In 2016, Congressman Alex Mooney visited the Christopher Peacock manufacturing facility in Wardensville. Those who greeted him proudly proclaimed that the company was bipartisan, in that it sold cabinets to both Donald Trump and his election opponent that year, Hillary Clinton.
A decade ago, the complex crafted some of the world’s best quality cabinets in a single building, too. Times have certainly changed since then.
That said, the core workplace culture has remained exactly the same and has helped to serve as a foundation to thrive.
A month ago, 34 companies doing business in West Virginia earned recognition from Governor Patrick Morrissey. Each received a Governor’s Export Award for businesses that “made their first export sale to a new country in the previous calendar year. Companies received a total of 130 awards recognizing opening new markets in 75 different countries.
Said Matt Herridge, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Commerce, “these awards honor the employers who refused to let geographical boundaries limit their growth.” Like many on the list of honorees, Christopher Peacock has exported to a number of countries abroad over the years. Recently, however, they have served new customers in the Bahamas and also Jakarta, a vacation destination centered in Indonesia.
Ed Wisnewski, Director of Manufacturing and Production, shared “it was a totally different place 10 years ago.” Since then, expansion has taken place in two stages with that named Building One constructed in the last year.
What has remained the same in that time through the changes has been the spirit of the workforce there.
Between 65 and 75 workers normally work in the facility. Two of those employees who work side by side are Angie Teets with 22 years of experience under her belt and Lacy Morris, who came on board after graduating from high school last month.
Teets said of working there “it can be a lot of fun. It can be a lot of work.” She watched as Morris prepared a cabinet door. Unlike most cabinets that overlay the opening, Christopher Peacock cabinet doors fit perfectly into the aperture, requiring precise work from all.
“One thing,” Teets stated, “this has always been a family-centered business.” She shared how when employees or their families endure health problems that the company works with them. “It is a good company to work for, one of the few places where the owner knows who you are and is very personable.”
Morris said “I have seen how much they come together and work together” and added the environment is “very different than where I come from.” Teets said of Morris “she has stepped up” and “is wiling to learn what needs to be done.”
Having experienced significant health problems, Teets appreciates that the company has encouraged her decision to “take all the skills I learned here, go back to school” and train for an office position.
“Why not learn something new and use it to better the company you’re with, especially if you like it?” stated Teets.
Tammy Mongold came to work at the plant about five years ago as a supervisor, then earned promotion to floor leader. “It’s a small company so you become part of a work family,” said Mongold, who went on to say “you’re not a number here. You won’t find another owner who knows everybody by name. That means a lot to people.”
Another bonus for workers at the facility lies in job reliability. Wisnewski stated that even during periods of slow work “I’ve never seen him (the owner) lay anybody off.” Additionally, the company does not cut hours during slow periods either. “He’ll give someone 40 hours if they’ll sweep the floor.”
Wisnewski added that “everybody works here,” meaning that everyone is expected to chip in and help with the labor, even him. He stepped aside for a few minutes to help a team of two lower a 12-foot tall, half assembled cabinet onto a roller to move it to another section. He then helped them get it in place for the next step of production. Supervisors and team leaders also run machines on the floor.
Said Wisnewski, “we design and build everything on site.” That includes the cabinets, desks, and other furniture used throughout the offices and newly expanded break room in the facility. “Mostly everything we do is walnut and white oak,” he added, then explained that the company even uses specific cuts of wood to get the grain effects desired by customers.
Christopher Peacock expanded its manufacturing plant to accommodate production schedules. The high-end manufacturer sells some retail cabinetry, but much of their business lies in custom craftsmanship for a variety of types of customer. Some want their cabinetry for residences or vacation homes.
One of the most lucrative types of customers for Christopher Peacock cabinets is newly constructed high rise apartment buildings in some of the most affluent neighborhoods of some of the most affluent cities on earth.
Crafting custom cabinets for one home or 100 unit buildings means that the producer has to match the schedule of the contractor. To accommodate an increasing number of orders with tight delivery time frames, the company expanded its facility in Wardensville with future plans to construct a warehouse on site as well.
Wisnewski explained that production time could take up to six or eight weeks and that they must work within construction schedule “gaps.” Interestingly, the cabinets can rise as high as 12 feet with tremendous width as well. Cabinets meant for buildings without proper freight elevators often have to be raised to the proper floor level with a crane.
A larger facility provided significant space to provide the kind of flexibility needed to meet customer requirements.
And that brings this story to the notion of investment, the word used by Wisnewski to describe the time and care spent by the owner in establishing, supporting, and growing the facility.
“He’s invested in the future of this company and in us. There’s a lot of hard working people in this area.”
