Top of the Chain: Terry Stephens, Stephens Pipe & Steel

with Terry Stephens

STEPHENS PIPE & STEEL PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER

A summer job turned into a life-long career for Terry Stephens, president and founder of Stephens Pipe & Steel. His company currently employees 1300 people at 17 locations in 16 states. We talked with Terry to find out how it feels to have such a successful business in his hometown of Russell Springs, Kentucky.

WHAT WAS YOUR INCENTIVE TO START THE BUSINESS?

I was going to college to be an accountant and took a summer job for a manufacturer of farm gates. I stayed on as their bookkeeper and that led to my introduction into the steel business. That was in 1974. I started on such a small scale. It was more of a side-line than a business. In fact, in 1977, I was elected to public office and continued in that position for 12 years.

When we started, J.R. Mann was the first employee of Stephens Pipe. He was a driving force behind the success from the early days of SPS until his untimely death in 2012. He was a dear friend and was known and respected by everyone in the fence industry.

AS A NATIVE OF RUSSELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE DEVELOPED YOUR COMPANY INTO SUCH A COMMERCIAL STAKEHOLDER IN THE AREA?

I grew up here in Russell County. Working at a gas station, washing cars at the age of 13. Today, we are the largest employer in the county with over 700 of the best employees in the world. I give thanks to my Lord and Savior for all my blessings.

I am extremely proud that our customers have made us the largest American-owned and operated fence manufacturer and distributor of fencing products. We make every effort to buy our raw materials domestically.

I enjoy coming to work every day and hope to continue until the Lord calls me home. I am proud to have started this company in a small town in Southern Kentucky and watched its growth for the past 47 years.

HOW DO YOU KEEP THE SAME STANDARDS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE FOCUS IN ALL OF YOUR LOCATIONS?

We are blessed with having a great management team at all of our locations. I feel we share the same goals and the same principles of service and appreciation towards our customers.

WHAT ALL DO YOU MANUFACTURE?

We manufacture both round and square pipe, all types of galvanized and color chain link and framework, gates, kennels, temporary panels, Centurion ornamental fence, Generation PVC, ties, barbed wire and tension wire. We are a major stocking distributor of aluminum and steel ornamental, rebar, concrete mesh, DOT fence, guard rail, fittings and anything else our customers may need.

IN MOST BUSINESSES, THERE ARE SOME LEAN YEARS. WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO CHALLENGING TIMES YOU’VE HAD IN THE BUSINESS AND HOW DID YOU COME OUT OF THEM?

In the early years, we were always outgrowing our financial strength. Growing pains will test you in a variety of ways. The only way to overcome this problem is to outwork the problem. Usually that means working long hours to meet the next payroll.

There are always going to be challenges running a business, but I enjoy it. This is where my friends, my vendors, my co-workers and my customers are. These are the people I’ve spent the last 47 years with.

YOU’VE CONSISTENTLY GROWN OVER THE YEARS, ADDING NEW LOCATIONS, EMPLOYEES AND SERVICES. WHAT WAS YOUR VISION FOR GROWTH THROUGH THE YEARS?

Growth happens when you surround yourself with great people who deliver a good product to the marketplace. As our customer base continues to grow, we have to find ways to provide more and better services.

WHERE DO YOU ENVISION YOUR COMPANY BEING IN 10 YEARS?

I think we are well positioned for growth and I hope we can continue providing a good career opportunity for many more people.