Harold LaValley, founder of LaValley Building Supply more than 40 years go, has always been a man of quiet vision. So is it any surprise that he would be heralding the charge of interactive education and partnering relationships into the new millenium?

 

       A life long proponent of "doing the right thing right the first time," the venerable leader may just have added the exclamation point to his distinguished career by stepping to the forefront of the lumber supply industry with his company's LaValley University initiative.

 

      A multi-faceted approach to training and development, LVU, as it's fondly known to employees, addresses the needs of LaValley's three favorite constituencies - customer, employee, and supplier. LaValley University consists of two distinct entities:

 

                    • Construction College...will concentrate on strengthening the expertise of its external partners, including builders, architects, engineers and code enforcement officials.

 

                    • Career Academy...is the developmental vehicle assigned to vault its nearly (100) employees into the "new age" of retail selling, where product expertise, customer "savvy" and inter-personal dynamics combine to offer unique opportunities to all parties involved.

 

      Larry Huot, president of the corporation, describes the awesome potential of education throughout the retail lumber business as "one of the most exciting and perhaps the most important initiatives this industry has ever seen. Things have changed and those of us who can embrace these changes will create the exciting opportunities of tomorrow. Distinction will come only to those who promote learning between the retailer, the supplier and the building professional."

 

       Speaking on the subject of the internal employee training segment of LVU, the Career Academy, Bob Monahan, director of corporate training and development, praises the vision of company leaders. "Only in an enviroment where the openness of thought, sharing of ideas and encouragement of risk-taking are valued could such innovation take root," Monahan says. "True empowerment of the workforce can only succeed when employees have been embraced and welcomed into the company 'family' and then have been engaged in a rigorous and thorough exploration and synthesization of its ideals and value system. This comprehensive approach toward employee development is both engendered by and perpetuated through the philosophy of LaValley management."

      

       Throughout the history of LaValley Building Supply, the company has been intimately linked to the communities which it serves. The name LaValley has always been associated with fairness, anticipation of customer needs and willingness to provide exemplary customer service and satisfaction. While the winds of change have buffeted many small businesses from their choses course, this proud company stands resolute amid the vagaries of man and nature.

 

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