As leaders in corner offices across America
panicked, Yoder preached calm.
Now a few years later, staff levels are
exceeding pre-recess ion level s and
production is reaching 90 percent of the
pre-recession years. The steady veteran
hand is primed for sunnier days.
“I see continued growth and I anticipate
probably an average of close to 10 percent a
year,” Yoder said. “It’s full-speed ahead for
the time being. That’s definitely the feel
thatwe have.”
The prodigious growth forecast is welcome
news within the walls at the 70-year-old
operation, which began in 1944. Mel’s
father, John Yoder, merged his past sawmill
experience with his passion for timber and
lumber work andwent into business cutting
materials for area farmers tobuildbarns.
He’d go into the woods on a farmer’s
property and cut beams and whatever else
was needed for the construction. The
lumber and timber bloodlines continued
when John’s children were introduced to
the business. The second generation
168 | BusinessWorld |
May 2014
