Our newest Extra Miler, Randy Fields. Randy is one of our great employees who is always looking out for a better way to approach his duties. As Assistant Manager, in charge of our Linton yard, Randy exemplifies the meaning of going the Extra Mile.

Assistant Managers are often asked to do many things and to wear many hats. When the manager is unavailable, they take the leadership role to keep the store running smoothly.

As you might know, when we are busy our lumberyards can get quite untidy. We often develop piles of returns, dunnage, and cull material. Mostly, we look the other way until it becomes a problem nobody wants to address. In many yards, these piles can grow and last many years until all value is lost.

These unsightly lots are often a safety hazard, at the very least, and do not present to our customers the image we desire. It takes a lot of effort and leadership to keep a clean lumberyard.

This winter while many were cozy inside the store and when the snow was flying, Store Manager Teresa McBride challenged Randy to lead in the effort to clean these messes up. Randy, on lead and with his yard team got to work picking through, saving, and maybe destroying these heaps of ugliness.

By clearing this cumulation of unsellable material, the store now has more room to store its Special Order items and more products our customers need and depend on Bender Lumber to supply. We have reduced our investment and increased our safety.

Randy is a humble person and would say that this is just his job. This is true, but he approaches it with grace and humbleness. The attitude with which it is accomplished creates a culture that is contagious.