Russell Millwork supports local schools, riding clubs – Published in the Sept. 26-Oct. 2 edition of the Johnston County Sentinel
This week’s Member Spotlight is on Russell Millwork & Truss in Coleman! Jon and Amanda Russell were working at Wyrick Lumber in Atoka and Jon was working nights building a millwork business. They bought Harrison Truss in February 2014 thinking that the businesses would go well together, so they quit their jobs at Wyrick Lumber in Atoka and left behind the security of an 8-5 job. They scaled back the millwork part of the business to learn the ins and outs of truss-building, but soon had both parts of the company going.
In their first year they started with just four sets of cabinets but have grown to the point where so far this year they have done twenty-six. Many of the orders they receive are from locals, though they do receive business from customers several hours away. Amanda said, “It’s always nice to drive past a house that we know has our products, especially when we have been able to build both trusses and cabinets for them, contributing to both the home’s strength and aesthetics.”
Russell Millwork builds both roof and floor trusses using #1 yellow pine and build each order as if it were for their own home. Cabinets have more options on what type of wood they are made of, but the boxes are all out of ¾” plywood to give them the strength and longevity that the ever-popular granite counter tops need.
The business supports local schools and riding clubs and became members of the JCCC in 2017. They send a lot of drop off cabinet materials to Atoka High School’s carpentry class and attend their annual auction which auctions the student’s projects to fund the program. They believe it is a valuable program and that it is important to get young people exposed to and interested in trade work.
Russell Millwork is finishing up a complementary podium for Coleman School to go with the trophy cases that they built for them that are in the gymnasium. The owners built and shipped a set of cabinets to an older woman in South Texas who was trying to rebuild after Hurricane Harvey flooded her home in 2017.
“One of the greatest and most unexpected blessings of going into business has been the relationships that we have been able to build with our contractors and homeowners through the years,” said Russell, “many have come to be great friends and as the older contractors retire out of the business, [they] leave some big shoes to fill.”
Jon and Amanda plan to continue serving their communities as long as they have the business. The cabinet shop has moved to their home in Tushka since they outgrew the shop in Coleman; though the trusses are still built there. The owners strive to maintain quality and feel that although it is stressful at times being self-employed and building a business, it has all been worth it.
Please support this business located at 9240 OK HWY 48 South in Coleman and reach out by calling 580-937-4900.
Read next week for a Spotlight on B-N-B Monuments!
– Jordyn Frazier, Executive Director, JCCC