Joe Sweeney Testimonial
by Ben Watters
While still in high school, Joe took on a job with a contractor where he honed his skills, absorbing and learning better ways to approach Joe Sweeney grew up as a preacher’s kid and do-it-yourselfer. Living in an 1800’s farmhouse was a family affair as everyone chipped in during the remodel projects, including young Joe, who learned and enjoyed digging into the always evolving home. The strong family ties helped anchor Joe and has made him who he is today.
This time was beneficial as he was being mentored and applying concepts for his future career.
Specializing in new construction, Joe especially likes to assist in the design and planning stages. The more complicated the roofline the better. Still doing most of the framing the old-fashioned way by hand, Joe is a true craftsman and will show it off. Working with a small crew, it’s a good bet to say that Joe has touched every stick in the home as he oversees every stage.
Joe began his business soon out of high school and may have been considered too young by some. The early years were hard but he understood that it takes time to “pay your dues” so to speak. When Joe was young and paying those dues, he would take on smaller projects, such as garages, decks, room additions and remodeling jobs, which gained the needed trust for larger jobs including custom and high-end homes.
There are still obstacles to overcome. As pricing gets complicated and lead times even more, Joe sees the importance of buying from a local and responsive company. When a call is made to Bender Lumber, it’s personal as the associate on the other end of the line knows ands cares about the success of the customer. If a delivery needs to be changed or expedited a different way, Bender Lumber is glad to make the changes. If technical information is needed, an associate will find the answer and promptly call back.
When it comes to putting a complicated puzzle together, to include lead times and application information, Joe feels he is in good hands with his Customer Sales Representative Jeff Satterfield. A veteran of the industry, Jeff partners with his clients to build trust and confidence. His responsiveness and personal touch is something you just can’t get at a “big box” lumber store.
As a man of faith, Joe is not about long-range planning. He depends on his strong reputation and word of mouth to keep the pipeline filled up with plenty of work. Joe says, “If you focus on the right things while treating people right, good things will happen. Be what you are called to be rather than what you want to be.” Joe, I think you might be on to something.