'What took so long' to honor year's top small business?

Former Bengals kicker Jim Breech a featured speaker at event, which honors small businesses.

Tom Sanders (left) with his father, Mark Sanders Sr., speaks after the Sanders family, owners of Butler County Lumber Co., receive the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Small Business Person of the Year Award during a luncheon on Tuesday, June 29. Mary Pat Essman received the Chamber’s 2010 Heritage Award at the event.

Staff photo by Samantha Grier Tom Sanders (left) with his father, Mark Sanders Sr., speaks after the Sanders family, owners of Butler County Lumber Co., receive the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Small Business Person of the Year Award during a luncheon on Tuesday, June 29. Mary Pat Essman received the Chamber’s 2010 Heritage Award at the event.

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By Kevin Aldridge, Staff Writer Updated 1:18 AM Wednesday, June 30, 2010

HAMILTON — If they were alive today, Herman and Charles Sanders — founders of the Butler County Lumber Co. — would have been honored to receive the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Small Business Person of the Year Award on Tuesday, June 29, family members said.

“But the first thing they would have asked is, ‘What took so long?’ ” said Tom Sanders, Herman’s grandson.

“They would have said, “You’re just now honoring us after nearly 100 years?’ ” he said to a chorus of laughter from the audience. “That’s how impatient they were.”

Impatience, perseverance, dedication and service were all words used Tuesday to describe the Sanders family and their company, which began in 1912. The lumber company has been around Hamilton so long, in fact, that Chamber President Kenny Craig joked it might have been one of his organization’s original members.

“Our records don’t go back that far,” Craig said of the 100-year-old Chamber of Commerce. “We’ll just say that you were.”

About 125 people gathered at the Courtyard by Marriott downtown to pay homage to the Sanders family and Mary Pat Essman, the Chamber’s 2010 Heritage Award recipient.

The noon luncheon featured keynote speaker Jim Breech, former place-kicker with the Cincinnati Bengals. Breech talked about the similarities between playing professional football and running a business.

Strong leadership, teamwork, outworking the competition and being able to adjust a game plan are keys to success in both, he said. Breech, who lives in Liberty Twp., also talked about the importance of community involvement.

“You need to be involved in your community,” Breech told the crowd. “If you aren’t, nothing gets done.

“Every community needs leaders. They need people who are going to make things happen.”

Craig said one such difference-maker in Hamilton is Essman, the ninth person to receive the coveted Heritage Award for Outstanding Community Involvement. Craig praised Essman for her service to the community and her professionalism.

Essman, the director of the Lane Public Libraries since 1983, has served on numerous boards, including the Chamber, Fitton Center for the Creative Arts and the YMCA, among others.

When asked where she finds the time to invest in various groups and projects, Essman said, “If something’s important to you, you find the time.”

On receiving the Heritage Award, she added: “I don’t think anyone who works in the community does it for the recognition. But it is overwhelming when you see people standing and applauding for you.”

Craig described the Sanders family as “a model of integrity in small business.” He hailed them for being able to survive and thrive during the recession and an era of big-box hardware stores.

Tom Sanders credited the success to hard work and servicing the needs of their customers and employees. He described Butler County Lumber Co. as a “close-knit family,” that has been running for four generations.

But perhaps Mark Sanders Sr., Tom’s father and Herman’s son, summed it up best when he said, “We’ve been successful because we showed up every day.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2584 or kaldridge@coxohio.com.

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