Pallet Enterprise: What is the one thing when you look at the landscape of the pallet industry that concerns you the most?
Kesting: One thing I’ve been looking at very hard recently is being able to utilize wood waste in a different manner than it has been utilized…The whole energy picture is changing. Where is it going to go in the future? This whole energy thing seems to be a concern. I see a change in the dynamics of the market right now…How long it’s going to be, how long it’s going to last — who knows.
Pallet Enterprise: What is the best piece of business advice you have ever received?
Kesting: I think the most important thing in business is having the right people in the the right positions. I don’t think anybody can know enough about everything…having people in those places and trusting people in those places to do things that maybe you’re not the best at doing. Everybody has strengths and weaknesses. I think you have to recognize your weaknesses. Where you’re weak, hire people who are strong. I think that’s very important.
Pallet Enterprise: What is the thing that’s taken place in the industry in the last ten years that surprised you the most?
Kesting: There was a period of time when there was no recycling in this industry, and there’s a lot of recycling going on now, which I think is a wonderful thing. I think recycling’s been a great addition.
Pallet Enterprise: What have you done to try to get the people you need?
Kesting: It all depends on the type of people we’re looking for…A lot of the people that we hire, it seems like they get more encouragement at work than when they go home. So I think it’s extremely important to treat people with a tremendous amount of respect and give them a feeling that they have value and worth to your company. That’s just kind of a personal philosophy of my own. But it’s very, very hard to do when you’re down there in the trenches and you have to get the orders out…You’re normally working short-handed.
Pallet Enterprise: How has your raw material supply scene changed, and how do you think it is going to change in the future?
Kesting: What we’re really trying to do is have enough wood for several months. That has been an issue in the past. We use so much volume that we still have to buy a lot of additional lumber. We’re really trying to be more self-sufficient and not have to depend on other folks.
