AFA members have proven time and again through the years that they are both resilient and generous, even in the toughest of times. One member company, Wood Defender, recently demonstrated these two traits admirably, as it adapted to the pandemic's restrictions and found ways to keep up the good work in its community.Wood Defender owner and operator Roy Branch said that he and his team are grateful that sales have increased dramatically, not just for his company but for other AFA members, as well. For Wood Defender, this continued success is due in part to thinking outside the box.
Many adjustments had to be made at the company to keep everything rolling smoothly. For example, it was important to Roy that free Wood Defender classes remained available. So, classes are still being offered, even though they are restricted to 4 people per class. To counter this challenge, the company now offers multiple classes each month, rather than one.
Wood Defender also continues to stay involved with its community, especially when it comes to safety and health. At FENCETECH 2020 in Salt Lake City, UT, the company acknowledged the need for hand sanitizer; they struggled to find any, and knew others did as well. To overcome this challenge, they saved a small amount of their remaining hand sanitizer from the conference and asked their chemist to mock up the product from the raw materials needed. Thanks to these efforts, they were able to create over 1,500 bottles of "Hand Defender" which were then distributed to local law enforcement, fire departments and first responders. None were offered for sale or sold.The Wood Defender team is one great example of our AFA members doing incredible things for their businesses and their communities, and we are proud to have them in the association family. We commend them for their hard work and dedication – and also want to thank and acknowledge all of our members for striving to continue the good work, despite the challenges!