- 1. Machine sales were a little down over the past quarter. I hate to use the “S” word, but what’s the culprit of the perceived slowdown?
- The big key word is uncertainty. Uncertainty with tariffs, the supply chain, trade protectionisms — all those things have created an uncertain environment. Tariffs are still up in the air. This administration is close to seven months established since they took office in mid-January. We’re seeing oil spiking a little bit with Middle East tensions and all the stuff going on over there. So, I think the uncertainty of what we are facing is weighing on people’s business decisions. I think we’ll see some clarity as we move forward, but I don’t think we are there yet, and uncertainty is still the big key word. There’s just a lot of unknowns with what’s going on in the world.
- 2. Fair enough. You mentioned supply chain, again. It’s been a buzzword since we started chatting over three years ago. Really?
- Supply chain is obviously way better than 2021 or 2022 and maybe even early 2023. Over the past two years we’ve seen it improve, but it’s definitely not 2019 quality when you knew what you were going to get and when. The variables we’ve listed — wars, tariffs — kind of keep that supply chain a little tougher. It’s something we meet about, really, five times a week. We discuss supply chain, long-lead items, negative inventory for parts that are demanded for a job. Craig (McConville, Purchasing Manager) stays on top of it. The recovery has definitely been very-much improved, but there is still these one-off issues that we didn’t have prior to 2020.
- 3. Todd Phalen (Director of Sales) recently won the Ralph B. Baldwin Award, woodworking’s most prestigious honor. What does it mean to you, personally, knowing that this award is coming back to the company almost 40 years after your late grandfather first brought it home?
- It’s an awesome award. I didn’t have the pleasure of growing up with my grandpa and getting to know him as (a business man) like some of our employees here got to, or as my dad and our family did. But I know he put his company first and put his community first above anything. And I think that was understood: that he was putting others before himself and lifting people up. I think Todd embodies all that just as well. He’s a team guy before any accolades. We know about his commitment to the industry and to our community. So, he has that same civil character that allowed my grandfather to win the award back in 1986. I think it very well deserved for Todd to win it as well.
- 4. AWFS Fair is coming up and Black Bros. is all in for it. Can we put a rest to the “trade shows are dead” talk? Aren’t they still relevant?
- I think they are, especially as domestic manufacturers. “Made in America” still carries a ton of weight, even now in 2025. It’s that peace of mind in having things on shore for parts, production, questions, service. So, I think having a physical presence at trade shows is still very important. Like we always say here, you don’t know what you may be missing out on if you don’t go. Of course, there’s a cost. Traveling all the way out to Vegas for AWFS is not close for anyone, especially with most of the U.S. population living east of the Mississippi River. But we still want to be there, and I don’t’ think (trade shows are) going to go away. You’re always going to need to have that physical presence when making big capital budget decisions. You want to see the piece of equipment sitting in front of you with someone standing there to explain it to you. That’s worth a million.
- 5. Quarter Century Club celebrated 50 years last month. By your own account, it was even greater than expected. What made it special?
- Attendance was great, right around 60. The majority, obviously, retirees, but also current team members and all spouses are always welcome. My sister Brooke and her husband, Nick, as well as my (wife) Molli and Ace all made it. Jeff (Simonton, COO) gave a great speech, my dad (CEO Matt Carroll) gave a great speech about the status of the company, and I was able to present all of the things we are currently doing, along with some fun history. The food was awesome, presentation was phenomenal. People hung out and were talking through the night. It was the latest we ever left the event center. Really, it was just the best one I’ve been to because of the mingling, the memories, and the laughs shared. We felt a lot of pride as a family and as an Executive Committee.
- 6. I recently spent time in the new Roll Building and came away impressed with the work those guys do out there. What are the strengths?
- Right from the top is our guys that have been here the longest with 31 years at the minimum: Craig Dinges, Jim Gehant, and Mike Fassig. Those guys have been staples of the company, 100 years combined between the three of them. Those three, along with leadership from Mike DeLong, all showing the way for our other team members. They have really passed on such good information for some of the “newer” guys that has really allowed them to succeed, too. The camaraderie that they have is really special, and it’s those senior guys that have set up a path to learning and team building that’s allowed that department to do as well as they are.
- 7. Bill (Masear) is retiring after an infinity with the company. What are your parting words and your memories of Bill?
- A lot of memories. When I first started, Bill took me down to Texas. We flew into Austin, went down to San Antonio and hit a couple door plants, panel laminators, a guitar manufacturer. He showed me the ropes, his effort, the care he puts in with talking with people. He showed me right away why it’s so important to have strong face-to-face relationships because he knew everybody. He’d walk into a facility and he knew just about everyone. … And, of course, he’s been one of our leading salesmen for a long, long time. So he’s been so valuable to our group here and a big part of our success. Not only with (selling) our usual lines and equipment, but also pushing us into some very custom work — even by Black Bros. standards — and introducing us to new markets all because of his can-do mentality. He’s really helped push our company to its full capability. Bill will be greatly missed because of how good of a person he is and how well he did his job.
