40 years of experience in the hardwood lumber business.
E. E. Taenzer, my great grandfather was one of the founders of the Memphis Hardwood Lumberman's Club in 1880 and President of the National Hardwood Lumber Association.
My grandfather, C. R. Taenzer and his father established American Hardwood Company in 1914. American was one of the first hardwood distribution yards in Southern California.
I graduated from the NHLA Grading School in 1967.
I graduated from the University of Southern California in 1968 with a degree in Business.
I began my lumber career at American Hardwood in high school. From helping ordermen and millmen process orders to eventually managing the yard operations, overseeing 30 men unloading cars, loading trucks, filling orders, milling lumber and maintaining equipment. When I wasn't working in the yard I was in the office selling and buying lumber or managing the shipping office of 3 delivery trucks throughout Souther California. I instituted many innovations at American which increased productivity and accountability.
In 1978, I was offered a tremendous opportunity to see the "world of timber" and joined Robert S. Osgood, Inc. to manage the imported hardwood lumber department and was responsible for buying and selling over 10 million BF annually of Philippine Mahogany, Burmese Teak, Ramin, Rosewood, Keruing/Kapur, Brazilian Mahogany and truck flooring, mouldings, paint brushes, plywood, veneers, corestock and furniture parts. During my years at RSO, I traveled to Singapore, Malaysia (East and West), the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Brazil to visit sawmill operations of our suppliers.
I am a past President of the Los Angeles Hardwood Lumberman's Club. I've attended many National Hardwood Lumber Association and Imported Hardwood Lumber Associations Conventions.
In 1987, White Brothers (0akland) offered me the job to open and manage a new warehouse operation in Sacramento, California .
Three years later, I started Kincaid Hardwood Company. Kincaid Hardwood Company has shipped lumber to manufacturers of mouldings, cabinets, furniture, furniture components. I've shipped to wholesale and retailer distributors who need to pickup inventory locally to fill in when their own shipments from mills have been delayed. I think my role in the trade is to be my customer's buyer and my sawmill's sales agent. Both respect me for my integrity and knowledge of production, grading and shipping.
One of my strengths is shipping. Whether it be from a sawmill in Indonesia or one in Michigan via a container or truck to a warehouse or a plant. I know how to get it there the most efficient and least expensive way.
One of my greatest assets is my brother Robert. He became President of American Hardwood after I joined Robert S. Osgood. After the death of our grandfather, we tried to purchase AHCO from the family trust but were not successful (that's another story). Robert remained with AHCO after it was sold to a group financed by the late Security Pacific Merchant Bank but left a year later to start Craftsman Millworks. He has since sold CM and now owns companies which import miniblind components and manufactures shutters.
Sadly AHCO is no longer in business but Robert and I remain close and share our experience of hardwood production and distribution on a daily basis.