Phil Milligan is the newest member of our Sales Team. He stepped into his new role two weeks before Earl Breen retired on March 28th, which gave him a chance to train with Earl. Phil has been with us in various positions for the past 10 years learning the business. He has excelled at every one of his roles here at our plant in Charlotte MI.

Phil grew up just down the road, about 10 miles, from us, in Eaton Rapids, MI (we’re glad he wondered over our way).

The year was 1983. Microsoft Word was first released, and McDonalds introduced the McNugget. As colossal as those events were, 1983 is special to Johnson’s Workbench as the year Jean Reid began her employment with us.

Jean and her husband Tom made their home where the Buffalo roam. And where the Deer (but not Antelope) play. They raise Buffalo on their farm in nearby Nashville MI. Their current herd ranges around 24 head with two new calves born this past year. With their daughter Paula, son Scott, daughter-in-law Julie, and three grandkids, Andrew, Matthew, and Anna, Jean’s life is very full.

Jean first came to Johnson’s Workbench as a Sales Clerk and then Assistant Manager for our Charlotte store. Through her accuracy and attention to detail Jean’s responsibilities have steadily grown. Today, her role has expanded to include Purchasing and Receiving, Accounts Payable, and Inventory Management…covering all three store locations, Charlotte MI, Grand Rapids MI, and South Bend IN.

While Jean’s office is located in Charlotte, many of you may have personally met her as she can sometimes be found working at any one of our three store locations, especially during our Woodworking Shows and around inventory time. As well, Jean helps out in the booths at the many trade shows and displays we participate in each year.

In addition to her work and time with her family, Jean also enjoys dancing, and gardening. Each spring you will find her tending to the flower beds and plantings adorning our Workbench and main offices there. We want to give a big shout-out to Jean. Congratulations Jean on 29 years of loyal service. We have hopes for many more.

RON CAMPEAU - RETAIL SALES, CHARLOTTE

I think many Americans were spending the long Labor Day weekend working around their yards and relaxing with family and friends. But not 63-year-old, semi-retired Ron Campeau, a valued employee of ours.

An accomplished cyclist, Ron has participated in the Dick Allen Lansing to Mackinaw (DALMAC) bicycle tour for more than 15 years. This grueling 5-day 330 mile bicycle ride from Lansing MI to the Mackinaw Bridge requires riding distances between 50-100 miles a day. Ron has enjoyed the trip every Labor Day, the past few years, riding with his son Mike on the tour.

Ron and his wife Betty live just outside of Charlotte in the small town of Vermontville. Their two boys, Mike and Jeff, both married now, have blessed Ron and Betty with eight grandchildren. Mike and Jeff still live in the area so Ron gets to spend a lot of time with his greatest love and joy, his family.

Ron, a Veteran of the Navy and Naval Reserves, spent the majority of his life working in Lansing MI for the Board of Water and Light. After retiring from there Ron looked back to one of his other passions construction and woodworking. He worked as a licensed contractor for years and still maintains his license to this today. Many of you who have visited one of our retail stores probably have met Ron. A long time customer of L.L. Johnson Lumber and Johnson’s Workbench, Ron expressed a strong interest in coming to work for the company. So in 1997 he was hired on full time as an assistant manager of our Charlotte store. In 2001 Ron became Manager of our Charlotte location. Five years later, he decided to cut back on his role and responsibilities’ here at LLJ and take more time for himself and his family.

Once again, Ron entered into semi-retirement working part-time at our Charlotte store and helping out at either of our other two locations during our wood shows and busy times. Thank you Ron for all you do at LL Johnson.

With almost 22 years in hardwood manufacturing and inspection, Dan Lampman is loaded with experience. Drawing on his many skills to fulfill orders, Dan ensures the best value for customers.

In November 1987, he started in our lumber yard piling lumber. Soon after he moved to forklift operation, then sawmill edger, sawmill trimmer, sawmill lumber inspector, and dry kiln operator, to now pulling lumber orders for shipments and assisting walk-in customers.

The NHLA certifies inspectors quarterly, their requirement being within 4% valuation of the NHLA Inspectors’ valuation. Once, Dan had the opportunity to ‘evaluate’ current NHLA Chief Inspector, Mark Horne, determining he was less than 1% off from Dan’s valuation. We’re as proud of this as I’m sure Dan is.

Dan also spent considerable time in researching and evaluating pin-less moisture meters. Running over 1,000 samples, he compared pin-less moisture meter readings with oven dry results to verify accuracy of the new pin-less meters on the market today.

Living in Charlotte, Dan has five children, Mikaela, Erika, Dominik, Casie, and Derek. We’re grateful to have Dan on our team.