Sawmill Business Podcast

In this episode, Steve Larosiliere interviews Jonathan Orpin, CEO and founder of New Energy Works and Pioneer Millworks. Jonathan shares his journey of starting and growing his companies. He discusses the challenges of being an entrepreneur and deciding to move from New York to Portland. He also talks about the impact of the 2008 recession on his business and the strategies they implemented to survive and thrive. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of building relationships with clients and the value of word-of-mouth referrals. He also highlights the triple-bottom-line approach to business, focusing on people, the planet, and profit. Jonathan shares his experience of transitioning to an employee-owned company and the benefits it brings. He concludes by discussing his plans and the importance of finding the right people for his team. Takeaways: Entrepreneurs often need to step back from day-to-day operations to gain a fresh perspective and explore new opportunities.Navigating a recession requires creativity