Sand Creek Post & Beam Awarded
Sand Creek Post & Beam of Wayne, Nebraska has been awarded “2008 Large Business of the Year” by the Wayne Area Economic Development Inc. at their Annual Chamber Banquet on January 25th.  The award is based on nominations from the community with regard to their size (large is regarded as 11 or more full time employees) and service to the community by the owners, employees, or the business itself. 

Dave Simonsen, Executive Director of Wayne Area Economic Development Inc. had this to say, "Sand Creek Post & Beam is an example of an entrepreneurial created and operated company that continues to set examples for other businesses. The company is a great addition to Wayne and a great partner in growing Wayne and the surrounding area. I look forward to watching the company's continued growth and success."
“We are honored to receive this award”, says Len Dickinson, co-owner of Sand Creek Post & Beam.  “Our experience in Wayne has been extremely rewarding; the community has been very welcoming and we’ve enjoyed the opportunity to build our business here.  Wayne has much to offer new businesses.  The availability of qualified individuals and resources has been indispensible in our continued success.”
Over the past few months, Sand Creek has also been privileged with visits from Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry and Nebraska Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy. Congressman Fortenberry called on the company to discuss concerns with Northeast Nebraska business owners. Sand Creek has been touted as one of the primary businesses in the area that has been doing well during these tough economic times. 

Lt. Governor Sheehy was an honored guest at the Sand Creek Post & Beam plant expansion project ground breaking ceremony. The expansion includes adding 2200 square feet to the original plant building as well as an additional 9,020 square foot facility. Growth and development throughout the company has also prompted the purchase and renovation of an existing office building in Wayne to provide a new headquarters for the Sand Creek Post & Beam corporate office.  
”Our customers are building a variety of structures from our kits; everything from a small barn or garage, horse barn, business office, and hunting lodge, to a complete home.  Post and beam construction is very versatile and the beauty of the wood is highlighted in these buildings,” says Len Dickinson, co-owner and President of Sand Creek Post & Beam.  

With an emphasis on quality and customer satisfaction, Sand Creek Post & Beam takes great pride in providing traditional barn kits that are functional, flexible, powerful and aesthetically pleasing.

 

 

Windmills Added to Product Line
Sand Creek Post & Beam of Wayne, Nebraska is excited to announce the addition of windmills to their extensive line of post and beam barn kits. 

The 19th century brought windmills to the American countryside, providing water and electricity to our rural areas.  Windmills are still in use across our nation, although not as extensively as in the past.  With today’s concern for our ecosystems, windmills are making a comeback in several different variations. Sand Creek Post & Beam wood tower windmills are historical replicas and feature Aermotor pump systems to be fully functional or as a picturesque focal point for your acreage.

The windmill towers feature post and beams in full dimension rough sawn ponderosa or southern yellow pine.  They are constructed with 6 x 6 posts with 4 x 4 bracing and are offered in 16’, 20’, and 24’ heights and can be shipped pre-assembled or disassembled as a package.  The kit includes a heavy duty wood tower platform, tower anchor plates and a ladder or step system.

We’re very pleased to bring these landmarks back to our rural landscape;” says Len Dickinson, co-owner of Sand Creek Post & Beam, “not only are they historic but they are very functional as well.  The historic beauty of our rural landscape has slowly slipped from us; our dream is to restore the rustic beauty of our heritage.”

Sand Creek Post & Beam Master Dealer in TX Awarded
Legacy Homestead Development, dba Cedar Eaters, has qualified as one of San Antonio’s fastest growing companies.  Cedar Eaters is owned by Stan and Pam Hegener of Boerne, TX.  They also own Sand Creek Post & Beam of Texas.   We’re proud to have them as one of our Master Dealers for Sand Creek Post & Beam Traditional Barn Kits.

Sand Creek Post & Beam Contributes to Arbor Day Foundation and Community

Sand Creek Post & Beam is pleased to be working with the National Arbor Day Foundation to help with reforestation.  “We are enjoying our association with such a fine organization” says Jule Goeller, co-owner and CFO of Sand Creek Post & Beam.  “Since we began our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation in July of last year, we have provided almost 700 lodge pole pine or douglas fir trees in our customers’ names.”

The Arbor Day Foundation website notes that “the trees they plant provide habitat and food for wildlife, restore beauty to the landscape, clean rivers and stream, and provide enjoyment for recreational activities like camping, hiking, and fishing.  Over the course of 50 years, a single tree can generate $31,250 of oxygen, provide $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycle $37,500 worth of water, and control $31,500 worth of soil erosion control.”

