Page 11 - Tree Line - NCFA - First Quarter 2020

LEE WHITE, Director of Administration and Finance, on working at Turn Bull Lumber
“I started working at Turn Bull Lumber Company two-and-a-half years ago, just before Pem had his accident. Pem has created a business and developed a management team that was able to keep the business going while he, the President of the company, was down. Pem has looked for outside support where he has needed it, and he has allowed his staff to operate without any hiccups, as usual.
“Pem’s accident was devastating to everyone. The forest industry is a very competitive environment. Pem has instilled a strong ethical direction in how we deal with people, and how we deal with the business. That helped us to keep going. I have worked for other companies that did not have this, and it is not the same.
“Operating in a rural part of North Carolina makes it hard to find a workforce, so proper training and compensation is key to making everything happen. Currently, we are dealing with the trickle-down effects of tariffs, but Turn Bull Lumber is positioned very well to fight through it. There is more that we can do, but I would say that we are in the top 25% of hardwood companies dealing with the tariff effects in the next 18 to 24 months. I think Turn Bull Lumber is braced and ready to deal with this particular storm.
“One of the reasons why Turn Bull Lumber has been able to overcome the challenges of Pem’s injury is Pem’s positivity. He is one of the most positive people that I have ever met. When he returned to the office, Pem was very optimistic about the situation, and what he was able to do. As a result, we all went forward together, with boosted morale and an assured feeling. We (the staff) made the plays and he (Pem) made the game plan. He is a great leader, and an inspiration.”
around the office and throughout the mill. (See page 10.) He asks that all of his employees abide by these guidelines each day. “Every job is an honorable job for the right person, and our people are our most valuable resource,” Jenkins said.
When asked what he likes about working and owning a business in the forest industry, Jenkins offered these thoughts: “My favorite part is that we are doing real work. We’re working with a renewable resource, and
we are called to be good stewards of that resource. As an industry, forest products
and forestry are providing jobs in Tier 1 counties, such as Bladen, where there is not as much economic development as there is in larger counties. You will find quite a few forest products companies in Tier 1 counties,
Above: Turn Bull Lumber in Elizabethtown, NC. Opposite page (l to r) Bald cypress logs
are sawn into lumber at Turn Bull Lumber; a process that takes skill and precision. Although modern equipment and automation helps in the lumber milling process, human interface is still an invaluable resource for Turn Bull Lumber.
ncforestry.org / FIRST QUARTER 2020 9