Wilson Lumber Company

Enjoying the LBM Strategies Conference in Costa Mesa. Big congrats to Josh Fowler from Wilson Lumber Company for being recognized as an LBM 40 under 40. #LBMSTRATEGIES2024

Wilson Lumber Company, a leading dealer in the lumber and building materials industry, has announced changes to the company’s sales leadership. Bj Balentine has been promoted to commercial market manager. BJ has previously managed our outside sales team and production sales team with exceptional dedication, and we are excited to see his vision and leadership drive our commercial efforts to new heights. BJ has been with Wilson Lumber since 2021. Matthew Steves has been promoted to residential market manager. Matt will lead the outside sales team, account managers, and the inside sales team. His relentless passion and proven track record make him the perfect fit to lead our residential market initiatives. Matt has been with Wilson Lumber since 2022. https://lnkd.in/gt-v4G-t

At Wilson Lumber Company, we have a set of Core Values that we hold true to. But I’m thinking about adding “eating ice cream” to that list—because it’s important to get together and celebrate our wins. I believe it was Peter Drucker who said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” and I think he was onto something. Good culture makes a world of difference in a company. But today, the word “culture” gets tossed around so much, it almost seems like it’s a formula you can program in, and out pops a great company. In reality, building a strong culture means defining something truly worth your team’s time and energy, preaching it like crazy, and—here’s the hard part—holding everyone accountable to it. Ultimately, what you create is more than just culture; it’s your company’s identity. While culture is how we act, identity is who we are. So maybe it’s not about choosing between culture or strategy, but about recognizing that our identity shapes everything we do. So maybe, what we should be saying is “Identity eats strategy for breakfast”. Although at Wilson, we prefer dessert! 

My wife and I went to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina for the first time. What an experience! The architecture was ahead of its time—it's so custom built that it's staggering to see in person. The gardens in the summer are worth the trip in itself. With a build like The Biltmore, construction delays were inevitable. The project started in 1893 and once work began on the second floor exteriors, the process had huge delays caused by late deliveries. For example, iron beams from the Pittsburgh Bridge Company being delayed or when the bricks from the estate’s kiln didn’t meet the standard of the supervising architect. Now, with modern transportation and software that speeds up logistics processes, it's common for customers to get upset if a part of a project is delayed by even two hours. Can you imagine waiting two months for materials to arrive? Whether it's a track home in Huntsville or the famous Biltmore Estate, no one wants to push a deadline. Customers in both 1893 and 2024 want to trust that the people they hire will do the work as promised, on time. Same common problem, different context. This is why Wilson Lumber Company is always working hard to do what we say we're going to do.