INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT 50
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT 50 Years Of Hardwoods With Bob Chase By Michelle Keller Rutland, MA—In 2014, President of Quabbin Timber, Inc., Bob Chase, is celebrating 50 years of experience and 30 years of operating his own business. A 1964 graduate of the National Hardwood Lumber Association’s Inspector Training School, Chase got his start in the lumber industry as a lumber inspector at Rex Lumber Co., located in Cambridge, MA. “On my very first day of work, my job was to unload a carload of l0/4 Maple by hand,” he explained. “Every board was loose, it wasn’t palletized or strapped and there wasn’t a forklift involved. At that very point on that first day I decided to concentrate on moving into sales and purchasing and limit the amount of time I had to spend on the yard,” he laughed. “It was certainly an experience.” After leaving Rex Lumber Co., Chase went on to a company called Guernsey Westbrook Co., Hartford, CT, where Dick Alling trained him. “Dick was a really fine lumberman. Back in those days he carried all of his orders in a shoebox in the back of his car. Everything was done much differently in those days. He taught me the lumber business and after eight years I moved on to Lawrence R. McCoy Co., Worcester, MA, where I worked for another eight years before I decided to go out on my own.” Celebrating 30 years as owner and president of Quabbin Timber Inc., Chase looked back warmly at his career and shared some of his memorable moments. “One of my best memories was at a convention in Montreal. I entered the elevator on the first floor with one of my good friends Rémi Cadrin of C.A. 36 NOVEMBER 2014 ■ NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE
Spencer Inc.; we went up to the third floor and during that time frame I bought 50 loads of Yellow Birch lumber. When Rémi got off on the third floor, a gentleman named Freemont Stuart from Temple Stuart Furniture got on the elevator and I rode up to the sixth floor with him—by the time we got to the sixth floor I had sold the 50 loads of lumber I had just bought on the third floor. So I bought and sold 50 loads of lumber before I ever left the elevator. It was easier in those days.” Chase’s father was also in the lumber industry. “My Dad was very instrumental in getting me involved with the forest products industry. He was in the softwood business and when I came to him and said Dad I want to get in the lumber business, he knew the long-term future of lumber sales was in Hardwoods, so he sent me to Memphis, TN. “I bought 50 loads of Yellow Birch lumber. When Rémi got off on the third floor, a gentleman named Freemont Stuart from Temple Stuart Furniture got on the elevator and I rode up to the sixth floor with him—by the time we got to the sixth floor I had sold the 50 loads of lumber I had just bought on the third floor.” —Bob Chase, Quabbin Timber, Inc. Rutland, MA Fifty years later he proved to be right because it’s been a wonderful industry and a wonderful career. I can’t imagine anything that could have been any better. There are simply a lot of great people in this industry.” He continued, “Hiring my two sons Brian and Bob Jr. has been one of the most memorable parts of my career. Brian joined 17 years ago and Bob Jr. came aboard 10 years ago. A few years back I gave up my accounts to Bob and Brian and we proceeded to have the best sales year in the history of Quabbin Timber.” When asked what he thinks the key to longevity in the lumber industry is, Chase said, “Hard work is a given. I firmly believe that hiring the right people who have the same sense of values and work ethic that you do, makes the difference.” ■ www.kretzlumber.com Quality North American Hardwoods Continuing to Move Forward Kiln Dried Lumber Rip to Width Butcher Blocks Kretz Lumber Company Inc. W11143 1143 Highway G, Antigo, WI 54409 1-800-352-1438 715-623-5410 NOVEMBER 2014 ■ NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 37
