Ten minutes before closing on a Saturday, Todd Mazur arrived at Whit Davis Lumber Plus in Greenbrier needing a full pallet of concrete blocks.
There was one problem: Mazur was driving a small Toyota pickup, and placing the entire pallet into the bed wasn’t a safe option.
For Yard Manager George Myrick, the solution was straightforward. He and the Whit Davis crew began unloading the pallet by hand and carefully distributing the blocks so Mazur could safely haul them.
Closing time came and went, but George and the team kept working. About 30 minutes later, the blocks were loaded, and Mazur was on his way.
George didn’t think much about it afterward.
“This is something I’d do for anybody,” he says.
Mazur saw the experience differently. Impressed by George’s willingness to stay late and make sure he had what he needed, Mazur contacted Greenbrier General Manager Scott Lang specifically to tell him about the service he received.
That unsolicited compliment helped earn George the August Above & Beyond Award, which recognizes employees throughout the Spahn & Rose family of companies who demonstrate exceptional service, teamwork and commitment.
“Customers do not often go out of their way to seek out management simply to compliment an employee,” Scott says. “That speaks volumes about the impression George made.”
Relationships Built Over 19 Years
For George, taking care of customers has become second nature during his 19 years with Whit Davis Lumber Plus.
What he enjoys most about his job is working with his crew and seeing the customers he has come to know over nearly two decades. Many have been visiting the Greenbrier lumberyard for years, giving George the opportunity to learn about their work, their families and the projects that bring them through the gate.
“It’s nice to see them every day, shoot the breeze and smile,” George says.
Those everyday conversations have helped George establish long-standing relationships with local contractors who return to Whit Davis project after project.
George reminds his yard team that customers have choices about where they purchase their lumber and building materials. Earning their loyalty requires more than filling an order. It means treating people well, recognizing them when they return and showing them through every interaction that their business matters.
“That customer is what keeps us in business,” George says. “They can go down the road and go someplace else. Build relationships with them.”
That philosophy closely reflects the values Whit Davis Lumber Plus has carried forward since its founding in 1953. For generations, the company has built its reputation on honest relationships, genuine hard work and service that goes beyond simply selling building materials.
George helps bring those values to life every day in the Greenbrier yard.
Scott sees the results firsthand.
Recently, David Starkey of Starkey Family Construction was at the store while having service performed on his STIHLchainsaw. He stopped Scott specifically to talk about George and the service he consistently receives from him.
For Scott, praise from an experienced local builder carries particular weight. Contractors work with numerous suppliers throughout the course of their projects and have plenty of opportunities to recognize the difference between ordinary service and an employee who consistently goes the extra mile.
“George has a way of making customers feel valued and appreciated,” Scott says. “The unsolicited praise we receive from customers like David is a testament to the effort and professionalism he brings to every interaction.”
Honesty Builds Lasting Trust
George says honesty is an important part of maintaining long-term customer relationships.
When customers ask him a question, he wants them to know the answer they receive will be truthful—even when Whit Davis can’t provide exactly what they need or the answer may not be what they hoped to hear.
“They may not like it, but I’m going to tell them the truth,” George says. “I’ll do my best, and if I can’t do it, I’m going to tell them. That means a lot to them.”
That straightforward approach creates trust. Customers know George will make every reasonable effort to help, but they also know he will be honest about what can and cannot be done.
Combined with his willingness to lend a hand, George’s honesty has helped turn everyday customer interactions into relationships that have lasted for years.
Taking Ownership Leads to Outstanding Customer Service
Scott says George approaches his responsibilities with the attitude of an owner, whether he is helping a customer, supporting another employee or handling work behind the scenes.
Few examples illustrate that commitment quite like Whit Davis’s most recent year-end inventory.
After an exceptionally long day working to make sure inventory was completed accurately, George decided that going home made little sense. Instead, he stayed at the store and managed a few hours of sleep at his desk before returning to work the next morning.
“While we would never expect someone to do that, it reflects the pride he takes in his work and the sense of ownership he has for our store’s success,” Scott says.
That dedication affects more than the work George completes himself. As Yard Manager, he has the opportunity to set the tone for the entire yard team.
His actions help establish expectations for how customers should be treated, how coworkers should support one another and how the team should respond when something needs to get done.
“George brings positivity, professionalism and a genuine servant’s heart to work every day,” Scott says. “He sets an example through his actions and demonstrates what great customer service looks like.”
The Saturday afternoon that led to George’s award is a perfect example. He didn’t see staying late to hand-load concrete blocks as extraordinary. He simply saw a Whit Davis customer who needed help and a job that needed to be finished.
George’s surprise at receiving the Above & Beyond Award may say as much about his approach as the stories that earned it.
“I was really surprised,” George says. “To be recognized by a customer meant a lot. Not many times do people call in and thank the drivers or yard hands or me. It meant a lot that they appreciated the extra.”
At Home in Northern Arkansas
Away from Whit Davis, George spends much of his free time on the land in northern Arkansas where he grew up.
He hunts deer and squirrels, does some fishing and gardening, and has recently tried his hand at turkey hunting. Much of his time there, however, is spent mowing and brush hogging the property.
The land provides a familiar place to spend time outdoors when he isn’t working with customers and coworkers at the Greenbrier store.
Back at Whit Davis, the work continues alongside many of the people George has gotten to know during his 19 years with the company.
Scott says those relationships, combined with George’s willingness to take ownership and step up whenever someone needs help, made him a natural choice for the Above & Beyond recognition.
“His strong work ethic, customer-first mentality and commitment to the team make him an invaluable member of our organization,” Scott says.
Recognizing Well-Deserved Excellence
Whit Davis Lumber Plus employees can be nominated for the Above & Beyond Award by customers, coworkers and supervisors. The program recognizes employees who provide exceptional service, support their teammates or make a meaningful difference through their actions.
Customers who have received outstanding service at Whit Davis can submit an Above & Beyond nomination directly through the Whit Davis website. Employees mentioned in customer feedback may be considered for the recognition.
Above & Beyond Award winners receive a $100 Visa gift card and become eligible to be named the company’s Employee of the Year.
The annual Employee of the Year Award is the culmination of the Above & Beyond program and recognizes exceptional employees across the Spahn & Rose family of companies. The family includes Whit Davis Lumber Plus and its three Central Arkansas locations in Greenbrier, Cabot and Jacksonville, along with Spahn & Rose, Dunn Lumber, Metro Building Products, Still Lumber and City Lumber.
The Employee of the Year recipient receives $1,000, but George’s story demonstrates that meaningful recognition can begin with something much simpler: a customer taking the time to say thank you.
For George, what felt like another opportunity to help someone was an example of what Whit Davis Lumber Plus means when it says, “The Plus is Service.”