Ron Labbe - Owner & David Weston - COO
Naples Lumber Takes on Irma . . . and Wins
On September 26, The Advertiser’s publisher, Thom McAnally, traveled to Naples Lumber & Supply where we were greeted by David E. Weston, COO. Here’s what we learned about Naples Lumber’s preparedness, commitment, and heart.
Make a Plan and USE It If you’re a longtime resident of south Florida, the question is not if you’re going to see a major storm but when. Naples Lumber owner Ron Labbe has lived here for 39+ years, David Weston for 32 years, so they know what to expect and know the value of a hurricane/natural disaster plan. Formalized several years ago and practiced annually, Naples Lumber’s disaster plan focuses on three areas: pre-season planning, event occurrence, and post-event recovery. The goal is to be prepared, lock down quickly, and act swiftly to recover as soon as safely possible.
Prepare Every Year Preparedness doesn’t start when you hear the weather report—it starts when you decide that you want to protect your business by making smart decisions. From property to infrastructure, Naples Lumber takes actions to stay ready. Two years ago, it invested in a fiber optic internet connection in addition to cable and phone company broad band to make sure communications are available. Every year, it reviews the property conditions—and it had just spent nearly $8000 on trimming landscape and other safety precautions. Importantly, it maintains a large fuel tank on site—this allows them to keep materials flowing and to help employees travel to and from work without waiting for hours in long gas lines.