In the beginning. . .
 
In 1984, Joe Lovato discovered Hadlock Building Supply, while on his way to a Rotary Exchange meeting at Fort Flagler State Park. The manager of the Bainbridge Lumbermens decided to stop in and introduce himself to the owner. Joe saw great potential in the business, and when Ann Smith offered to sell him the 1,400-square-foot store, he agreed to buy it.
In 1988, Morris James came aboard. Joe and Morris had worked together before and had developed a great team dynamic.

"We feed off of each other's knowledge and use each other as a sounding board," Joe said. "And when it comes to big decisions, we're in unison. We rely and respect the other's suggestion."

When an arsonist's hand destroyed the building supply's main building during the wee hours of Aug. 8, 1995, the pair could have given up. Fortunately for their employees and customers, Morris and Joe chose to kick into overdrive. From those flames, a phoenix arose.

While the 11,700-square-foot store was rebuilt, employees were kept on the payroll.

"Whatever Morris and I have done really goes back to the legacy of Bob Slettedahl, the original owner of Lumbermens," Joe said. "Both of us worked for him for about 20 years. We try to emulate how he treated his employees and the community."

Giving back to the community is one of their top priorities. Just about any cause in need can count on the partners' support.

Today, Hadlock has $1.5 million in inventory — 15 times what it had in 1988. Its rental section offers everything from banquet items to backhoes, dump trucks and excavators.

About 60 percent of business is contractor trade. Six experts staff contractor sales, which has its own entry for easy access. They deliver seven days a week and have an after-hours emergency phone.

"We try to stay with a strong retail trade, too," Morris said. But, it takes a lot of homeowner volume to match one contractor project.

"True Value has the buying power. Its market analyses keep our prices competitive, often beating the big box stores," Joe said.

The partners are members of both the Jefferson County Home Builders Association, since 1989, and Clallam County's North Peninsula Building Association, since 2001. The pair is also active in the Rotary Club of East Jefferson County and members of the Port Hadlock-Tri-Area and Port Townsend chambers of commerce.

"The camaraderie and the networking are important. We trade in this area and we want to be members of these organizations," said Morris, a director of the Western Building Materials Association. He is also on the board of directors of the Jefferson County Food Bank and on the Public Infrastructure Fund Board for Jefferson County.

Hadlock's 50 employees receive regular training, $50,000 worth last year alone. Any employee who quits smoking earns $500.

Since April 2003, Hadlock has increased its accounts receivable by 50 percent. The two acres the partners are developing across the street is parking and lumber storage, for now. And room to grow for later.