Staying Lumber apart from other suppliers. “We really stress it, Greene points out, “and we!re much more contractor oriented. We try to be much more environmentally conscious and friendly because that!s what more and more customers are looking for.” Greene has seen two big changes in the business over the years. “Computerization is major now,” he reports, “and the customers are better informed and more demanding today. They know what they want.” Millwork superintendent Ted Dedmon brings up the vanguard with 29 years of service. Dedmon, a Shelby native, studied business at Western Carolina State, Cleveland Community College, and Gaston Community College before embarking on his career with the Cleveland Lumber in 1979. Like others, he cut his teeth with the company by working summers learning the industry. In his 29 years with the company, Dedmon has loaded and driven trucks and worked the contractor counter. “We deal a lot more now with man-made materials, such as PVC and MDF (medium density fiberboard),” Dedmon explains. “The products have become a lot more consistent in quality than ever before. We have to be on top of our game because the business has become a lot more competitive with the big chains around.” What!s going to keep Dedmon at Cleveland Lumber beyond his 29 years? “The opportunity to advance is great here,” he says. “I love wearing a lot of hats. It keeps the work interesting.” If familiarity and consistency is important, you can count on seeing the same faces at Cleveland Lumber who know your building needs and problems. And if 260-plus years of combined experience counts for something, there aren!t many challenges that can stump these members of the Cleveland Lumber team.
in it for the
Long
Haul