WOOD 100: 41-60
41. Wilkie Sanderson
Sauk Rapids, MN
www.wilkiesanderson.com
| ââ¬Ë98: $9,263,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $12,149,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +31.15% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: None |
| Est. 1975 | Employees: 110 |
Wilkie Sanderson has found that by lowering material and labor costs, the company has been able to get a handle on profits and boost productivity, says vice president of sale and marketing Jami Bestgen. These factors contribute to improving on-time delivery, which is key to this custom cabinet and millwork producer.
42. Custom Wood Products LLC
Roanoke, VA
| ââ¬Ë98: $9,642,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $12,462,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +29.2% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +20% |
| Est. 1969 | Employees: 160 |
Custom Wood Products is back in the Wood 100 for the first time since 1990. New management has brought improvements in marketing, new product development and quality control, and executive vice president Patrick Byrne also cites improved employee morale as a factor in the companyââ¬â¢s increase in sales.
43. Whipââ¬â¢s Carpentry
Burlington, ON, Canada
| ââ¬Ë98: $4,498,000 (Can.) | ââ¬Ë99: $5,763,000 (Can.) | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +28.1% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +30% |
| Est. 1980 | Employees: 27 |
With the addition of a pair of Morbidelli point-to-point CNC machines, a Homag double-sided edgebander and 21,000 square feet of manufacturing space, Whipââ¬â¢s Carpentry returns to the Wood 100 after a one year hiatus. ââ¬ÅThrough new equipment purchased in the previous year, we have increased our productivity,ââ¬? says owner Mike Lycklama. ââ¬ÅThis has allowed us to keep our costs down in a very competitive market.ââ¬?
44. American Regional Woodworks Inc.
Naples, FL
| ââ¬Ë98: $234,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $298,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +27.4% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: N/A |
| Est. 1990 | Employees: 4 |
A first-time member of the Wood 100, American Regional Woodworksââ¬â¢ growth was aided by the purchase of a Jet widebelt sander and a Weaver system door machine. Owner and president Michael Bearsley says the machine has aided in the production of custom doors, improving quality and productivity in the shop. Growing relationships with vendors and customers also has allowed the company to improve its profits.
| SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS: Blackhawk Furniture Inc. sponsors this Toyota off-road racing truck. Sam Ayala, one of the drivers, is a customer service representative for Blackhawk. |
Riverside, CA
www.blackhawkfurniture.com
| ââ¬Ë98: $28,818,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $36,580,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +26.9% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +25% |
| Est. 1983 | Employees: 420 |
This marks the 10th year Blackhawk has been included in the Wood 100. The company had sales of $1.624 million in 1989, compared to sales of more than $36.5 million last year. Blackhawk has added a Crits double-end tenoner, a BMI wonder saw and Prime heat ovens to aid in production of its bedroom furniture lines. ââ¬ÅOur success for the last year has been in direct response to our plan for ââ¬Ëexcellent customer service,ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬? says Michael Genrich, vice president of sales and marketing.
46. Daveââ¬â¢s Artisan Woodcrafters
Auburn, CA
| ââ¬Ë98: $447,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $567,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +26.8% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +50% |
| Est. 1996 | Employees: 9 |
Daveââ¬â¢s Artisan Woodcrafters credits its success to the companyââ¬â¢s finishing booth and ability of employees to work together on a pair of huge retirement home projects. Owners and partners Kim Farley and Bruce Wallace say the company now is growing through referrals and also has added a Ritter face frame assembly table to speed up the production of custom cabinets.
47. Appalachian Wood Products Inc.
Clearfield, PA
| ââ¬Ë98: $38,429,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $48,684,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +26.7% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +15% |
| Est. 1987 | Employees: N/A |
Appalachian Wood continues to grow, and has increased sales from $17.255 million in 1996 to $48.69 millionin 1999. The company recently added a Group 7 gang saw system with two Mereen-Johnson gang saws ââ¬ÅOur company has grown at a rapid rate since its humble beginnings,ââ¬? says president Dennis McCahan. ââ¬ÅOur success has come from us caring about our customersââ¬â¢ needs and consistently providing high-quality products.ââ¬?
48. MasterBrand Cabinets Inc.
Jasper, IN
www.aristokraft.com or www.schrock.com
| ââ¬Ë98: $495,000,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $625,000,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +26.3% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: N/A |
| Est. 1926 | Employees: 5,600 |
MasterBrand is the largest member of the 2000 Wood 100, with annual sales of $625 million. Despite its size, Masterbrand plans to continue its goals of customer service and dedication, says Neil Lynch, senior vice president of marketing. ââ¬ÅAs MBCI has grown to become a full-line manufacturer of cabinetry products, our focus has remained fixed on meeting our commitments,ââ¬? says Lynch. ââ¬ÅThis legacy is at the core of our business philosophy and has provided builders and retailers a dependable supply of high quality products complete and on-time.ââ¬?
49. Lexington Manufacturing Inc.
Minneapolis, MN
| ââ¬Ë98: $13,250,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $16,572,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +25.1% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +20% |
| Est. 1958 | Employees: 135 |
For the eighth time overall, and the third straight year, Lexington has grown enough to be a member of the Wood 100. The company says that by understanding customer concerns such as capacity issues and managing inventories, it is better equipped to serve the clientââ¬â¢s needs. ââ¬ÅWe continue to work the plan we outlined several years ago,ââ¬? says sales and marketing manager Bill Dewitt. ââ¬ÅThat plan calls for a narrowing of our marketing focus while deepening our relationship with accounts related to our core business strengths.ââ¬? Dewitt also says that despite Lexingtonââ¬â¢s investment in equipment, its commitment to human resource development and employees has been most important to the companyââ¬â¢s success.
