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(266-5546)

Marking a signifi cant anniversary in any venture is cause for celebration, as past achievements and growth are acknowledged and the cumulative wis-dom of years is examined and lessons are learned.

Anniversaries also serve as springboards to the future and R. W. Conklin Steel Supply Inc. having celebrated the company’s 25th anniversary in 2008 continues its forward trajectory.

Philip J. Conklin, Chief Executive Offi cer and son of founder R.W. “Pete” Conklin Jr., continues to steer the company into new markets on both sides of the 49th parallel border between the U.S. and Canada.

“We’ve expanded the size and scope of our business through-out the U.S. and western Canada by adding new inventory locations and sales people,” says Phil.

Headquartered in the suburb of Blue Ash, Ohio, just 15 miles north of Cincinnati, R.W. Conklin Steel operates sales offi ces, inventory and depots throughout the United States and Western Canada, including Vancouver, British Columbia, Calgary & Edmonton, Alberta, Cincinnati & Hamilton, Ohio, Fort Wayne

& Hobart, Indiana, Chicago, Illinois, Steele Missouri, Cofi eld, North Carolina, Elizabeth, New Jersey, Baltimore, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Salt Lake City, Utah, Atlanta, Georgia, Stockton & Rancho Cucamonga California, Minneapolis,

R. W. Conklin Steel Supply, inc.

The next 25 yearsBy Margaret Anne Fehr

Brown County Bridge, by Tacoma Park, South Dakota over the James River.

COMPANY PrOFILE

Issue 2 2010 13

Minnesota, Denver/Loveland Colorado, Seattle, Washington, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Dauphin Island, Alabama, and Falls Church, Virginia.

Some of R. W. Conklin Steel’s notable construction projects sup-plied in Canada include steel piling for AGRA Foundations at the Transalta Power Plant in Keephills, Alberta and Fraser River Pile & Dredge Inc., for the Hangingstone River Bridge in Fort McMurray, and Greater Victoria Harbor in Vancouver with Pacific Industrial Marine. As a full-fledged stocking dis-tributor, R. W. Conklin also works in the supply chain providing their products to other Canadian piling distributors and steel service centers.

Phil estimates that 10 percent of the company’s gross revenues are earned through work done in Canada. Projections indicate that this number will increase sig-nificantly in the coming years.

“We see ourselves expanding revenue, taking into consideration that the price of steel varies with the market, but we plan to continue to increase market share in both Canada and the U.S.”

Besides the North American market-place, R.W. Conklin Steel Supply has established its international status with project construction work done for the coalition forces in Afghanistan and other public and private work in Latin America and the Caribbean.

R.W. Conklin Steel Supply was started by Phil’s father, Rolland William Conklin

left: The Conklin familiy: l to R: Dr. Michael J. Conklin, Peter Conklin, Phyllis Conklin, Philip Conklin, and Bill Conklin.

above: Moock Road retaining wall project, Northern kentucky.

ONTARIO3320 Miles Road, RR#3Mount Hope, OntarioL0R 1WO

Local: (905) 679-6999Toll Free: (877) 468-7473Fax: (905) 679-6544

QUEBEC805 1 ère AvenueVille Ste. Catherine, QuebecJ5C 1C5

Local: (450) 638-3320Toll Free: (888) 514-0040Fax: (450) 638-3340

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COMPANY PrOFILE

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Jr., in 1983, after a 30 year career with U.S. Steel that laid the foundation for the company’s way of doing business. That was by providing customers with quality steel piling and products that had been melted and manufactured in the United States.

“He worked with the idea of commerce and faith,” says Phil, adding that customer service was his father’s main priority. “He knew it wasn’t about creating a shorter supply chain, but a smarter supply chain; one that would connect him directly to the customer and those he had served.”

“My dad worked tirelessly,” says Phil, stressing his father was also dedicated to his country, since he served 2-1/2 years as a U.S. medic aboard the historic Heavy Cruiser, U.S.S. Quincy during the “D-Day” Invasion at Normandy in World War II and was aboard for the signing of the Yalta Conference which included Winston Churchill, President Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin. The Quincy played a significant role in the Pacific Theatre, as well, and was docked aside the U.S.S. Missouri on September 2, 1945 in Tokyo Bay where the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed marking the end of World War II. “He believed that time and ser-vice were the best investments he could make, whether it was for his country, family, or in his work.”

But even though Phil may have seemed the natural heir apparent, the circumstances

Hangingstone River Bridge, Fort McMurray, alberta, Canada

that foisted him into the leadership role were swift and demanding. After Phil had agreed to join the family business in 1995, R.W. passed away unexpectedly and the seamless transition that might have occurred as father eased son into the busi-ness was gone.

It was an immersion process for Phil at age 26, whose background was primar-ily in accounting, finance and marketing, with the selling of steel being somewhat outside of his skill set at the time.

Phil knew he would have to learn, and quickly, so he borrowed from sales conver-sations he had heard his father deliver to customers in the past, and developed his own style on this side of the business.

“It was a lot of trial and error, and making mistakes along the way,” Phil says. “I asked a lot of questions and people were helpful in providing guid-ance – even customers. They were very patient with me.”

Fifteen years later, the company’s healthy fortune attests to Phil’s resource-fulness in not only getting up to speed, but in continuing to expand the company throughout the years.

Along with a strong core of dedi-cated employees, the company today also includes three additional Conklin family members within its ranks. “Our entire company operates like a family,” says Phil, certainly a model that “Pete” Conklin would heartily approve. PC

COMPANY PrOFILE

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