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October 2022 #14279 Page #102
Building a 100-Year Company By Michael Fagan Director of Marketing A-1 Industries
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n September 20, A-1 Industries, a leading manufacturer of preengineered wood trusses in the Southeastern United States and the Caribbean, celebrated our 45th anniversary with the launch of a new corporate video and a special day of appreciation for our employees at the Fort Pierce, FL and Bainbridge, GA manufacturing facilities. Whether you had been with the company since the start or were a relatively new hire like me, the day filled you with a sense of pride and appreciation for all that John Herring has accomplished in these past 45 years. Many CMs know John from his years of involvement in the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA), formerly the Wood Truss Council of America (WTCA), where he served as President in 1990 and was subsequently inducted into the WTCA Hall of Fame in 1999. And now, decades later, John remains an insightful businessman who continues to make his mark on our industry. As he strives to build A-1 into a 100-year company, it was especially enjoyable to hear him reflect on his humble beginnings. As John himself tells the story:
On September 18, 1977, at 6 am, I first walked into the 600 sq ft office building in Mangonia Park, FL and switched on the light. There was a reception area in front of me, one office to the left, two offices to the right, and one bathroom. So, I thought, ‘OK, I guess we need some furniture.’ I walked down to the end office, which was the smallest, but it had a back door to the outside. This is my office! I can escape to the Shop! I stepped outside and surveyed the yard: approximately 2 acres, with only about one-third paved. A pole barn sat to the left back corner, maybe 10,000 sq ft, and I said, ‘OK, let’s get to work.’ A Clary long cutter saw, a Clary short cutter, a roller press, a 22-flatbed dump truck, a DeWalt radial arm saw, a forklift, and a truckload of lumber all sat in the middle of this building. So, Day One in the history of A-1 was about to begin. Continued next page
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