-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
James Works, new owner of Fletcher Wood Products, poses in the production area of the business. Works, of Humboldt, Kansas, purchased the company from Clark Fletcher and Joe Jackson in May. Fletcher’s father began the business in 1961.

After 24 years of working in the steel manufacturing business his father started, James Works was ready to branch out and run his own operation.

“My dad started a business (B&W Trailer Hitches, headquartered in Humboldt, Kansas) in 1987,” Works said. “I started working for him full-time in 1997.”

Works, who ended up working primarily in sales, watched that company grow from 19 employees to 450.

When it came time for Works to explore his own venture a couple of years ago, he wasn’t necessarily just interested in the steel industry.

“I wanted to get back to a smaller company,” Works said. “Just looking at different options for owning my own company. I was searching for manufacturing opportunities.”

Meanwhile, 380 miles north in Fort Dodge, Clark Fletcher and Joe Jackson, longtime operators of Fletcher Wood Products, were looking to sell.

In 2018, Fletcher Wood Products, 428 Central Ave., was officially on the market.

Fletcher, Jackson and Works each had at least one thing in common. They were selective in terms of it being the right fit for both parties.

During a period of about two years, Works said he explored between 60 and 70 companies before finding Fletcher.

In January 2020, he met Fletcher and Jackson.

Works gravitated toward the Fletcher company after reading about it online.

“This one just felt right from the start,” Works said. “From looking at the basic overview of the company online, visiting with the owners and seeing the community.”

Within a week of visiting with Fletcher and Jackson, an initial agreement was in place, according to Works.

“We finalized everything May 12 (2020),” Works said. “Pretty quick from my first visit to actually closing.”

Works said he liked that Fletcher is a family business.

“They (Clark and Joe) have built a very good company that’s been around for a long time,” Works said. “Easy to talk to. Very open. They seem to be very selective on who they wanted to sell to — someone who would move into the community and not be remote.

“Obviously, I come from a family-owned business so finding a family-owned business was high on my list. Some people shy away, but I know the value of family and family mindset in running a business — being a family of workers.”

Jackson, who began working at Fletcher 27 years ago, said Works offered the qualities he and Fletcher were looking for in a new owner.

“Boy, he was a perfect match for what we wanted,” Jackson said. “Help our employees grow and improve themselves. Family-oriented as well — that they have time for their families and we have time for ours.”

Works’ marketing and sales background was also coveted.

“That’s exactly what we were looking for and we were exactly what he was looking for,” Jackson said. “We are thrilled to have him be the new owner, for the business, employees and community.”

Fletcher, whose father started the company in the basement of his Fort Dodge home in 1961, is confident in the transition to Works.

“We feel fortunate James has made this dedication to move his family up here and bringing a wealth of contacts and background experience,” Fletcher said. “We are really excited for him.”

Works has made his home in Humboldt, the same name as the city in Kansas where he’s spent most of his life.

“Both are off (U.S. Highway) 169,” Works said. “That’s kind of a neat coincidence.”

While working at B&W, Works served as a sales manager for a company that sold globally.

“We served Canada, Mexico, Australia and Europe,” Works said. “Expanding into those markets is what I plan on doing.”

Currently, Fletcher sells primarily in the Midwest in states like Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Illinois.

“This is a company that’s stood the test of time and is ready to grow,” said Works, who has been in sales for 20 years.

Fletcher employs 16 people, including engineers, saw operators and machine operators.

Fletcher sells commercial products for contractors.

“We don’t necessarily complete the whole job here,” Works said. “It’s made so contractors can easily install them on the job site.”

Much of the cabinetry at Friendship Haven came from Fletcher, for example.

Schools and hospitals are other examples where the cabinetry would be seen.

Works said his primary goal is to continue what’s already been started. “To obviously grow number of sales and continue the family environment Clark and Joe have instilled and fostered here,” Works said, “invest in our employees and be able to give back to the community.”