Appalachian Log Structures
BY BLAIR DOWLER. In 1978, Fletcher Parsons, a pioneer in the wood preservation industry, answered the need for refined, durable quality and the unique construction of log structures for housing and commercial use by establishing Appalachian Log Structures.
The company, with 22 employees between the corporate headquarters in Ripley, WV, and the manufacturing facility in Princeton, WV, manufactures log home kits, as well as maintenance products, siding and railing. Dedicated to beautiful craftsmanship, Appalachian Log ships 60-70 percent of its products out of state and exports to countries like Mexico, Canada, Japan and Australia.
The company is strategically situated in the Appalachian Mountain range, where Eastern White Pine trees grow naturally and abundantly. The family-owned and operated business uses timber from these trees harvested along the West Virginia-Virginia border.
In addition to strong West Virginia roots, there’ s something else that separates Appalachian Log Structures from the rest of the industry: it pressure treats its products with wood preservatives made with borate, a natural mineral that protects wood from water and insect damage, giving it longer-lasting capabilities.
Appalachian Railcar Services
CMI Corporation
BY ALICIA ELKIN. CMI Corporation prides itself on creating highquality products and bringing jobs to the Mountain State. After several ownership changes and headquarter moves, the company found its home in Franklin, WV, where it focuses on enhancing its designing, manufacturing and selling of rock climbing hardware.
For 12 years, CMI operated out of CEO Ronald Kirk Jr.’ s West Virginia home basement until it erected its original building in 1990, which has expanded seven times and grown to over 30,000 square feet. CMI has increased from $ 80,000 in sales per year to more than $ 3 million, and it now employs 22 West Virginians.
“ When I began designing our product line, my sons were young, and I took them climbing with me,” says Kirk.“ I designed our products from the standpoint that I would hang my own sons’ lives on them.”
Over the past 53 years, CMI’ s products have evolved from strictly rock climbing hardware to rope-related safety hardware. CMI’ s products can be found in fire departments; hospitals, where they are used for therapeutic apparatus adjustment; and the zip line industry. These West Virginia-made products were also utilized during 9 / 11 relief efforts.
BY BLAIR DOWLER. Established in 2000, Appalachian Railcar Services( ARS) is a dynamic and growing rail services organization serving customers throughout the country. Its services include railcar maintenance, mobile repair, track repair, railcar storage, coal loading and unloading, plant switching, short line operation and trucking services.
Founded by Kurt and Trina Higginbotham, the idea for ARS stemmed from Kurt’ s 15 years of experience with railcars, a love for his home state of West Virginia and the dream of owning his own business.
“ For me, the key thing was that I felt like I could do this work just as well as the other railcar companies and give the work more attention,” Kurt, the president and CEO, says of the decision to start ARS.“ I felt I could focus on our customers better than the people I worked for.”
ARS, which was built on the determination to do the job right, began as a two-person operation with an office in St. Albans,
Photo by David Duncan.
WV. Today, with corporate headquarters in Eleanor, WV, and approximately 600 employees, ARS operates in multiple locations across 16 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Facilities in each of these locations vary between full-service locations, private accounts and mobile service units ready for jobs in short order. ARS can service every type of railroad car, including general freight, box, coal and tank cars.
“ We grew ARS from a little mom-andpop company to a national footprint,” says Kurt.“ We never dreamed we would get to this level. We started out moving coal on a little short line for Kanawha Eagle Coal with just the two of us, and it exploded after that. Our employees are the key to our success. It’ s a team effort, and we have always strived to take care of our employees and our customers. Everything else kind of falls in place.”
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