Delivering top-notch pressure-treated lumber and fence posts at speed, Madison Wood Preservers, Inc. is a modern, future-focused company that knows that remaining relevant means embracing change. To support its team in staying ahead on all levels, the company invests in relationships with its people as much as it does in its infrastructure.
Based in Madison, Virginia, this multi-generational firm has served its area of the country for 65 years, delivering prompt service, quality pressure-treated lumber, and outstanding customer service.
With a big heart for people along with fine business acumen, this family-oriented business has the attitude that continuity and consistency lead to longevity. Now, after nearly seven decades in the industry, it is still run by a multi-generational team committed to making the company the best in pressure-treated lumber supplies throughout the area. Its business strategies are proving to be successful.
Purposeful growth
Expanding its output by 20 percent over the past two years, Madison Wood Preservers is now working on improving efficiency by further developing its logistical operations. Implementing new infrastructure and systems that will allow trucks to move through its facility faster, the team will shore up fiscal growth and create opportunities to expand its market share for the future.
To achieve this, the current vision entails establishing an additional, easily accessible footprint to handle higher volumes of trucks moving in and out of its gates efficiently carrying treated lumber and agricultural fencing products to more retailers than ever—all in all, a considerable project.
However, company leadership sees the gains outweighing the hassle of construction, as the outcome will set the company up operationally and infrastructurally for decades to come.
For Madison Wood Preservers, continuously reinvesting in the future is a key aspect of their vision. “We don’t want to be the biggest; we want to be the best. For us, quality is the key. That’s what we’re after,” says John Michael Price, Chief Executive Officer and fourth-generation owner.
“Second to quality comes speed and efficiency. We will have to master both through this expansion and our technological efforts if we want to achieve our goal of maximizing our facility output,” he adds. With over 100 trucks already crossing its grounds daily, that plan must be watertight if continued development of its capabilities and capacities is what they are after.
The outlook for change is positive. As it happens, eight undeveloped acres of land perfectly situated on the corner of Oak Park Road and Highway 29 are available for expansion. As well as increasing capacity, construction on this land will also improve current loading conditions. Where loading in rain can currently pose a challenge as unload times are delayed, new, sheltered loading will protect the product while making things faster and safer for staff.
“We are looking at redirecting all trucks through a logistics hut which will provide specific direction on where each truck should go with the help of our new radio, camera, and communication system,” says Price, pointing out that recent investments in advanced technology, originally centered around management, will also be used to enhance the experience of incoming and outbound trucks entering Madison Wood. At this stage, the project awaits final bids and board approval.
New tech, new systems
Beyond vision-boarding its possible new project, the company is also developing cutting-edge maintenance and production software to support its expansion and maintain efficiency. Automation plays a key role here, together with streamlining its enterprise resource planning (ERP) software performance to ease the load on employees by freeing up supervisors to focus more on their teams.
“We’re so data-rich that we are able to scrutinize different aspects of our business really well. We’re developing technologies and designing things to help us do everything faster,” says Price.
Having both a bird’s-eye view of the big picture and the ability to drill deep into company data gives management an edge in developing systems that are robust and profoundly sophisticated. In fact, vision has always been part of Madison Wood’s leadership style. Take the example of the main warehouse which, at 180,000 square feet, came to life as a real opportunity to increase capacity while minimizing environmental impact with an advanced treating system. The company’s initiative was recognized with awards it later received for being ahead of its time in the 1990s, when such an approach was groundbreaking and rare.
Madison Wood focuses far beyond just data and communication. The team recently upgraded an unused space into a 4,000-square-foot employee break room called the MadHouse. While this state-of-the-art building launched shortly after the tragic loss to the team of a beloved and dedicated co-worker of 25 years, Lucio Weaver, it quickly became the heart and hub of gatherings within the company. Many staff members choose to spend their breaks here, providing downtime together while getting to know one another.
The center was built as a token of heartfelt thanks to staff members who put so much time and dedication toward the company. Today, this awesome space is kitted out with many creature comforts, including a selection of gaming centers, computer stations, televisions, a kitchen, and washrooms. Considering that, due to the company’s structure, staff members from various departments do not often get the chance to mingle during the workday, this facility has brought an even greater feeling of cohesion to the team.
All for the team
Building team strength is central to the MadHouse’s purpose. It has become a place for everyone to spend time away from work, communicating and laughing over a meal or a game or two. “It gives this informal atmosphere that humanizes and equalizes all employees to be on the same team, the same page, which I think is the most important aspect of it,” Price says of the lively atmosphere in the MadHouse.
The result is that people make an effort to spend more time together, adding even more fun to it all. “It’s been great to see people using the space, spending time with each other outside their regular shift,” says Price.
Moreover, the team is excited to see events hosted here, like the supervisors’ night out where spouses join in the fun. This is also where employees now share Christmas lunches, forklift competitions, and other events. “It gives us a place to meet, so we don’t have to go offsite. We are also offering it to the community as a rental space on the weekends to provide a clean and modern area for those interested,” he adds.
As is evident, this company values its teams highly. Maintaining and expanding growth means having an ear close to the ground while keeping a finger on the pulse of market trends. “We have a unique employee base. They’re very dedicated and loyal to this company,” Price says, noting that the group acts as a family, supporting one another through personal and professional life events. As a result, ownership and employees engage one another with reciprocal support and genuine care.
Indeed, Madison Wood Preservers is accustomed to making decisions as a group for the group, rather than passing all plans through its leadership only. To achieve this, people know that it is acceptable and encouraged to express their ideas and concerns openly. Thanks to this mature approach to doing business, Madison Wood’s people feel secure in a healthy work environment where they know their voices are heard and ideas are taken seriously.
Rolling with the changes of ever-evolving market trends, Madison Wood Preservers remains strategic about how it positions itself within the industry—all while balancing its growth and expansion plans accordingly. Within this context, continued investment in its people remains non-negotiable, however. Maintaining culture and continuing to cultivate depth of expertise are top priorities.
“As a company, we feel very lucky to be supported by people who understand that growth matters here, and that we have room to grow,” says Kari Gaviria, President. “We work for owners who truly care about what we are doing and the safety of our operations. “What a pleasure it is,” she notes, “when a company’s owners have the insight it takes to look—and move—forward in support of the next generation.”
