Crossties is published for users and producers of treated wood crossties.
Issue link: http://crossties.epubxp.com/i/406900
Eagle Metal Koppers Nisus RTA WEBSITE BECOME A MEMBER CONTACT &52667,(66(37(0%(52&72%(5 24 S tarting out, Larry Jones, president of IndusTREE and this year's Silver Saw Award winner, never saw himself in the manufacturing business. A passion for the outdoors led Jones to Auburn University to pursue a degree in forestry management and eventually start his own company. But in 1999 when that company merged with IndusTREE, a vertically integrated forestry company, Jones quickly found himself at the helm of a company, operating log-processing facilities that produce key products like rail ties and power SROHV´7KDWZDVWKHELJJHVWGLIÀFXOW\, faced because I had never run manufacturing operations so I didn't really know what to expect," Jones said. "I had been buying and selling timber, but all of a sudden I was producing a product to sell." Assisting Jones as he learned to navigate the new market was longtime business partner Lee Davis, whom Jones has been working with since college. "Lee and I went to college together and started out together when we were very young," Jones said. Also helping Jones learn how to best run a manufacturing division was his mentor, Larry McGinn, who Jones had done some work with in the past. "I helped Larry with his timberline operation and really got to know him when I was much younger," Jones said. "I learned a lot from him. He always told me to make a quality product and remember to invest back into the business and my manufacturing sites. He would always tell me to keep up with the times and not just sit back and be happy where I am. That advice helped guide me, and I feel help make the company successful." As IndusTREE's president for the last 15 years, Jones has helped guide the company to much success. In fact, under Jones' leadership, IndusTREE has grown into the Southeast's premier provider of sustainable forestry and timberland services and supplies every forest industry service through its four divisions, IndusTREE Timber, IndusTREE Properties, IndusTREE Logging and IndusTREE Manufacturing. Through his work at IndusTREE, Jones strives to do all he can to help not just the company but also the railway industry in general. "I'm trying to give back to the industry and do my part to hopefully be a good partner and provide quality products," Jones said. "And, at the same time, hopefully educate others about what all is involved in creating a crosstie. A lot of work goes into it to get it from the tree to the track." G ary Williams never intended to join the ranks of the railroad industry. While growing up in northwest Pennsylvania, he wanted nothing more than to enlist in the Army, even when that meant turning down a scholarship to play college football. After eventually being discharged from service and working a few odd jobs, Williams knew he needed to go to college and pursue a degree. "I always loved the outdoors, so I thought I'd try forestry school," he explained. Williams attended Pennsylvania State University, where he received a forestry degree upon graduation, he decided to try for a position at Koppers, a producer of carbon compounds and treated wood products. "I knew they were in forest products, so I managed to get an interview set up with their personnel representative," Williams said. "It turned out he was unavailable that day and I was instead to meet with someone who I thought wouldn't be of any help. It turned out that I was actually meeting with a vice president, Gerald Reynolds. We hit it off immediately and he hired me on the spot." That chance meeting led to a successful career for Williams at Koppers, where he worked his way up through various positions to become the eastern region procurement manager. Williams credits much of his success to his mentors at the company, one RIWKRVHEHLQJ5H\QROGV´+HZDVWKHÀUVW RQHWRLQÁXHQFHPHDW.RSSHUVDQG,WULHG to follow his example as far as service to the RTA," Williams said. "He taught me that whatever was good for the industry was good for Koppers." Another example Williams strived to follow was that of Randall Huling, a procurement manager at the company. "When you worked for him, you were like part of the family," said Williams. Last but certainly not least was the LQÁXHQFHRI3DXO/DGG´3DXOWDXJKWPHWKDW what we were really doing was relationship building," Williams said. "Our job was about building relationships, both with the sawmills and with our railroad customer. It took years to develop and cement those relationships so that people trusted that you were going to do what you said. He taught me it was all about trust because you must have trust to build those relationships." Williams retired from Koppers earlier this year after a 36-year career at the company. Now, instead of sawmills and crossties, he's focusing his time on his wife, Jan; kids, Julie and Mark; and grandchildren, Heather and Hayden. He's even been able to return to some favorite hobbies, like traveling and music. But in addition to celebrating his retirement this year, Williams is also enjoying being this year's Broad Axe Award winner. "Receiving the award is such an honor because the men that I've looked up to in the industry—Gerald, Randall and Paul— have all been past winners themselves," Williams said. "I'm proud to be in not only their company but also the other past winners as well. They were instrumental in making the industry better, so I am honored to be in their company." Love Of Outdoors Led Silver Saw Award Winner To Industry Chance Meeting Points Broad Axe Award Winner To Longtime Career Gary Williams Larry Jones A W A R D W I N N E R S