Oaks Unlimited –
Oaks Unlimited – Unlimited Endeavors Waynesville, N.C.— Oaks Unlimited, based in the mountains of N.C., processes Red Oak, White Oak, Cherry and Tulipwood at their concentration yard. Owned by Joe Pryor, the family company has been in business for more than 50 years. New endeavors and equipment upgrades are continuous at Oaks Unlimited. The firm now exclusively represents Powell Industries Inc., located in Waynesville, N.C., and Canton Hardwood Company Inc., which is in Canton, N.C. Pryor said, “These two band mill operations combined produce approximately 14 million feet of Hardwoods annually. Jimmy Powell of Canton Hardwood Co. is a longtime friend and their family has been known for producing top quality lumber for many years,” Pryor explained. “Furthermore, we’re also handling domestic and international kiln dried lumber Joe Pryor, owner and operator of Oaks Unlimited, Inc. sales for Powell Industries. I’ve known the Powell family for many years and they are good friends as well. Their sawmill facility is right down the road from where our Hardwood concentration lumberyard is located. We are excited to introduce this production to our customers and expand our product offerings. Counting the previous sales representation of Minton Sales in North Wilkesboro, N.C., dry kiln capacity is now 1.5 million board feet per charge.” A new 7,000 square foot dry line building was recently constructed at Oaks Unlimited to house a banding and painting station for kiln dried lumber. Please turn to page 41 BY GARY MILLER Pryor said they also added two new salespeople to the team, Wendell Sugg in Morganton, N.C. and Phil Rosebrock in Jacksonville, Florida. Including Pryor, the company has nine salespeople total: Mark Taylor (export sales manager), Doyle Hyde, Monty Minton, John Oakes, David Dickson, Ray Shepard (green lumber buyer), Phil Rosebrock, and Wendell Sugg. Pryor serves as President and Trent Thomas is Vice President. Rick Parton is plant manager while Sabrina Browning, Tina Parker, and Heather Ferguson handle the firm’s office duties. Pryor’s workday seems to always be full. Taking the lead from his father, who ran a sawmill and a stave mill in Marshville, N.C. for 36 years, his goal is “to be a customer-focused company that supplies the highest quality wood products to partners worldwide.” Pryor also mentioned that Oaks Unlimited doesn’t venture into the retail market. “We don’t compete with our distribution yard customers, we focus on supplying top quality lumber in truckload quantities,” he said. Oaks Unlimited sells all Hardwood species, but their primary focus is marketing Red Oak, White Oak, Poplar and Cherry lumber in 4/4 through 8/4 thicknesses. The company also offers certified lumber. “We became certified many years ago and were an early entry into this market. We are authorized in three programs, FSC, SFI, and PEFC,” Pryor said. Pryor commented that the expense of certification was not just monetary because, “the larger expense is the time commitment. The company has to be committed from the top all the way down. You’re going to do training and make a paper trail documenting every step because you will be audited by a third 22 Hardwoods...The All-Purpose Material
2 1 4 3 6 5 1. Mark Taylor coordinates export shipments from all four of Oaks Unlimited’s locations. 2. Oaks Unlimited’s kiln dried stock ready for prompt shipment. 3. Lumber being transported by forklift at Oaks Unlimited’s Waynesville location. 4. Covered air-drying keeps the lumber bright and reduces surface checks. 5. Surfaced and SLR1E Red Oak for a distribution yard customer. 6. Banner at Oaks Unlimited’s Waynesville, N.C. warehouse. 7. Green lumber being inspected and placed on sticks prior to kiln drying. 7 AUGUST/2011 23
