History
Associated Hardwoods:
"There's a difference between order takers and salesmen."
— John Richard (Dick) Jordan, Jr.
Family-Owned & Operated
Early years
Dick Jordan, Jr. founded Associated Hardwoods in 1978 after a successful career in the lumber industry. He received a BS in Forestry from the University of Georgia in 1956 and served in the Army for two years before entering the lumber industry.
Dick worked as a forester for Georgia Craft from 1958 to 1964. In 1965, he joined Georgia Pacific, where he held a variety of positions, including Manager of Timberlands and Logging. In 1971, he transferred into sales where he became one of the top salesmen.
In 1978, Dick left Georgia Pacific to establish his own wholesale company and partnered with Doug Holman, a 20-year veteran in production, concentration yard, and rough mill.
Family Legacy
John R. Jordan III (“Rick”) Owner & President
John R. Jordan III, known as Rick, serves as the Owner and President of Associated Hardwoods, Inc. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Rick entered the hardwood industry in 1982 and has spent over four decades building a career defined by strong industry relationships, deep operational knowledge, and entrepreneurial vision.
Rick believes in surrounding himself with a strong, dedicated team and credits much of the company’s continued growth to a collaborative approach and shared commitment to excellence.
In addition to business development, Rick remains actively engaged with day-to-day operations and customer relationships, ensuring the company maintains its reputation for reliability, responsiveness, and integrity. He is widely respected in the industry for his hands-on leadership style, deep knowledge of hardwood products, and long-standing commitment to quality and service.
Outside of the office, Rick enjoys spending time with his wife and family.
Growth and expansion
In 1982, Associated Hardwoods built a concentration yard and kiln-drying facility in Granite Falls, NC. This enabled the company to offer a variety of wholesale green and kiln-dried lumber.
In 1982, Associated Hardwoods added another key player to the lineup: John Richard (Rick) Jordan III. The UNC graduate headed up the sales team, increasing orders for lumber over the next few years.
Over time, Associated Hardwoods has continued to grow and expand. The company now operates a sawmill, a kiln-drying facility, and a concentration yard. Associated Hardwoods also offers a variety of value-added services, such as automated gluing, CNC routing, CNC gang-ripping, and CNC cross-cutting.
Company philosophy
Associated Hardwoods is committed to providing its customers with the highest quality products and services. The company's philosophy is to help its customers become more profitable through providing value-added services.
Associated Hardwoods is also committed to sustainability. The company practices sustainable forest management and uses the latest technology to reduce waste.