Entrepreneur of the Year: Getting Everything in Order
Source: LBM Journal
Posted: 01/06/2015
You can tell a jobsite serviced by Christensen Lumber: The site is neat and orderly, with little product waste. That tight management, coupled with unique services that keep builder customers efficient, have kept the Fremont, Neb.- based firm growing while expanding into a new market in 2013 and doubling the size of one of its showrooms in 2014.
Its job-management skills grow out of the company’s design and estimating services, which are key services its customers appreciate, explains Tom Christensen, the third-generation owner. “It ensures the house is assembled properly to stand the test of time and reinforces our pro-builders’ reputation among homebuyers.”
The firm provides engineering design services for stick framing or the entire house, from concept to construction, and it prides itself on offering most everything required to build a new home, from the foundations to the finish trim.
The estimating and design team works to ensure little to no waste at each site, which the company measures upon each project’s completion. Deliveries include layouts and color-coded plans so materials are used efficiently. They use Sapphire design programs from MiTek, which has been a strong partner with the company.
Deliveries are managed with Fleetmatics software and GPS tracking, with the goal of on-time deliveries. With 32 trucks in the fleet, Christensen promises free, guaranteed delivery. “We’re fast at delivering and fast at cleaning up,” he says. “Time is money for all of us. When we look out for the subs, it’s going to help the general contractors.”