Sand Creek Post & Beam is also working with surrounding communities to donate their scrap wood pieces.  They have provided wood pieces for school shop classes in Allen, Pender, Wakefield, and Wisner-Pilger as well as the Pilger Purple Ribbon and Wayne 4-H groups in Nebraska.  The Nebraska Bluebird Association is also a recipient of the wood pieces which are used for new bluebird houses.  According to Cal Wiechman, Operations Manager of Sand Creek Post & Beam “we’re glad to have an outlet for the wood.   The pieces are very useful sizes and if someone can use them we’re happy to work with them.  If any local non-profit groups are interested, we would like to hear from them.  Our Cleveland, Georgia plant has not found an outlet yet, but we are looking into it and hope to find some local groups soon.”

Sand Creek Post & Beam has a nationwide presence with over 135 barns throughout the country in 34 states. ”Our customers are building a variety of structures from our kits; everything from a small barn or garage, horse barn, business office, and hunting lodge, to a complete home.  Post and beam construction is very versatile and the beauty of the wood is highlighted in these buildings,” says Len Dickinson, co-owner and President of Sand Creek Post & Beam.   With an emphasis on quality and customer satisfaction, Sand Creek Post & Beam takes great pride in providing traditional barn kits that are functional, flexible, powerful and aesthetically pleasing.

Sand Creek Post & Beam Announces New Associates for Growth
11/07:Sand Creek Post & Beam of Wayne, NE is pleased to welcome three new full-time associates to their corporate office.  Due to tremendous growth in 2007, two in-house dealers and a new office coordinator have been hired to provide our customers the personal service and attention they expect from Sand Creek.

Joni Heithold of Wayne, Nebraska joined the Sand Creek team on January 2nd as our new office coordinator.  Joni has resided in Wayne for over 20 years, but is originally from a small farm town in north central Iowa.  Joni brings with her a wealth of office experience, most recently at Farmers and Merchants State Bank. Prior to the bank, she was employed for 15 years with the Wayne Public School system.  Her family includes her husband, Mark, and two sons, Benjamin (19) and Derek (16).  “I’m very excited to be a part of this team and to learn more about post and beam construction.  I spent a lot of time in our barn as a child. It was a wonderful way to grow up and I’m very pleased to be a part of providing memories to a new generation.”

Brigitte Burbach, who joined our team in the fall as Office Coordinator, has been promoted to Accounting Coordinator and will be working very closely with the CFO and Plant Operations Managers.

Amy Wilson of Emerson, Nebraska joined our team as a Sand Creek Post & Beam in-house dealer in November.  She is responsible for the Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin territories.  Amy has been involved with advertising sales in the Siouxland and Northeast Nebraska area for the past 15 years.  Along with her husband Gary, they own Wilson Horse Training in Emerson.  They have 3 children, daughters Audra and Emily, recent graduates of UNL, and a son, Britton, a mechanical engineer living in Lincoln, NE.  “My lifelong experience in the equine industry, time in the country and passion for sales, provide a perfect partnership for me.  I’m very excited to be a part of this team and am enthused about re-building our countryside with authentic post and beam buildings.”

Tami Schmitt-Wiese of Laurel, Nebraska joined the Sand Creek Post & Beam in-house dealer team in October.  She is responsible for the Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia territories.  Tami received her MS from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and has many years of experience with customer support and sales.  She currently resides in Laurel with her husband Tony and 3 daughters, Kayla (14), Cassidy (11), and Marissa (11).  “Having grown up in the rural Midwest, it is very rewarding to join a team so dedicated to preserving our past.  I lived on several acreages as a child and each one had an old barn with a lot of character.  Thinking back, they provide very vivid memories for me.”

“We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to work with such professionals”, says Len Dickinson, co-owner and President of Sand Creek Post & Beam.  “The experience and passion they exude provides a wonderful working environment to learn from each other, grow our company, and have a lot of fun along the way.”

Sand Creek Post & Beam Announces New Office Coordinator
8/07: Sand Creek Post & Beam is pleased to welcome Brigitte Burbach as the new Office Coordinator. Brigitte is replacing Leigh Anne Oswald whose husband received a teaching job in Iowa. Brigitte will be responsible for numerous duties ranging from accounting functions to coordination with our dealer system to ensure all processes are completed. As she continues to grow with the company she will be taking on more responsibilities in regard to human resources.

Brigitte recently graduated from Wayne State College with a degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Human Resource Management and Office Administration. She started with Sand Creek on August 6, 2007 and says "I am excited to work with such great people in this new endeavor in my life:. Brigitte is originally from Wynot, NE and currently resides in Wayne.

"Brigitte is quickly becoming a great asset to our company. She is very organized and will be invaluable in keeping our company focused as we strive for continual improvement in our processes. She has already proven herself with our customers and dealers with her easy conversation and attention to detail," says Jule Goeller, CFO of Sand Creek.

