Can you feel it? The end of the year is approaching fast. It’s funny how time doesn’t fly at a constant speed, but rather it seems to quicken or slow depending on how much is happening. Now that it’s November, it will keep moving fast until New Years. Time to Say...

You will search in vain, through the pantheon of sales leaders in the truss industry, for an equal to Richard H. Marriott. You will find contenders, like Charlie Harnden or Dave Chambers, though they left us too soon. You will find a handful of other 40 year veterans, like Dick, but none who...

Well, I just returned from the SBCA Open Quarterly Meeting in Las Vegas. It was almost historical. This was the first time that I can remember the OQM being in Las Vegas. It seems a place that has a way of drawing greater attendance for any event and this was true for the OQM. A great time...

Not one of the fathers of our industry did more design work than Vivian Hollinshed. Over his 55 active years, on the small drafting board behind his desk, this magnificent man named Vivian crafted countless fine homes and innovative commercial buildings. All the while pioneering trusses in a...

“If I didn’t care for him so much, I’d let him go,” said the late Vivian Hollinshed about an aspiring young designer, Chuck Rogers. Chuck knew nothing about trusses when he came to Vivian’s company, Comtech in Fayetteville, NC. And now, nearly 20 years later, thanks...

A quick internet search of the term “legendary” will reveal this among the possible definitions: “remarkable enough to be famous; very well known.” Unfortunately, our industry has lost another member who was very well known, very well respected, and very well...

I said I wouldn’t write again, but I felt compelled to, at the very least, commemorate the passing of a great human being. In the past few weeks, many of you have read articles about the passing of Dwight Hikel. Dwight was something pretty special. Not just as a businessman or component...

For those who just came here and those of us who have been here a long time, this a fine place to be. All of us are reaping the benefits given us by two generations who built a solid foundation for our industry, and a third generation now coming into its own. Not unlike our great country, which...

Many people have commented on the great articles Carl Schoening has contributed to this magazine. Because we don’t have his reflections on industry leaders in this issue, I’ve decided to contribute some of my own. While I am the first person to say “I’m no Carl...

It is with a great deal of thought and careful consideration that I am thinking this may be my last story. I have enjoyed being back in this game and offering perspective. The strong, positive responses to my stories and articles is making this decision that much more difficult. First, let me...