPD

Tell us about joining Madison

Wood. I started at Madison Wood in stac ing lumber by hand for an hour. Bac then we didn t have ob titles li e we do today. I would have been considered “manual staging.” Within two wee s, they graduated me to operating a for lift. I was years old at the time and had ust graduated from irginia ech with a forestry degree.

What was your favorite part about

your position? I ve really en oyed seeing our ideas become reality. We ve witnessed signifi cant growth through the years, most of which began with pencil, paper and a dream. With a lot of collaboration and elbow grease, we were able to bring those visions to life. I ve always said that I have “sawdust in my blood.” It has been fun to watch my fellow co-wor ers develop that same love for this industry.

Did you ever want to give up? What

made you stay? My fi rst wee I nearly wal ed off the yard. aving a degree, I assumed I should start out at a des in an air-conditioned, furnished o ce. Stac ing heavy timbers by hand seemed degrading. hat Friday afternoon, William Price CE , Bill Price s father sent me

STEVE LILLARD

to the store to buy six beers. he six managers sat down and we had a beer while discussing the wee . For some reason, that made it all seem special. hat s when I realized what it was li e to wor for a family-owned business.

What’s your favorite thing about

Madison Wood? he people. Whether employees, suppliers or customers, they all brought something special to the table.

Which of your supervisors taught

you the most? Bill Price, the current CE of Madison Wood. hrough his guidance and mentorship, I was given the opportunity to learn on the y. e put his trust in me to run his company, and supported me through thic and thin. I was the fi rst president that was not related to the original owners. I had big shoes to fi ll.

What insight would you give to the

person who takes your place? here is always going to be someone not happy for some reason. Focusing on those can mas the good things that you do everyday for those that are happy.

What was the hardest year the company faced and how did your team

endure? Wow. here have been many tough years. he recession of comes to mind, though we were able to survive. I m proud to report that since we ve never had a layoff . he toughest year to navigate had to be . With C I , in March, we didn t now if we would remain open. hat was especially hard on me because I ve always felt responsible for the wellbeing of our employees and their families. In April, when the wood industry was classifi ed as essential, our people responded and performed at a level I have never witnessed. We faced challenge after challenge. With the support of our customers, a lot of communication and planning, they were able to turn into a record year for the company.

What is the greatest lesson you

learned as an employee? Patience, hard wor , and dedication are noticed more than you can ever imagine.

As a manager? Ma ing decisions can be di cult. I as ed Bill Price once how he handles situations that seem to be in that gray area. is advice “Go bac to your heart for the answer.” I ve held onto that advice dearly through the years and it reminds me why I chose to wor for a company that advocates for high morals and values.

As the president? Ma e decisions as a team. It s a lot easier to get the horse and wagon across the fi nish line when everyone is pushing from behind.

What’s next for you? I will ta e an advisory role in the company on a part-time basis for a couple of years to ensure a smooth transition. I hope to spend more time with my four grandsons. Maybe wor on my golf handicap, and get bac into hunting and fi shing. I will certainly be ta ing my Cuda out for a spin more often.