Sand Creek Post & Beam Expands to the Southeast
6/07: Sand Creek Post & Beam of Wayne, NE is excited to announce the addition of Sand Creek Post & Beam of the Southeast to our dealer network. Based out of Taylor, Georgia Marvin Hughes and Jones Cottrell will be covering the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Sand Creek Post & Beam of the Southeast is also the base for our 2nd manufacturing facility.

Marvin Hughes has been a builder for 40 years and has specialized in building barns for the past 12 years. A lifetime resident of Georgia, Marvin says "I am excited about the opportunity to apply my experience as the operations manager of Sand Creek Post & Beam of the southeast, ensuring that the tradition of beautiful quality wood barns is preserved in the southeastern states." "We will do our best to make each barn a work of art."

Jones Cottrell is best know as past president and partner of "The Fudgery". He was the primary force in developing the small company into a chain of entertaining candy stores throughout the country. Most recently he has been working as a custom builder and small tract developer in Hall County, Georgia. Like Marvin, he too has been a lifetime resident of the southeastern states, primarily in North Carolina and now Georgia. "This is a wonderful opportunity for Sand Creek Post & Beam to expand into the souther states and I'm excited to be a part of it. Post and beam barns are historic and tradiitonal throughout our beautiful countryside and Sand Creek Post & Beam barn kits continue in that tradition, renewing the craftsmanship of years gone by."

Sand Creek Post & Beam Article Wins Award!

The “Barn Again” newspaper article on Sand Creek Post & Beam written by Dave Dreezen of the Sioux City Journal has received a first-place award in the ''Business Features'' category for the 2007 Iowa Associated Press Managing Editors contest. The Sioux City Journal competed in the division of Iowa's largest daily newspapers.

The article was first printed in the Sunday issue of the Sioux City Journal on October 15, 2006 and again re-printed in the Sioux City Business Journal.

“We are pleased to extend our congratulations to Dave Dreezen and the Sioux City Journal on their award. We’re very proud that our barns were the feature of this award winning article” said Len Dickinson, President and Co-Owner of Sand Creek Post & Beam.

For more information on Sand Creek Post & Beam barns kits and dealer program contact:
Sand Creek Post & Beam | 215 North Pearl Street Suite 200 | Wayne NE 68787 | Phone 888-489-1680 or E-mail Us.

Sand Creek Post & Beam Announces Barn Name Change

The most popular Sand Creek Post & Beam barn will have a new name as of January 1, 2007. The "Nebraska Barn" or as it's known in Texas, the "Hill Country Barn" and in Kansas City as the "Legacy Barn", will now become the "Ponderosa Country Barn".

The Ponderosa Country barn is a collaboration of ideas from the Sand Creek Post & Beam corporate office and their dealers. In an effort to become consistent throughout the countryside and avoid any confusion as to which barn it is, a name change was needed. The previous names were regional and each area printed their own catalogs to reflect the name differences. The new name will be released with a new catalog that will be used by all Sand Creek Post & Beam dealers.

"Our company is growing significantly and in an effort to provide consistency and branding opportunities, this was the appropriate time for a name change," says Jule Goeller, owner along with her husband Len Dickinson. "Sand Creek Post & Beam barns are constructed from full dimension Ponderosa Pine, hence the name Ponderosa Country. This is our signature barn and it called for a name that would be fitting across the nation."

The Ponderosa Country barn style will not be changing; expect the same traditional, authentic, rustic look that you have seen in the past with our Nebraska barn. "We're looking forward to the start of an exciting new year with our new barn name and new catalog," says Goeller. It's always a pleasure to offer an opportunity to preserve our heritage and beautify the countryside while providing an affordable alternative to our customers.

For more information on Sand Creek Post & Beam barns kits and dealer program contact:
Sand Creek Post & Beam | 215 North Pearl Street Suite 200 | Wayne NE 68787 | Phone 888-489-1680 or E-mail Us.

Sand Creek Post & Beam Expanding Dealer Network

Sand Creek Post & Beam of Wayne, Nebraska is seeking to expand their dealer network. Currently the company is divided among five major regions but extensive growth has provided an opportunity to increase dealerships within and outside of these regions.

Sand Creek Post & Beam dealers are offered a competitive package that includes training opportunities, annual meetings, and monthly conference calls to discuss prospects and create a teamwork environment. Lead referrals to network dealers are provided from national publications, customer calls, and internet referrals as well as full marketing support including a coop advertising program. Complete plans and estimates for customers, along with engineering support for building permits and processes, are supplied from the corporate office. Utilization of a Sand Creek Post & Beam dealer start up kit, and the opportunity to purchase a full dimension model at cost, will boost dealer network business from the start. Sand Creek Post & Beam works closely with their dealer network to ensure mutual success.

