A
Th e
Component Manufacturing dverti$ dverti $ er
Don’t Forget! You Saw it in the
Adverti$$er
April 2024 #16297 Page #146
The Last Word How Gene Frogale Continues to Lead Us into the Future Joe Kannapell, P.E.
efore SBCA “signed off” on 2022–2023 President Gene Frogale’s stellar leadership, he was already developing a new product to benefit component plants. Now, as he is working on an innovative insulated wall stud, the only evidence of his prior accomplishment, a large signed truss, hangs above his office door. Yet Gene deserves special recognition not only for his SBCA work, but for his uncommon generosity to his community and his industry, all while building a great business.
B
Few know that Gene’s father, Bill, was a main developer of the pre-hung door, which propelled his business, Annandale Millwork, to leadership in the DC Metro market. And that he not only furthered his father’s fine legacy, but also, with his brother, Rob, went boldly beyond it. The Frogale brothers mounted a classic “Mr. Outside, Mr. Inside” partnership for over 30 years, very much in the mold of dual Hall-of-Famers Dave Chambers and Don Hershey. Gene was reaching out to and for customers while Rob was growing operations. Together they built a formidable component business in a most unconventional way. Rarely did wall panels generate enough income for a supplier without trusses, but, in 1989, the Frogales jumped into the business anyway, thinking that panels couldn’t be much more demanding than their custom millwork forte. While they did figure out the business, when they were ready for trusses, they didn’t start from scratch. Instead, they bought an existing plant with a good foreman, and brought in a second-generation design expert, among other experienced people. Having a complete package gave the Frogales the sales and the competitive horsepower needed to fuel a substantial 25-acre expansion alongside their panel building, creating a full-service building supply complex. And, as if that wasn’t enough to manage, Gene began his ascendance to the presidency of both SBCA and the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association.
Continued next page
PHONE: 800-289-5627
Read/Subscribe online at www.componentadvertiser.com
FAX: 800-524-4982