With family at the core, lumber firm branches out

4TH PLACE 
CEO (or equivalent):  Bruce A. Charleson, president and CEO 2013 REVENUE: $58.7 million 2011 REVENUE: $44.3 million REVENUE GROWTH: 32%
4TH PLACE CEO (or equivalent): Bruce A. Charleson, president and CEO 2013 REVENUE: $58.7 million 2011 REVENUE: $44.3 million REVENUE GROWTH: 32%

From its humble beginnings as a portable sawmill operation back in 1911, South Kingstown-based and family-owned Arnold Lumber Co. has grown into a $60 million operation boasting nearly 200 employees, four lumberyards, a masonry division, a kitchen center, a door shop, construction-lending division and a specialty commercial window division – Seaside Casual Furniture, which manufactures and distributes premium outdoor furniture throughout the United States and beyond.
Today, the business is managed by the third and fourth generations of the Arnold family.
“We focus on providing the highest-quality materials with great technical support and advice, matched with the best job-site delivery service and best retailer fulfillment for our furniture division,” said Bruce Charleson, company president and CEO since 2001.
For Arnold, the growth continues. In addition to purchasing and renovating its fourth and newest location in Westerly last December (the former Hanley & Williams lumberyard), the company is continuing the expansion of its 4-year-old masonry division into three of its retail locations, as well as expanding its nationwide sales force and showrooms for the Seaside Casual brand.
“We will … continuously look for growth opportunities both within our existing divisions as well as in new opportunities that present themselves,” said Charleson, who feels strongly that housing, which creates demand for lumber, is a prime economic indicator.
“Housing is directly related to the overall economic health of our state,” Charleson said. “Job creation is critical to people choosing to stay or relocate to our area, which directly benefits all housing-related businesses.”

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