Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1453353
PalletCentral • January-February 2022 25 Extraordinaire. While he provides NWPCA leadership with the know-how to best support the industry, MacCauley generously donates his time and auctioning talent to generate funds to invest in the advancement of the wooden pallet and container industry. "Bill MacCauley has taken the initiative over the years to lend his expertise and build the auction to what it is today. His passion for the industry and the Foundation is inspiring. We are so grateful and appreciative for his dedication and commitment," says Brent McClendon, NWPCA President/CEO. PalletCentral caught up with Bill to chat with him about his involvement in the Pallet Foundation. PalletCentral: Tell us about your business and how you got into the pallet industry. Bill: Our company, John Rock Inc. is one of the largest single-location manufacturers of pallets and crates in the United States. We have over 300 employees and operate in over 300,000 square feet under one roof at our Coatesville, PA facility. With our 12 automated nailing lines, we can produce more than 120,000 pallets a week. We also operate seven heat treating units, drying pallets, and have sawing lines that cut one million board feet of lumber per week. John Rock also manages over 65 power units and 300 trailers that service the Eastern corridor from Virginia to Massachusetts. I came to work in 1994 at John Rock as assistant plant manager. rough various circumstances, the owner decided to sell the business to me in 1997. At that time, we had 18 employees, so we saw significant growth. We have added other companies to the mix, with two sawmills and a log export company. As many know, we also raise sheep. Currently, we have about 1,000 head of sheep. I was raised on a sheep farm, and my kids were raised the same way. We sell breeding stock and stud rams all across the U.S. and meat to local restaurants and via word of mouth. My wife calls it our hobby on steroids. PC: How has business been in the last few years? Bill: We have been fortunate and have seen growth even through the pandemic. We saw many people stay at home and then invest in their homes, which resulted in people buying local. We all know that pallets deliver those goods, and our business has increased demand. PC: Tell me about your involvement in the Pallet Foundation and how it started. Bill: I am currently a trustee in the Foundation, and as a trustee, we help determine various projects that would benefit the industry. Caryn Smith Raising awareness and money are the two goals of Bill MacCauley, President/CEO of John Rock, Inc. and the Pallet Foundation's chief auctioneer.