Small Business Finalists: Carnahan-White

|tab|

Small Business Finalists|ret||ret||tab|

Finalists take the spotlight|ret||ret||tab|

Each year the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce honors a local company with the W. Curtis Strube Small Business of the Year Award. There are five finalists for the 2000 honor: Aire-Master of America Inc., Carnahan-White Inc., Environmental Works Inc., Maschino's Home Expressions and PJC Insurance.|ret||ret||tab|

Springfield Business Journal is profiling each of these finalists in the issues leading up to the Small Business Week luncheon and awards ceremony, which will be held May 25 at the University Plaza Hotel. |ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

Carnahan-White builds on 48-year reputation|ret||ret||tab|

by Diane Rarick |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|SBJ Contributing Writer|ret||ret||tab|

Carnahan-White Inc. not only builds all kinds of fences, gates and entry systems, it jumps through hoops to ensure customer satisfaction. |ret||ret||tab|

Behind a modest fenced exterior at 2155 S. Campbell is a company that has put its name on miles of fences in the four-state area and enjoys a solid reputation and longevity.|ret||ret||tab|

Garnett Carnahan founded the company in 1952 as Carnahan Fence Company, then sold it to W.E. and June White in 1958. Carnahan's name lived on, however, as the business was renamed Carnahan-White Fence Co.|ret||ret||tab|

Steve White, son of W.E. and June White, joined the family business in 1964. After W.E. White's death in 1986, Steve White became president of Carnahan-White while also running his own company, Ozark Timber Treating Co. of St. Joe, Ark.|ret||ret||tab|

In 1995, White asked his son-in-law, Stacey Hammit, to join the company. Hammit, now vice president/general manager, is married to Steve White's daughter, Carrie Hammit, who does advertising for the company.|ret||ret||tab|

Pat Giberson has worked for the company since 1966 and remembers holding baby Carrie in her arms. She now serves as secretary/treasurer and comptroller, and she has been a leader in many community organizations that benefit persons with disabilities.|ret||ret||tab|

Roger Piper has been sales manager for eight years and has watched Hammit guide the company's growth from 26 to 42 employees. |ret||ret||tab|

"Sales have more than quadrupled since Stacey came on board," Piper said. |ret||ret||tab|

"W.E. (Bill) White was the catalyst that built this company to where Carnahan-White is known as a leader in the industry," Stacey Hammit said. "Steve White maintained the company's reputation and standards between the time of Bill's death and my arrival. And he was very instrumental in my development the first few years at Carnahan-White."|ret||ret||tab|

Steve and Judy White live in Valley Springs, Ark., where their company manufactures Copperwood, a Southern Yellow Pine treated with a wood preservative that retards wood rot and decay and extends the life of the wood. |ret||ret||tab|

Carnahan-White is the exclusive area dealer for Copperwood, which has a 25-year written warranty to the original owner. Carnahan-White is known throughout the U.S. fence industry as a leader.|ret||ret||tab|

Hammit has taught seminars for the American Fence Association and hosts visiting fence companies that come to Springfield to learn how they do business. After Hammit entered the family business, more equipment and construction crews were added. |ret||ret||tab|

In 1998, Carnahan-White sought to enter the growing access control business, so it purchased D&J Automatic. DeWayne Clinton, vice president/general manager, started that company in 1986, according to Hammit.|ret||ret||tab|

The gate and iron shop has moved to a larger location to accommodate that growing piece of business much of it for gated subdivisions.|ret||ret||tab|

A computer-aided design system has helped customers visualize the end result.|ret||ret||tab|

"With these computer-aided drawings, we can show the customers the actual railing we are proposing, to scale and in the setting in which the product will be installed. We are able to create multiple designs and provide our customers with real life options to fit their setting and budget," Hammit said. |ret||ret||tab|

Because the company offers a wide range of services and does both commercial and residential work, employees work steadily year-round. Every week, more than two semi-trucks of fence materials are installed by Carnahan-White employees. |ret||ret||tab|

Entry-level workers are trained by crew chiefs, many of whom have been with the company eight to 10 years, according to Hammit. Either Piper or Hammit greet fence crews as they load their supplies in the company's 3.5 acre lot and unload after a long day. |ret||ret||tab|

Sometimes crews will work until dark to complete a job rather than make a return trip the next day, according to Piper. |ret||ret||tab|

"Praise is the key to motivation. We praise our people, not tear them down," Hammit said.|ret||ret||tab|

The company recently raised its starting wage to attract better applicants. It offers paid medical insurance and a profit-sharing plan after one year of service. Carnahan-White provides vehicles, mobile phones and pagers to sales staff and crew chiefs.|ret||ret||tab|

"All employees receive uniforms, vacation, six paid holidays and competitive wages with opportunity for advancement," Hammit said. "These benefits explain the longevity of our employees."|ret||ret||tab|

Hammit said Carnahan-White has been active in many community and charitable activities throughout the years. |ret||ret||tab|

These include Giberson's leadership with Springfield Workshop Inc., Developmental Center of the Ozarks, Greater Ozarks Association for Retarded Citizens, A Sporting Chance and Special Olympics. [[In-content Ad]]