The face, name of quality buildings, woodwork

For more than two decades, Wayne Yoder has been the face of quality buildings and woodwork in Rural Retreat and beyond. In 2002, he founded Yoder Woodcrafters, an outdoor furniture company.

More recently, in 2019, his brother-inlaw Joe Yoder partnered with Premier Portable Buildings, a large manufacturer based in South Fulton, Tennessee. He subsequently seized the opportunity to purchase the former JZ Utility Barns business, which had been in operation since 2001. This would become Yoder Quality Buildings.

While serving customers with optimalquality structures at an affordable price is important, Wayne Yoder says it is just as important to establish a solid working environment for his employees and especially to build an honest, trusting relationship within their clientele and community.

“We really value fam- ily and community,” he said. “Our proudest achievements are building relationships with really great people and developing a business based on biblical values.”

Yoder emphasized the company’s slogan, “Building relationships one structure at a time,” as its basic mission statement. Obviously, family is at the core of the business. Yoder ironically pointed out that, although he and his brother-in- law share the same last name, they have no blood relation in terms of their surname. Nevertheless, a familial bond has served as the glue that has held the business together.

Joe hired Wayne to manage sales and marketing after the two of them had previously partnered during African mission trips to Kenya.

“We have several other family members who work with us,” Yoder noted. “A couple of the Zook brothers, who previously owned JZ Utility Barns, still work here.”

Building relationships with any and everyone who enters through the doors of Yoder Quality Buildings remains of the utmost importance to its proprietors, regardless as to whether or not all of them become actual paying customers.

“We love to sell a building,” Yoder admitted. “But even if someone comes in needing someone to talk to, we value that, too.”

He says that although most visitors come to the business to discuss buildings, conversations often lead to the discussion of other, more personal matters, which Yoder says are just as important.

“Sometimes, we serve them with a building and sometimes not,” he stated. “Sometimes, we just pray with people who are going through something.”

In addition to customers, Yoder says it is important to maintain a solid relationship with their parent com- pany, Premier Portable Buildings.

“They are a great company and an excellent support system for us,” he said. “We want to do a good job representing them, making sure our bases are covered and that we serve well.”

“The trickiest thing in any business is make sure that there is open communication, love and respect and a great understanding of one another,” he cautioned. “This is especially true of a family business.”

See YODER, Page 4

Rural Retreat United Methodist Church was recognized for its members outstanding service work.

The church has long been a beacon of care and servitude to the people of the community, with volunteers who have taken part in the Agape Food Program, HOPE Packs, the annual community

Christmas toy giveaway and the CarePortal program.

At the national CarePortal conference held in Kansan City, the church was recognized as the National Church of the Year.

The CarePortal program is designed to connect the community to provide for the needs of foster families and children. In 2023, out of the 731 children across eight counties served by SWVA Crossroad, Rural Retreat United Methodist Church served 173 of them – or 25 percent. Out of the $171,126 of economic impact the group accounted for, RRUMC provided 33 percent or $56,388.