The Alaska Contractor - Summer 2008

By Heidi Bohi
AGC of Alaska Legacy Members
SENCO Alaska sells, services
air-powered fastening systems
How a company gets the name SENCO Products out of what was originally called Springtramp
Eliminator Company is a mystery to Teri Gunter and her sister Jackie Glatt, owners of the
Alaska division of one of the world’s leading manufacturers
of air-powered fastening systems. In fact, it’s a
mystery to the parent company.
But as these second generation owners celebrate 40
years of doing business in Anchorage, what is certain,
the two sisters will tell you, is that they are proud to
continue to serve the construction trade and do-it-yourselfer
with the most innovative, quality merchandise in
the tools and fastening industry. The “service what we
sell” repair department and the all-customer-service, allthe-time
philosophy is what keeps the building trade
coming back, including customers who are referred by
their competition, Gunter says proudly.
Founded in Cincinnati 50 years ago, SENCO Products
Inc. has a network of authorized dealers, distributors and
sales representatives in North and South America, Europe,
Asia and Australia, as well as worldwide manufacturing
operations in Australia, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy,
Korea, The Netherlands, South Africa and Spain.
Originally known as a hammer and nails company,
today, in addition to having the widest selection of staples,
nails and screws in the industry, it is also known
for leading the market by carrying the newest innovations
in products and materials: the extended line includes
Max Rebar Tiers, FOMO insulation applications,
and the newer space-efficient, noise-reduced compressors.
SENCO is also known as the leader in fastening
solutions for use in the residential home construction
market; framing, interior finish and trim carpentry, drywall
installation, exterior residential decks, roofing, siding
and fencing. It also produces fastening solutions for
industrial markets; in-plant housing, cabinets, pallets,
furniture, bedding and recreational vehicles.
Originally, a prominent homebuilder in Anchorage,
Jack and Barbara Butt purchased SENCO Alaska in 1968
from a construction associate after he introduced the
line of tools to Gunter and Glatt’s father and then approached
him about becoming the exclusive distributor
in Anchorage. It began in small quarters and moved to its
present location near the corner of Old Seward Highway
and Dowling Road in Anchorage in 1974, which includes
more than 7,000 square feet of warehouse and shop,
1,600 square feet of office space, and a newly remodeled
showroom. In addition to the Anchorage office, there is a
Wasilla location and seven dealers in Fairbanks, Kodiak,
Seward, Soldotna, Nome, Bethel and Delta Junction.
As SENCO Alaska continues to grow – last year
alone there was more than a 6 percent increase in new
business – besides the residential market, the company
is focusing on securing more commercial accounts and
getting large housing contracts on local military bases
in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Today, 75 percent of the
company’s clientele is in the commercial sector including
F & W Construction, Builders Choice Inc. and FM
Construction. One of their primary sources of customers
is the Associated General Contractors of Alaska organization,
Gunter says, and almost every contractor associated
with AGC is a client of SENCO’s.
Gunter says her father ran SENCO Alaska as a family
style business from the beginning, including his wife,
who was the company’s secretary, and daughters, sonsin-law
and grandchildren who worked in various capacities
before Gunter and Glatt purchased it. Although
their father passed away five years ago, Gunter says they
still have many customers who attribute part of their
success to him for his generosity and trust.
It was not uncommon for him to sell customers a tool
for a handshake and tell them to pay him when they
had the money. Although that was a sign of the times
and she and her sister don’t run the business quite that
way today, Gunter says laughing, they still turn to the
business ethics and examples of integrity and leadership
their father taught them.
“We were raised in a wonderful learning situation
where we were able to see first-hand the day-to-day
requirements needed to run a successful company,”
Gunter says.
After growing up with the business for 30 years, as
general manager, Gunter works with the financial and
marketing divisions of the company, and as office manager,
Glatt, who has worked for the family business for
29 years, focuses on the sales and product areas.
Having grown up with the business – as a small child
Gunter started sweeping floors then worked her way
up – she says that while she understands that working
with family isn’t for everyone, she enjoys every moment
with her sister, who she has worked with for 28 years.
When they are not working they spend free time to-