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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
When Bryan Forsyth and David Turner in St. George asked me to consider a program on a fine Washington County company named Dixie Component Systems, I immediately thought, "Now what kind of business would Dixie Component be?"
I knew that a "component" was an ingredient or an element. I also knew that one definition was that a component served to be a part or a piece of something. That really didn't narrow it down much. It could apply to about any business.
When I pulled into the lot at Dixie Component, I saw very quickly that the company was in the business of providing "components" or "ingredients" to the building construction industry. Aha! The components are trusses for builders and developers.
John Wuehler, owner of Dixie, really taught me a lot about his business. John went to work for the company over 11 years ago as a designer. Last December, the owner decided that it was time to take a different course in his life and decided to serve in a voluntary capacity for two years for his church. John was given the opportunity to buy the business and become the owner.
The trusses that Dixie Components manufactures are used in both roof and floor construction. Much of the manufacturing is custom work that is brought to the company in sets of plans from the builder/developer. John showed me on his computer screen how the work is scheduled, planned, designed and then built.
Most work is completed for individual, custom jobs but the company does sell some of their work to local lumberyards. The combination of direct retail sales and custom work projects keeps the 60 employees of the company very busy. The building business in Washington County, both commercial and residential, continues to be strong and the work has now spread out into Clark County, Nev.
John told me that business is very good because the company really cares. Builders tell John regularly that his company should do the bigger, high end, high quality homes from Cedar City to Las Vegas because of the meticulous detail to plans and the great quality of the finished products.
"Components." Dixie Components produces those ingredients and parts of great building jobs in southern Utah.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
