For a jolt of good news in difficult times, an excellent place to start is here: the announcement of this year’s class of Four Under 40 winners.
The story behind each one is a credit to hard work, enterprise, and an eagerness to advance the LBM industry in large ways and small.
Kari Gaviria, Charlie Coggins, Stefanie Couch, and Cason Shrode humbly bow to their colleagues for the industry honor. What advice do the 2020 winners have for others looking to make their mark? A few thoughts:
Why Not You: Kari Gaviria
One of the first things you notice in Kari Gaviria’s office is a large framed poster with the words, Create the things you wish existed. “It’s what I live by,” says the Madison Wood sales manager. “Just because there isn’t an easy or streamlined process doesn’t mean you can’t develop it. When a young professional comes up with an idea they should be willing to see it all the way through.” Her personal resolve reflects itself throughout the privately-held company, notably the MADskillz manager training program and a way to better utilize production analytics.
“Many young professionals need to feel needed and accountable. For me, it’s my future, it’s not just a job.” she advises.
Pass the Baton: Charlie Coggins
Charlie Coggins grew up in the business. He just never imagined himself in it. So it was a pleasant surprise when fate directed him to Professional Builders Supply and a life-changing moment with company CEO Van Isley. “I’m just a little management trainee a week into the job when he walks up to me and takes the time to make me feel special. I’ve never forgotten that. You can talk finance and strategy all you want. It’s the leadership skills you use to treat people and build a team that can never be underestimated,” Coggins observes.
Today, that pay-it-forward spirit shows itself in Coggins’ volunteer work with the local high school. “We’re looking to construct a student-built house. “You can go to the classroom and do a show-and-tell. Nothing replaces the education and motivation required to build a home hands-on. The industry is bursting with opportunity,” he says.
Just One More Question: Stefanie Couch
Stefanie Couch always knew she had an unfair business advantage. “My father opened a lumberyard in northeast Georgia when I was five. I call myself a yard brat. I love the business,” the regional millwork marketing manager for Boise Cascade confesses. “Both my parents, but especially my father instilled in me a belief I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. I soaked up everything I could about the business, from accounts receivable and payable to the importance of relationship-building.” That spirit now serves her well with the company’s decentralized, small company approach. “There are a lot of people that love this company and put in 30 or 40 years of service. There’s so much to learn. My advice to young professionals? Have a thirst for knowledge. Ask questions, even if the questions are outside your business group. You can never know where you might end up. We’ve had people crossover from one area to another and been super successful,” she explains.
Listen Up: Cason Shrode
Who knew life as a military officer would translate so well for the LBM business? The folks at Cassity Jones Building Materials sure do, thanks to Cason Shrode’s leadership skills. The former U.S. Army officer now serves as the president of the family-owned business. “I credit the senior team here,” Shrode reports. “I may be the boss on paper, but I look to them to mentor me. Their willingness to teach and openness to ideas allows all of us to succeed.”
That family approach also has other benefits. “It’s the ability to think long-term. We can share the know-how of folks who have been here 40 years with our young people. When that experience is gone, you can’t get it back,” he says.
Learn more about the ProSales/Dealers Choice Four Under 40 awards.
