THOMPSON APPALACHIAN Hardwoods began in 1993 with “a vision and a prayer” that would stretch beyond three decades. The reputable family business began with Nordeck Thompson’s decision to branch out on his own, fortifying the foundation laid by his father’s sawmill in South Georgia. Following his uncle’s advice, Thompson researched and found a small green sawmill in Huntland, Tennessee, with the natural resources ready for harvesting. He, his wife, Mary Claire, and their six children uprooted themselves and settled in Huntland, running the mill with about 14 employees on one shift.
They expanded their business to become a fully integrated and self-sufficient supply chain as time progressed. Investing in improvements and taking strides to expand their business has become a cornerstone of their work ethic. Today, they employ over 100 individuals and support numerous contractors, being good stewards of the area and fulfilling their initial vision and prayer.
Now, the next generation has taken on the business and is moving toward expanding it even further. Nordeck and Mary Claire Thompson’s children and spouses serve on the executive team. Claire T. Getty is the chief financial officer, Drew Getty is the vice president of procurement, Mary Lee McConnell is the chief administrative officer, Rob McConnell is the vice president of operations, and Nick Thompson is the president and chief operations officer.
“We wake up every day with the mindset that God has a plan,” said Mary Lee.
Every day the family leads with the knowledge that God has a bigger plan than they could ever fathom. She referenced a plaque on her father’s old desk, now her own, that reads the bible verse, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.” (Proverbs 3:6)
Mary Lee described her siblings’ journey to becoming the executive team as “organic growth.” Each child had the space to explore their own talents and attend school before returning to contribute to the family legacy at Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods.
“We were able to come back in our own time,” said Mary Lee.
The three siblings have an intriguing past, as each honed in on their own individual skills to make the company what it is today.
“We all came back into our roles and found our own space where we have our own strengths that really fit well with each other,” she said.
Nick Thompson, who grew up in the sawmill, graduated with a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia in Athens and was the first to return after graduation in 2011.
Their sister, Claire Getty, and brother-in-law, Drew Getty, transitioned to Huntland in 2012. Prior to both meeting and completing their master’s degrees at Georgia Institute of Technology, Claire also received a professional degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia. At the same time, Drew graduated from Clemson University with a degree in natural resources management.
Mary Lee graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in service management and returned to Franklin County, engaged to her now-husband, Rob. Rob was Drew’s roommate and graduated from Clemson University with a degree in print production and design.
Mary Lee jokingly remarked, “Rob proposed to me, and then shortly after, my dad proposed to him, so we came back about eight years ago ready to get to work.”
The three siblings and their additional three siblings were raised in a family that emphasized the importance of teamwork and family unity.
“As we grew up, [our mother] was adamant that we work together as a team and that we are a unit. We are a family that loves each other,” she said.
The children grew up attending leadership camps and programs that exposed them to new ideas about leadership and team unity, and their faith was at the center of it all.
If you ask Mary Lee to describe her family’s dynamic in one word, she’ll tell you “rooted,” representing their firm foundation and unwavering faith in God. Another is the word “overcomer.” Even when faced with challenges, such as losing their home to a house fire in 2005, and a mill fire in 2019, the family persevered with Nordeck and Mary Claire’s guidance, instilling in their children the resilience to overcome any obstacle.
“The word ‘rooted’ comes up frequently in our group — that we are rooted firmly, we have a firm foundation, but we are growing. We are firmly planted, but we are also going to bloom. We will not be stagnant.”
For Mary Lee, watching her children stand in the log yard watching the large loaders pass by serves as a reminder that staying grounded and maintaining faith can lead to extraordinary outcomes. The culture of the company is founded on teamwork and creating lasting memories.
“We have a fun culture here. We enjoy what we do, but the people we work with really make it what it is.” GN
