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"Our customers demand that we supply them with superior quality products, and Rosboro is always well accepted."

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We understand that professional builders won't put up with inferior stud products. They can't afford to! In order to be productive and profitable, successful builders look for consistent performance and quality in their building materials. That's why you can count on Rosboro to deliver a quality stud product.

A Complete Product line

Rosboro now has a stud for every residential application in the species that fits builders' needs. Our product line now includes the following in all combinations: t2x4 and2x6 r Douglas Fir and Hem Fir r Green and Dry r Lengths of 8', 9' & l0' (All Trims) r WWPA grade trademark

Whatever the application, we've got the stud to do the job.

A Supplier You (on Trusl

Small enough to give you the attention you want, Rosboro is large enough to support our products with a knowledgeable sales and manufacturing team as well as an experienced traffic manager dedicated to meeting demanding traffic needs.

Rosboro Studs

If you value strong partnerships with your suppliers and your customers are indeed demanding better stud products, act now - call Rosboro.

ALAN OAKES publisher ajoakes@aol.com

Beware corporate culture shock and dripping pizza

As we all do through our careers, there are times when we realize it is time to move on and do something different in life. I have worked at senior level for small, medium and large companies, in every corporate culture there is. On a couple of occasions when the headhunter called or I was unhappy, in haste to move on, I did not do the homework for interviews that I should have done, and made a couple of costly mistakes.

The worst situation I put myself in was for a president's position with a dot-com company. I remember being interviewed in San Francisco by the owner of the company-him in shortshorts and a beat-up Hawaiian shirt (that I think he had woke up in, in the office that morning), me in my best corporate dark suit and tie trying to balance on a bean bag with a Coke in one hand, a dripping piece of pizza in the other. Miraculously, I was invited back for a second interview, and while I tried desperately to dress down, somehow I realized I was not a fit. I did not feel comfortable. The culture was not right. Fortunately, I heeded my gut reaction and withdrew. Within six months, the company was acquired and closed down six months later.

For another position, I knew in the first five minutes of the interview that it did not feel right, but the opportunity to do something really different in a new industry at much better money was too tempting to walk away from. The flight on the private jet to the Four Seasons did not help either. I ended up getting the president's position, but quickly realized my initial gut reaction was correct: the sole owner micro-managed every decision, and there was a real reason why the company had gone through a number of c.e.o.s. He changed his mind every other day and left me holding the bag and managing damage control trying to explain the constant U-turns. This was only one of his quirks, and he never changed. I left after 18 very frustrating months.

While some of you may have gone through the same, others may have gotten caught up in a company sale.

Fortunately, while I have never worked with a company that was acquired, and have always been the acquirer, I have seen first-hand the havoc often created. Now while I almost always took the position that there was always a good reason we acquired a particular company, and it normally came down to the people, all too often in most acquisitions, such reasoning goes straight out of the window Day One. New owners seem to do everything possible to alienate their new employees (or whatever is left of them after "synergy" takes place). The melding of cultures is one of the hardest things to balance.

Corporate culture shock has become an increasing issue, and perhaps the main reason why new hires fail. Bigger pay and a new role are all important, but you have to consider how the company you will be joining works. It is like a wedding that you do not want ending in a divorce.

While a culture mismatch may not lose you your new job, it may make your life and your family's life hell. While it is difficult in an interview situation to understand what life will be like, framing strategically targeted questions, such as who makes decisions? How are those decisions made? How are conflicts and disagreements resolved? What is the review process? How does the boss communicate? Are accomplishments, individual or teamoriented? Until what time do people work in the evenings? Is it bureaucratic? Is there room for creative thought? What is the management style above and below? What autonomy will you have or not have? Etc., etc.

Meeting with other potential colleagues, including the company stars, will let you understand how you might fit in. There may be nothing wrong with their corporate culture, but it may just not suit what you are looking forand best you find out before you move on. Bean bag and pizza, anyone?

Building a solid reputation doesn't come easy. lttakes time and a promise to meeting needs and keeping our word. Our customers and suppliers know they can count on us. We've built a solid reputation for over 75 years delivering construction-grade building products and services at competitive prices.

We offer:

. Handling, storage and job site delivery for building products and panels

. LTL service and route truck service o Creen and kiln-dried Douglas Fir; 2 x 4-Economy, Utility, Std/Btr, #2, #1, Selects, 4 through 24 foot; 2 x 6 through 2 x 14-Economy, #3, #2/Btr, Selects, B through 28 foot; timbers, studs and MSR lumber board feet a a a

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