Timber Processing Magazine named Bill Carden of Potomac Supply as its Man of the Year, the 20th year they have presented this award. The Enterprise wants to thank this magazine for its choice. Bill has long been a leader in the pallet industry throughout his career.
Many readers may not be aware that Bill Carden is the man who in 1977 asked our publisher Dr. Ed Brindley to develop a market report for the pallet industry. The Pallet Profile Weekly later gave birth to the Pallet Enterprise and then our other publications.
Our staff has had the pleasure of visiting Potomac Supply many times and watched the company’s professionalism grow over the years. Bill developed his company until it has become a showplace for the pallet, sawmill, and treating industries. Potomac Supply never just followed conventional practices when it developed anything new at its plant; Bill studied best industry practices in other parts of the world as he designed Potomac’s answers to improve its excellence in manufacturing. We have carried several articles over the years that explained Potomac’s attention to details more thoroughly.
Bill helped put together a group of Virginia pallet people which has met regularly for over 30 years. Some of the best ideas to be implemented in our industry, including but not limited to our publications, have been born from discussions in this group.
Congratulations to Bill and his team at Potomac for this deserved recognition. We tip our hat to Hatton and Brown Publishers for recognizing Bill with this honor.
Timber Processing quoted Jeff Franklin of Yield Strategies as saying, “Bill Carden is a leader; he stands above many others in the industry in his quest for excellence in every aspect of his business and his life. He is a true gentleman and exhibits great respect for others, yet has the ability to extract the best from himself and each member of his team and those of us who have worked with him.”
The magazine article continued, “Franklin’s statements were echoed repeatedly in nomination letter after letter that poured in from friends, colleagues, competitors, peers, employees and vendors. Upon meeting Mr. Carden in person, one has to admit that there were no exaggerations.”
The pallet industry can stand a little taller after one of our own ranks has received this distinction.
