Long-term survivor

Justin Storm, a long-time employee at J.H. Huscroft Ltd., became the general manager in 2013

Justin Storm is the general manager at J.H. Huscroft Ltd., in Creston, B.C. — Photo courtesy Justin Storm

Justin Storm, general manager of J.H. Huscroft Ltd., joined the company in 1999, when he was 16 years old. He worked his way through a millwright apprenticeship, then moved into project management and became the sawmill manager in 2007. In 2013, Storm arrived at a purchase agreement with Ken Huscroft Limited and moved into the position of general manager.

J.H. Huscroft has 75 direct employees and operates a joint venture with the Lower Kootenay Band in Creston, with a staff of 10. That venture is called Kootenay Huscroft Forest Products. Huscroft has a long-standing agreement to post positions to the band first, and that works well for both parties.

Training and technology

“We have about 10 tradespeople, and we’ve apprenticed every one of them,” Storm said. “It’s a good way to retain them. We have had to automate quite a bit over the years and that has reduced injuries and the turnover rate.”

Storm said that J.H. Huscroft is incorporating new technology as much as possible.

“I like being involved in studying and planning for new technology—that’s the fun part of my job,” he said. “I do miss the days when I was a millwright, so I get out and work with the guys in various areas as much as I can. I want to stay in touch with everything that’s going on with the guys and the mill.”

Storm said that he stays on the alert for emerging trends in his industry, and it’s an aspect of his job that he enjoys. The diverse range of products produced by J.H. Huscroft can be a bit of a headache from an inventory standpoint, but, he said, “On the other hand, you don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket.”

Upgrading for efficiency

J.H. Huscroft is currently engaged in a million-dollar upgrade at the mill, for one saw.

“We just purchased 3-D optimization for it, meaning that we’ll get more usable product from each log and the payback on that should happen within two years,” said Storm. “We’re focusing on in-house capital projects that will use less fibre, instead of on production projects. That’s all spelled out in our purchase agreement and will ensure that we keep our operation and employment in the community. Our goal is long-term survival.”

Community contribution

In spite of its long history—the company was founded in 1927—Storm believes that J.H. Huscroft is less well known in the East Kootenay than it could be.

“We’re kind of a low-profile company, but we have a history of contributing a lot to the community,” he said. “We have great pride in providing significant employment in the community and supporting local vendors and community groups as the opportunities arise."