C.N. Wood Celebrates 60 years

Family values, innovation and an unwavering commitment to people reinforce C.N. Wood’s legacy in the industry

As C.N. Wood Co. Inc. reaches its 60th anniversary, the company reflects on its history of compassion and loyalty. C.N. Wood has become a reliable partner in the field, working with a wide range of local businesses and municipalities throughout New England. C.N. Wood’s story is as much about the excellent people behind it as it is about the high-quality equipment it provides.

In 1962, Bob Benard and Paul McCarthy took a shot at entrepreneurship and became partners in what was then known as the Charles N. Wood Company, which had been in business as a small but highly regarded contractor and municipal equipment supply house specialising in snow removal equipment. Two short years later, Bob and Paul had successfully bought out Charles Wood, establishing C.N. Wood and focusing their efforts on customer service, much of which was based on Bob’s experience as a service manager. He learned that customers appreciated efficient service and kept coming back if they were treated well, a philosophy still embraced today as C.N. Wood is one of the largest and most well-respected distributors of construction and municipal equipment in the Northeast. As the company’s reputation grew, several manufacturers began requesting to work with C.N. Wood, and Bob oversaw the additions of virtually every major product line that the company added. The most critical of which was taking on Elgin street sweepers and Leach rubbish bodies in 1965 and much later the addition of Komatsu in 1980. While Leach remained part of the company’s core business well into this century, Elgin and Komatsu are today the cornerstones of C.N. Wood’s operations.

More important than any product line, C.N. Wood was built on a foundation of trust, hard work and genuine relationships. Bob’s vision was never about creating a corporate giant. Instead, he sought to build a company that was more like a family, where employees and customers were treated with respect and sincerity.

Paula Bernard, Director, Former President, C.N. Wood

“Bob was never in it for a big payout,” recalled Paula Benard, who is on the board of directors at C.N. Wood and Bob’s daughter. “His life revolved around the business. His friends were offshoots of the business, and he enjoyed every interaction with customers and employees alike.”

The company’s culture has always been, and remains today, about prioritizing long-term relationships over short-term gains. Bob’s approach to business was simple yet profound: “Keep the customer happy, even if it costs a little now; it will pay off in the long run.” This philosophy has not only earned C.N. Wood a loyal customer base but also created a work environment where employees feel valued and motivated. Many workers have spent decades at C.N. Wood, passing on their skills and dedication to the next generation. One lifelong employee was Richard “Bud” Barrelle, who worked at C.N. Wood since the beginning. He retired a few years ago and unfortunately passed away this July. Buddy used to joke when he’d see people retiring after being with the company for 20, 30 or 40 years as he was with the company for nearly 60 years himself!

“It is a family business, and it isn’t just my family per se,” said Paula. “Over the years, we’ve seen multiple generations of families working together here. There have been all sorts of parent-child combinations, cousin combinations, and brother-in-law combinations. It has always felt good that our employees valued the company in such regard that they would recommend it to their family members.”

These long-standing relationships between C.N. Wood and its employees show just how much the company cares about its people and highlight the importance of treating staff members well because the success of C.N. Wood has always been driven by the hard work of its employees. From the skilled technicians who keep every machine running smoothly to the dedicated members of the office staff who keep things on track, the team at C.N. Wood is the backbone of the company.

“Our technicians and staff are the ones who make it all happen,” Paula emphasized. “Their know-how and dedication are what allows us to deliver top-notch service to our customers. Bob always had a soft spot for his technicians because they do the work. We’re selling their product, and the support is such an important part of the business.”

This respect for the hands-on work of every employee has built a strong culture of teamwork, allowing C.N. Wood to consistently meet and exceed customer expectations, which has strengthened the trust and reliability that customers have come to count on from C.N. Wood over the past 60 years.

 

Adapting and Growing

C.N. Wood has weathered economic downturns and industry shifts throughout the decades but has always emerged stronger. Paula recalled her journey with the company, which began in 1991 during an economic slump.

“I began in marketing and helped with various tasks. Over time, I got involved in setting up branches and organizing trade shows. I felt like I was a party planner, but for business,” she laughed.

Paula reflected on an event where the company hosted an open house at a customer’s facility in the early 1990s because C.N. Wood’s offices were too small at the time to accommodate a large event.

“This was before we moved to our Woburn offices,” recalled Paula. “The event was a lot of fun, especially for local customers and their families. We wanted to create a carnival-like atmosphere that not only highlighted that we provided great equipment but that we knew how to engage our customers and have a good time. It was a huge success.”

Her dedication and hard work eventually led her to become the president of the company, a role she took on to ensure business operated smoothly even when Bob was away. She then transitioned to her current role as a member of the board of directors.

Gerry Carney Jr., President & CEO, C.N. Wood

One of C.N. Wood’s recent defining moments was appointing Gerry Carney Jr. as the president of the company while simultaneously expanding its Komatsu footprint into Connecticut and the Hudson River Valley section of New York. This was no small feat. Beyond the additional employees and three new locations, it required significant changes in operations and strategy. Paula acknowledged that while it was a lot of work, it was a necessary move that helped the company grow.

“Gerry has a lot of experience in the operational side of the business, making him a great choice to lead the company forward,” Paula explained. “My experience was different, so it was good to have that balance between us. He’s done a great job building on the values Bob and I established while helping the company expand into new areas of business.”

The company’s partnerships with Komatsu and Federal Signal (Elgin, Vactor, Truvac and Trackless) have been particularly fruitful, with Paula noting that both organizations have been “great to work with” over the years. These strong relationships have allowed C.N. Wood to offer top-notch products while exploring complementary lines that go with the company’s strengths.

As the industry has evolved, C.N. Wood has consistently been quick to adapt to new technologies and industry trends. Despite the challenges that come with change and growth, C.N. Wood has maintained its commitment to providing the best possible equipment and support to its customers.

“We’ve always focused on staying ahead by embracing new technologies while keeping our core values intact,” stated Paula. “It’s about ensuring that we continue to deliver quality products and reliable service, no matter how the landscape shifts.”

Building on Bob’s legacy

Looking back over the past 60 years, Bob’s legacy at C.N. Wood is not just about the success of the business; it’s about the impact he had on the people around him. He was known for his generosity and willingness to help anyone in need, whether it was an employee, a customer or a family member.

“Bob was very generous,” Paula noted. “He was always there for anyone who struggled, never expecting anything in return. That’s rare and something people always remember about him.”

The respect Bob earned from his peers and employees was not just due to his kindness but also to his keen understanding of the industry. Paula fondly remembered how her father had a way of simplifying complex situations in meetings.

“He was the original listen-more-than-you-talk guy,” said Paula. “Consequently, when Bob spoke, people listened! He had a knack for summing up arguments and presenting them.”

While C.N. Wood has grown significantly throughout the past six decades and embraced innovation, it has never lost sight of the values that Bob instilled in it from the beginning.

“The customer is first, and then the customer is second, and the employees are right up there too,” Paula stated.

Moving forward, C.N. Wood’s focus remains on providing the best support possible for the customer. 

“The reality is every piece of equipment breaks at some point, and when it does, we will get it up and running ASAP,” Gerry said. “I found an old C.N. Wood ad in the archives from the early ‘70s that stated C.N. Wood is People Serving People. It’s amazing that 53 years later, that’s who we still are and what we will remain. We will always strive to have that family business feel for our customers and our employees no matter what the future holds.”

With a dedicated team, strong leadership and a commitment to excellence, C.N. Wood is well-positioned to continue its success for many more years to come.

“We’ve built something special here,” Paula concluded. “I’m confident that the next 60 years will be just as remarkable.”