"This is a ground floor opportunity for experienced builders and dealers with an unlimited potential for increased sales and market share. We're very excited to move forward in our expansion and provide our customers personal contact within their area" says Mandy Kubik, Sales Director for Sand Creek Post & Beam.

Sand Creek Post & Beam barn kits utilize authentic designs and full dimension, massive, native ponderosa pine posts and beams to bring the knotty, rustic authentic feel of an old barn to life. The barns may be sealed, stained, or painted to blend with current buildings or to replicate a barn of yesteryear such as an old family barn. From purchase origination to the materials on the customer's doorstep is approximately 60-90 days. Sand Creek Post & Beam prides itself on using native timbers and local craftsman to provide the excellence and quality of a traditional barn.

For more information on Sand Creek Post & Beam barns kits and dealer program contact:
Sand Creek Post & Beam | 215 North Pearl Street Suite 200 | Wayne NE 68787 | Phone 888-489-1680 or E-mail Us.

Sand Creek Post & Beam announces management additions

Sand Creek Post & Beam of Wayne, NE is pleased to announce the addition of associates to their management team. With the continued growth of the company, the corporate office of Sand Creek Post & Beam has expanded to include a Sales Director, Marketing Director, and Office Manager.

"Our accelerated growth has prompted the need for more associates throughout the company and we look to further expand over the next year," says Len Dickinson, co-owner of Sand Creek Post & Beam. "Our products are featured across the country and we continue to cultivate dealer partnerships throughout the US."

The Sand Creek Post & Beam plant is managed by Cal Wiechman, a native of Pilger, Nebraska. Cal carries the responsibility of plant manager/purchasing agent and has been with the company since 2005. Cal is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Education and masters in Vocational Agriculture. Cal has had vast experience in the industry serving for many years at Builders Alliance in Bellingham, Washington. He held many positions at the company, with his last position as Relationship Manager for Industrial Sales before moving back to his hometown of Pilger. Cal and his wife Nancy reside in Pilger with their two children, Lucas (11) and Leah (8).

Mandy Kubik of Laurel assumed the position of Sales Director in June of 2006. Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska Ms. Kubik comes to the company with a wealth of sales experience. Most recently she was a Manager in Training at Rogers Jewelers in Lincoln. She and her fiancé, Jon Fredrickson of Laurel, are planning a November 25th wedding.

Laura Penlerick of Wayne joined the team as Marketing Director in August of 2006. A graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in Industrial Administration/Marketing Management concentration, she has many years of experience in the marketing field. Most recently she was an associate of Blue Ox in Pender, Nebraska filling numerous positions within the marketing team. She currently resides in Wayne with her husband Mark. Together they have 5 children, Jenni (20), Sara (18), and Jay (14) Schrader and Brittany (13) and Nicholas (11) Penlerick.

Leigh Anne Oswald became Sand Creek Post & Beam's new office manager in August of 2006. Leigh Anne recently graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny Iowa with an Associate of Arts degree in the Administrative Assistant Program. Leigh Anne is originally from Emmetsburg, Iowa and now resides in Laurel with her husband Kyle.

For information on Sand Creek Post & Beam barns kits contact:
Sand Creek Post & Beam | 215 North Pearl Street Suite 200 | Wayne NE 68787 | Phone 888-489-1680 or E-mail Us.

Sand Creek Post & Beam of Texas Exhibits at Builders Showcase!
Sand Creek Post & Beam of Texas was a premier exhibitor at the Builders Showcase in San Antonio Texas. The showcase was held at the Alamodome September 27 through October 1st.

Highlighting their exhibit was a complete authentic barn model featuring aspects of a full size barn such as: handcrafted windows and doors, a cupola, and flower boxes. The mini-barn was constructed of ponderosa pine posts and beams, complete with rustic knots and beautiful amber hue. Located in Boerne, Pam and Stan Hegener (Owners of Sand Creek Post & Beam of Texas and Authorized Dealer of Sand Creek Post & Beam) were pleased to provide the attendees of the showcase a first hand, up close and personal look at their traditional barn kits.

The exhibit was a great success. "The mini-barn exhibit was extremely busy, we were very satisfied with the response received from the attendees" said Pam Hegener. The exhibit itself was sold to a woman who was planning on giving it to her husband as an anniversary gift. There were several showcase attendees with interest in their own 'mini-barn' for projects such as backyard pool houses, garden sheds to a barbeque shed. very indication from the showcase response is that the Texas Hill Country is ready to beautify the countryside with Sand Creek Post & Beam barn kits."