News, Citizen Profile, Bradley McDowell Logging, LaSalle Parish, La. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Submitted by: Craig Franklin of The Jena Times, Jena, LaSalle Parish, La. Features Wednesday, January 17, 2001, page 3B Bradley McDowell Logging McDowell runs a smooth operation "Motto: "I log to live, not live to log." BY: CRAIG FRANKLIN For Jena logger Bradley McDowell, success in the logging industry for his young company is attributed to faith in God and keeping priorities in the right order. "I log to live, not live to log," said McDowell, who owns Bradley McDowell Logging. "We could work daylight to dark everyday, but I chose to only work the crew 10 hours a day, mostly five days a week. Everyone out here has families and children, and that's the most important thing to me." McDowell, who is a Master Logger who contracts with International Paper Company, started in the logging industry just eight years ago performing contract hauling. Three years later in 1995, he decided to "go out on a limb" and start his own company - a decision he would never regret. "I really just stumbled into it," he said. "My family is all in oil field related work, so this was something totally different for me. But no jokes aside, it really is a blessing from God." When he originally started his company, McDowell said he began small, with only the bare essentials. One skidder, one loader and one shearer, and then over the next few months and years equipment was added little by little. "It's been a long hard five years but I can't complain," he said. "The logging industry has been good to me. My real first break came when I started and was offered the opportunity to work soley with IP. " McDowell said it is the combination of a great working relationship with IP and it's good people, along with the best employees a boss could ask for, that's been the difference in his company's success. "A company is only as good as it's employees make it," he said, "and I've got the best working for me." Along with great working hours, employees are also paid well, with vacation time included. The crew works on the bonus system, and usually hauls around 15 loads per day. McDowell said he believes that if someone is working for you and does a good job, they should be paid for their efforts accordingly. Even though the business is in its early years, McDowell said he is working on establishing other benefits for his crew, including 401K plans. Of course, one of the main benefits of working with McDowell is the hours. Men on the crew are home everyday in time to spend quality time with their families, and very seldom work on Saturdays and even more rarely on Sundays. Working with the company with McDowell is his wife, Leslie, who serves as Secretary/Treasurer; Robbie McDowell - Processer; Monroe L. Enterkin - Shearer Operator; Gaylan George - Skidder Operator, Jackie Stevens - Skidder Operator, and truck drivers Steve Poole, Butch Arnold, and Charlie Chisholm. He also has one contract truck working with him, Tim Kirl. Even though McDowell had hauled for three years, he candidly admits running a company is totally different. "I didn't have any experience in operating a company, so I had to kind of learn as I went - the hard way," he said. "When you learn things the hard way you never forget it, because each time it costs you money." Over the past five years, the company has grown and added newer equipment to help increase production. His equipment includes: Tiger Cat 630 skidder, 72C cutter, and 230 loader; Prentiss 210 loader; Timberjack skidder; TD 15 Dresser Dozer; three Western Star trucks and one International truck; and two F350 Ford work trucks. "The best decision I ever made was going all mechanical," he said. "Production is higher and by going all mechanical, I've saved enough money on insurance premiums to pay the note on a new processor." Also, McDowell Logging has not substained a single injury or had one accident since going fully mechanical. He says he stresses safety to all employees and regularly holds meetings to insure his men are properly equipped and abreast on safety issues. With the industry slowing down presently, McDowell admits that a hard winter might be the best long-term help for all loggers."Our past two winters have been mild," he said. "If we could get a hard winter it would help. Now it would hurt during that time, but I think in the long run it would help." McDowell said that he too, along with all loggers, is feeling the affects of high fuel prices and higher prices in general. In fact, due to the slow down in demand and higher prices, he has had to lay off two employees in the past month. "I really feel fortunate though," he said. "During this time there have been a good many people go out of business. Now more than ever, we're watching every dime and penny." Despite the rough times though, McDowell said he really can't complain. "The Lord's been good to me, IP has been good to me, I've got good employees and I get to work close to home so I can be with my family," he said. "Overall I can't complain. We've really had a good year, we just struggle with all the problems every other logger struggles with." McDowell and his wife, along with their two children, Matthew age 8 and Mallorie age 5, attend Searcy Baptist Church where they are very active. He, like most LaSalle Parish residents, enjoys hunting and fishing, and family camping trips. He is also a member of the Louisiana Logging Council and participates in many volunteer events, including the Log a Load for Kids with the Children's Miracle Network. (Editor's Note: Bradley McDowell Logging of Jena was featured in the January 2001 edition of "Louisiana Logger" magazine. McDowell runs an eight-year-old logging business contracting with International Paper Company. The story and photos were by the Times-Signal Writer/Photographer Craig Franklin. The feature which appeared in the logging magazine is reprinted below.) (Caption under photo) McDowell's crew... Some of the McDowell crew are shown above, left to right: Monroe Enterkin, Robbie McDowell, Gaylan george, Bradley McDowell, Tim Kirl and Jackie Stevens. Not shown are Leslie McDowell, Steve Poole, Butch Arnold and Charlie Chisolm. The local logging company is featured in this month's Louisiana Logger Magazine. (Caption under photo) Efficient operation... Working on the bonus system, the logging crew of Bradley McDowell usually hauls some 15 loads per day. Shown above, the logs are loaded upon a truck headed for the mill. McDowell noted in his feature article, that he logs to live, not lives to log. Keeping his priorities in the right order - God, family, the job - is what he attributes to the success of his young company. (Caption under photo) Bradley McDowell, owner of Bradley McDowell Logging of Jena, is the feature of the January 2001 issue of Louisiana Logger, a magazine dedicated to the logging industry in Louisiana.