Walker Lumber & Supply is one of the few independent dealers still operating within Nashville’s city limits. While large enough to support Middle Tennessee’s top professional builders, the company maintains a personal, approachable feel that sets it apart, offering the best of both worlds: big company capability with small company care.
Whether working with professional contractors or large custom home builders, Walker Lumber & Supply delivers prompt, effective service built on core values—fair and reasonable pricing, superior building materials, and exceptional customer care—that have been the foundation of the business since 1949.
Founded by Robert Walker after World War II, the company grew and diversified over the years. Today, Walker Lumber & Supply is a thriving business that has weathered its share of storms and continued to prosper in spite of challenges, including the closure of more than half of Nashville’s lumberyards.
The company has consistently been at the forefront of the industry thanks to owners Ray Hayles and Scott McMillan’s emphasis on developing a top-notch management team and integrating technology while optimizing efficiency. Perhaps their most notable achievement, however, is their nationally acclaimed “Second Chance” program, collaborating with neighborhood ministries to restore hope and dignity to those in addiction recovery.
“We started our Second Chance program as an opportunity to have a human impact on our community,” says Tim Roach, Operations Manager.
The reality of getting sober is just one aspect of treatment for the one in seven Americans who battle addiction or substance use disorders, he adds. Rebuilding their lives and overcoming the stigma associated with addiction can be equally difficult for many. Thankfully, Walker Lumber is willing to help those who need it most, with many individuals having gone through the program since its inception.
Second Chance program participants must fulfill the conditions set forth by the state’s Tennessee Drug Free Workforce Program, including random drug tests. However, the most critical component is the empathy extended to those in the program. Through understanding and patience, Second Chance provides individuals with an option to start over and make a difference in their futures.
“Many of these individuals face significant hiring challenges due to public perception,” says Roach. “When they do get hired, they’re often taken advantage of because of their legal or financial circumstances. Employers see their background and offer lower pay for the same work compared to coworkers without similar histories.”
The onset of COVID also helped accelerate the program when the company experienced challenges finding employees. Being located close to a number of halfway houses led to applications from residents recently out of rehab or jail, looking for stability while getting their feet back on the ground.
“A lot of these individuals don’t have access to basic resources like cars or phones,” Roach says. “They would walk to our location and apply in person, driven by the hope of finding an opportunity. After we hired a few participants and supported their journey through the Second Chance program, one of the halfway house owners visited to share how much the residents appreciated and valued their positive experiences with us. They wanted to help by sending us applicants they felt would fit with what we were doing,” he says, and the program continued to evolve and expand from there.
“Soon, all the halfway house owners were on board and sending people to us so we could help those who really want to change their lives for the better,” Roach says.
Walker Lumber’s leadership have not only brought these people into the fold, but given them a home away from home, adds Roach. “We leave their past in the past. We evaluate individuals on their performance here and now; nothing in the past matters.”
Currently employing 11 individuals, the process isn’t easy, but it is rewarding. “It’s tough,” says Roach, especially when people go through rehab and move back into addiction. “But we have people here right now who are actively working to change their lives and change their situation and change who they are. All we can do is love and support them the best we can.”
Hannah Johnson, Walker Lumber’s Human Resources professional, approaches her role more like a social worker, he adds—ensuring employees are receiving health care and dental care, taking them to court when needed, and helping them through any legal issues they’re experiencing. It’s challenging, but at the end of the day, it’s all worth it.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to have those guys out there in our yard doing so well, knowing where they came from and what they’ve been involved in,” Roach says. “Some guys have been in addiction for a very long time, and sobriety is very difficult for them. They’re making the effort, and we’re just happy to have a company that opens the door for them and allows them the ability to have a loving, caring environment that’s stable enough to allow them to be who they are and to turn themselves around.”
The program’s success has led to other businesses asking how to implement their own second Chance Program. “We’ve had companies far bigger than ours bring their team to see the program in action. We explain to them what we’re doing and how it has evolved over time,” says Roach. “The program has adapted to help our community and help the participants.”
A crucial aspect of any program like this is fostering an environment free from stigma and shame, a value deeply embedded in the company culture and championed by leadership. At Walker Lumber, the owners prioritize more than just sales and profits; they genuinely care about making a difference. “We’re a people-first culture and not driven solely by sales and numbers. We’re driven by people and by relationships,” says Roach. “We’re a relationship-based company, and that drives our culture.”
This focus on people, relationships, and service has resulted in sales that have continued to grow year over year. “The owners of the company… look at this business as a mission for them,” says Roach. “Some people go across the world to do mission trips to help people, but their mission is, ‘let’s build a company that gives employees stability, a place to come and work and make money and provide for their families and their community.’”
This supportive culture is one that is easy for employees to buy into. “Everyone who works here needs to understand the kind of company we are, the values we stand for, and how those principles shape everything we do,” says Roach. “Honesty and integrity are at the core of everything we do. The owners want talent, of course, but ultimately, they want people who care. We can teach you the business part, but you can’t teach someone to care.”
Walker Lumber’s dedication to honesty and transparency is also greatly appreciated by clients, allowing the company to provide a high level of service that exemplifies the humanity of the business. “We are a company built entirely on relationships, and for good reason. Providing a high level of service requires truly knowing your clients—not just on the surface, but on a deeper level. It means understanding their wants and needs and anticipating potential challenges before they arise.”
It’s a commitment that doesn’t go unnoticed in the construction world. “I’ve had so many people tell me, when they come onto our yard or into our store, how everybody seems so happy and so friendly,” Roach says. “They enjoy coming to our yard because it’s so different than what they experience anywhere else.”
Walker Lumber marries this positive attitude with customer service offerings that are second to none, he says. “It’s rare that you even hear about a lumberyard with their own custom software, their own custom applications. But we’re doing our own deliveries, pulling materials with web-based applications, and using technology to build analytics into our offering,” using this data-driven approach to improve service.
As Walker Lumber continues to evolve and enhance its ability to serve clients, the team envisions a promising future filled with opportunities for growth. However, beyond its commitment to business success, the company takes the greatest pride in its Second Chance program—a transformative initiative that offers individuals the opportunity to rebuild their lives and embrace a fresh start.
“The Second Chance program gives everyone here a sense of purpose,” Roach says. “We’re all part of it—part of the employees’ growth and helping them become who they are today while leaving their past behind. It’s a company-wide effort, and that’s what makes it truly special. It adds a deeper sense of purpose to everything we do.”
