Our friends at Special-Lite penned this informative article about Mills & Nebraska. Here is an abbreviated version that encapsulates our history and vision quite nicely.

In 85 years of corporate history a great deal can happen. One prime example of business adaptability is Mills & Nebraska of Orlando, Florida.

Their name is one example. The company was founded as Central Florida Lumber and Supply Company in 1933 at the height of the Great Depression. Their location was at North Mills Avenue and Nebraska Street. In the early 1950s, a marketing campaign asked: “What is the best known address in Orlando?” The response: “Mills & Nebraska!” Soon, customers were chanting the response and the name stuck.

According to M&N owner and CEO, Bridget Pulsifer, “We have morphed 8 or 9 times in our 85 years. We were founded by the directors of a company selling aggregate and concrete block. In early years we were a hardware store with a little bit of lumber. We added a mill shop, metal plated wood trusses, a pre-hung shop, and finally a window department. During World War II, M&N was called upon to use German POW labor to provide materials that would build wooden boats for the war effort. Then the concrete block company was sold, however the buyer did not want the hollow metal door/frame business that was part of it. We saw the opportunity and started a Door Division to include the hollow metal and existing pre-hung business. That was in the 1970s and served as the birth of what we know as Mills & Nebraska today. M&N has also maintained a branch in Lakeland, Florida for fifteen years. ”

“We have always been a good community partner,” Bridget explains. “We support local charities for the homeless and less advantaged. We also work with The Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Habitat for Humanity, and many Boy Scout Eagle candidates (my father was an Eagle). I take a personal interest in NAWIC, the National Association of Women in Construction and I combine my work with young women to encourage them to seek careers in construction. We have started a Community Outreach Committee that identifies additional charities to support as well as each department of the company volunteering together.”

Even with all this work with the community, she remembers her employees. “In fact," she says, “I have had to adapt my management style to serve them best!”

She points out that the company has always felt a responsibility to keep families employed and secure. “To me that’s the real job of the owner—to not just look at the bottom line, but to give job security and opportunity to those that are willing to work to improve the company for everybody else,” proclaims Bridget.

Employees have shown a great interest in learning and growing into understanding what business ownership entails. “Our employees are much more engaged in the business,” Bridget says. “They know how we are doing and what each of them can do to ensure not only our business success but their own financial success.”

To further build the M&N team, she has provided regular trainings through M&N University, such as in personal finance. They have also had several team building events. The company shut down operations to take all employees to a low ropes course. Everyone was assigned to cross-functional groups as they tackled more than a dozen exercises that required working together. Next up, an escape room exercise!

Each of these events is accompanied by a lunch, a corporate financial update, a review of recent wins, and ideas to serve customers and each other better. As a result, cross-department communication improves while silos are torn down.

M&N kicked off their 85th anniversary recognition with a half-day employee celebration. After a nice luncheon, employees made a presentation about company history and success testimonials followed. An appreciation cookout and facilities tour was held for the customers.

“Another fundamental element of our success is our work to build strong customer relationships,” says Bridget. “We have always done that through complete honesty and by being super responsive...to maintain and strengthen these relationships.”

“Some of our distinctive customers, such as Disney, require specialized opening solutions,” Bridget explains. “For these customers we have a dedicated sales person and installer to handle the materials they require, such as Special-Lite doors.”

The M&N over-the-counter “Inside Sales” team focuses on transactional sales, fast paced and smaller projects involving 1–20 doors at a time. They are also very capable of handling larger projects for customers who need a fast turnaround.

Meanwhile, her contracts team takes a longer and more patient view of business by serving contractors engaged in both bid scenarios as well as design-build and owner-negotiated projects. Team members apply their extensive industry knowledge to advise their clients and to put together all of the supporting documentation required.

“Members of these two teams have different skills sets,” she says. “What works for one team won’t necessarily work for the other, but each is able to serve their respective customers in the best possible manner.”

M&N also keeps a plentiful supply of inventory on hand. Their 36,000 square feet warehouse is used for hardware, hollow metal frames and doors, and wood doors. As a result, they can provide immediate solutions for local jobs and follow customer projects across the country.

Amanda Wilson, of Southeast Architectural Solutions, represents Special-Lite and other manufacturers to M&N. She says: “When it comes down to it, a manufacturer has to put its trust and reputation in the hands of its distributors. Special-Lite could not ask for a better partner than Mills & Nebraska.”

A lot can happen in 85 years. Today, M&N business remains steady with work across all markets including hospitality venues, healthcare facilities, educational projects, retail establishments, and senior housing. In this dynamic environment, M&N's focus is partnering with subcontractors or other organizations to ensure end user success.

“No two days are the same when you’re in this business,” Bridget concludes. “That’s both the challenging and rewarding aspect of this work and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

To read the full article go to:

https://special-lite.com/featured-partner-mills-nebraska/

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