>> Dave: My name is Dave Reining.
I own and operate Reining Forest Products
which is a saw mill producing
lumber to customers' specifications.
>> Um, how would you describe your everyday?
>> Dave: Well, everyday my job consists
of pretty much keeping my team focused
on our orders, purchasing the raw material
which is logs from local suppliers,
keeping the machinery running, servicing
parts, working with the employees,
and also being in constant contact with
the customers and filling their orders.
>> What are your hours like?
>> Dave: Well, as the business owner I like
to be here before the operation starts,
so I'm basically here at 6:45, and I
leave to go home at 5:30 or 6 o'clock.
>> Could you describe some of the things you
love about the job and some of the challenges?
>> Dave: Well, the things I love
about it I get great satisfaction
out of putting the deal together,
you know, securing the orders.
Many of my orders are ongoing
needs for our customers.
Once we develop a market and a product then I
enjoy sourcing the material, buying the logs,
keeping my team working on the order, and I just
get satisfaction out of completing the order
and producing a product that society needs.
>> Um, what are some of the
challenges, the worst parts?
>> Dave: Well, there's always challenges in
that you take orders, have lumber to produce,
and then if you have a shortage in either
manpower or logs that will disrupt the flow.
So it's always a challenge to plan ahead,
to communicate with the local loggers
and forest owners to keep a steady
supply of logs coming to the mill.
>> What do you think it takes
to be successful in your field?
>> Dave: In this field being it's a small to mid
size saw mill, part of my success is the fact
that I started by running all the machinery.
I understand every aspect of the saw mill.
I did some work in the forest so I
understand our resource, and I enjoy traveling
to our customers to see their needs
and requirements for their lumber.
So pretty much understanding the whole
process of producing the product.
>> What advice would you give to
someone getting into this career field?
>> Dave: I think a background,
you have to have a mix
of both business sense, finances of course.
It's also important to understand
the mechanical aspect of your mill,
understand how different machines can produce
different sizes of lumber, look for machinery
that can produce specialty products and
try to stay away from the commodities.
>> Um, can you tell us a little bit about
your story and how you got involved?
>> Dave: My story I'm fortunate in that I
grew up in a lumbering and saw milling family.
My grandfather started the business.
And at an early age of 13 or 14 years old
I took a lot of interest in the business.
So most of my spare time was spent
around the saw mill learning to run most
of the machinery before I
graduated from high school.
So I kind of grew up in the business.
But I did have a passion for it to really enjoy
it and just continued the family business.
>> Do you have any final advice for
any other young adults out there?
>> Dave: It's a great opportunity.
It's a classical it's a great
place for an entrepreneur to be.
You can create your own destiny.
You don't really fit in any certain mold.
You're not a big corporation.
You can adjust, you can kind of let
your business develop its own character.
And once you've proved to your customers
that you could supply their needs you
can pretty much develop the business
so it suits your character and your lifestyle.
It's a mix of inside work and outside work.
And give it a try, it's kind of fun.
>> Okay, great.
Thank you so much.