How a Banker and Nurse Became Cedar Experts with Dale and Stephanie

What happens when a banking executive and a registered nurse decide to completely reinvent their lives at age 55? Dale and Stephanie's journey from comfortable careers to launching Cedar Direct, a specialty lumberyard in Western North Carolina, offers a masterclass in mid-life entrepreneurship and business development.

"Pine is fine but cedar is sweeter" might be their catchy slogan, but the story behind Cedar Direct reveals the grit, planning, and relationship-building required to establish a specialty business in a new market. Dale brings his financial expertise from years as a chief credit officer while Stephanie applies her organizational skills to manage the countless details of running a lumberyard. Together, they've created not just a business but a community resource for high-quality Western Red Cedar, a product previously difficult to source in the region.

Their candid insights about the entrepreneurial journey ring true for anyone considering a business launch. "For anybody starting a new business, you don't have a personal life," Dale admits, highlighting the all-consuming nature of entrepreneurship. Yet their approach to business - built on four core principles of trust, timeliness/integrity, treating others well, and maintaining a drama-free workplace - has enabled them to build a cohesive team that shares their vision. Their commitment to expertise, sending all employees to "Cedar School" and conducting regular product education, ensures everyone can speak knowledgeably about their specialty products.

What truly sets their story apart is how they've embraced community involvement alongside business development, joining local economic development boards and partnering with organizations like Rutherford Housing Partnership to assist Hurricane Helene victims. Their experience demonstrates that authentic community engagement isn't just good citizenship—it's good business.

Discover how this couple transformed from financial and healthcare professionals to cedar experts, and how they're building a business designed to expand while maintaining the personal touch that defines their brand. Their story might just inspire your own entrepreneurial leap! Visit cedardiret.com to learn more and see their full product line.

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Bill

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All the best!

Bill