50. Colonial Craft Kitchens
Annville, PA
| ââ¬Ë98: $1,003,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $1,254,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +25% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: N/A |
| Est. 1982 | Employees: 21 |
Colonial Craft Kitchens has rejoined the Wood 100 for the first time since 1995. The company has added an additional shop location to increase plant space and handle more orders. But other factors have helped the company to grow, says president Jerry Hoffsmith. ââ¬ÅCertainly the economy has played a part in our success,ââ¬? says Hoffsmith. ââ¬ÅBut beyond that, our employees dedication and skill are the biggest factors in our growth.ââ¬? Commitment to outstanding products and customer service have helped the company to grow new business.
51. Design Fabricators Inc.
Lafayette, CO
www.designfab.com
| ââ¬Ë98: $20,253,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $25,245,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +24.6% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +30% |
| Est. 1986 | Employees: 325 |
Design Fabricators opened its second full service facility in May. The Denver, CO, factory features CNC machinery and high-speed finishing. According to president Marc Sagrillo, the company has also expanded its services in the food service arena and continues to offer fixtures for ââ¬Ådestinationââ¬? retail environments. Joining the Leggett and Platt Store Fixture Group also helped broaden the companyââ¬â¢s exposure to the retail industry and has allowed the company to enter new markets and expand in areas it already is involved in.
52. Paone Woodworking Corp.
Philadelphia, PA
| ââ¬Ë98: $8,111,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $10,091,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +24.4% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +10% |
| Est. 1967 | Employees: 51 |
Paone Woodworking is making its fifth appearance in the Wood 100. The company has added a Morbidelli point-to-point CNC machine and says that 90 percent of Paoneââ¬â¢s machinery is computer controlled. ââ¬ÅComputerized machinery has greatly increased production,ââ¬? says purchasing manager Samuel Paone. This has enabled the company to increase production and maintain productivity without having to increase the workforce.
53. DMI Furniture Inc.
Louisville, KY
www.dmifurniture.com
| ââ¬Ë98: $64,727,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $80,373,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +24.2% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +25% |
| Est. 1911 | Employees: 400 |
For the second consecutive year, and third time overall, DMI has placed itself in the Wood 100. The company has added a lumber optimization system to increase yields. CFO Joseph Hill says that two new divisions of the company, Wynwood and Homestyles, have been added as DMI looks to develop products and distribution diversification that will enable the company to withstand economic downturns.
54. M.C. Colonial Cabinets & Millwork Ltd.
Windsor, ON, Canada
| ââ¬Ë98: $2,155,000 (Can.) | ââ¬Ë99: $2,660,000 (Can.) | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +23.43% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +30% |
| Est. 1967 | Employees: 29 |
The company has moved into a larger facility, which has expanded its finishing capabilities as a result of increased spray booth capacity. M.C. has also added AutoCAD 2000 software to improve production and design offerings and has been Corian certified after completing the solid surface program by DuPont. ââ¬ÅAfter completing the solid surface program that DuPont put on in Pennsylvania we were certified, which at this point has given us an edge in our business,ââ¬? says Robert Costantin. M.C. also installs its projects and keeps control over all aspects of its jobs, a point it sells to architects and other potential clients.
55. Old World Mouldings Inc.
Holbrook, NY
www.oldworldmouldings.com
| ââ¬Ë98: $1,475,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $1,820,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +23.39% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +25% |
| Est. 1996 | Employees: 5 |
A new addition to the Wood 100, Old World Mouldings has undergone a complete overhaul of the companyââ¬â¢s operations since 1996. The company has added a Weinig moulder, an SCMI band saw and a Weinig knife grinder to help reduce down time in the shop. ââ¬ÅWe need to make sure our company is performing at ââ¬Ëbest practiceââ¬â¢ levels in comparison to the rest of the industry,ââ¬? says president Al Havranek.
56. Yoderââ¬â¢s Cabinetry Inc.
York, PA
| ââ¬Ë98: $406,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $497,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +22.4% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +40% |
| Est. 1985 | Employees: 7 |
Yoderââ¬â¢s Cabinetry has found the road to profitability starts with equipment, and lots of it. ââ¬ÅWe have increased productivity by upgrading much of our equipment,ââ¬? says president Enos Yoder. ââ¬ÅProductivity has also been up thanks to skillful and knowledgable employees.ââ¬? The company has added a Bridgewood moulder and tenoner, a Bacci mortiser, a Blum hinge boring machine, a Ritter Manufacturing frame clamp and a Sand Pro downdraft table, as well as other machines to improve output in the shop.
57. Leeman Architectural Woodwork Inc.
Atlanta, GA
www.leeman-aw.com
| ââ¬Ë98: $11,151,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $13,607,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +22% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +12% |
| Est. 1988 | Employees: 135 |
Leeman is back in the Wood 100 for the first time since 1997. The company says its improvement has been a result of customer service and satisfaction. ââ¬ÅWe give the customer just what they are looking for by designing the product over and over until it is exactly what that customer wants,ââ¬? says Gary Leeman. The company has also added a CNC router, a Sigma panel saw and an incinerator to improve its operations.
58. Centorbi Custom Cabinetry Inc.
St. Charles, MO
| ââ¬Ë98: $174,000 | ââ¬Ë99: $212,000 | |
| Sales ââ¬Ë99: +21.8% | Color | Projected ââ¬Ë00: +80% |
| Est. 1995 | Employees: 4 |
Centorbi has a bullish outlook on the future, as evidenced by its projected 80 percent increase for next year. President Derek Centorbi says ââ¬Åthe company has formed partnerships with home theater companies to sell its products, as opposed to se
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