Our mission is to create a work environment that first and foremost recognizes employees as human beings and ultimately improves the lives of anyone who works at the organization.
“An organization’s true value is not defined by revenue growth or profitability. Those are important metrics for our business, but they are outcomes of a higher purpose. The real mission is to enhance the lives of the people who work here.”
–Kevin Hancock, CEO
Safety. Undoubtedly, safety is our number one value, and it is everyone’s responsibility—every minute of every day. No task or performance goal is so important that safety should be jeopardized in order to accomplish it.
Employee Engagement. Leadership is encouraged at every position in the company. We strive to create a workplace where employees feel empowered, respected and listened to, honoring our commitment to a culture where ‘Everybody Leads’ and truly being a ‘Best Place to Work.’
Customer Intimacy.
Our focus on employee and customer intimacy means fostering deep levels of engagement across all segments—knowing each employee, each customer, each vendor, and each community with an intense level of detail, compassion, and sincerity. Our relationships have deep roots and are long-term because we ask questions and listen to what matters most for the people on our team and the people we are servicing. We put all our energy into being the company we want to be by staying true to our values and concentrating on our core customers, products and services.
Efficiency. Reducing waste as measured in time, materials, and energy is one side of Hancock’s efficiency story. The Higher Calling of Lean’—creating efficiencies and gaining capacity to put work back in its place—is part two. Being efficient and accurate not only enables us to service customers better, but also frees up time for a healthier work-life balance, allowing employees to fill their time with meaningful activities that enrich their lives.
Community. Proudly doing business since 1848, Hancock has always been immersed in the communities we serve. Deeply embedded in Hancock’s culture is stewardship—we firmly believe in giving back and leaving things in better shape than when we assumed responsibility for them. Everyone we’re connected to raises families, coaches, serves on boards, and gives back to their communities. We connect with organizations around the state, supporting them financially and with in-kind materials, along with the gift of time and service.
Pride. Being part of Team Hancock means taking pride in doing the right thing for our teammates, our customers, and our communities. Employees—the people servicing the customer—are the most valuable assets to our organization. We employ enthusiastic, vibrant, hardworking, smart team members who are excited about delivering world-class products and services to our customers, engaging in continuous improvement, and a fostering a culture of engagement and innovation.
Transparency. Our goal is to provide employees and customers with the tools, data, and information that help inform the best decision-making possible and make their jobs easier. Information and digital equality means all humans within our organization have access to tools, resources, data, and business intel, no matter the job role.
Hancock Lumber Roots
Being in the lumber business since 1848 says more about our commitment to the future than it does about our past. Today, Hancock Lumber operates high-efficiency sawmills, lumberyards, component manufacturing facilities, and full-service kitchen design showrooms. Our mission is to create a work environment that recognizes employees as human beings and ultimately enhances the lives of everyone who works here. Led by over 600 employees, Team Hancock is a multi-year recipient of the ‘Best Place to Work in Maine’ award. Leadership is encouraged at every position in the company, and we strive to create a workplace where employees feel empowered, respected, and listened to–honoring our commitment to a culture where ‘Everybody Leads’ and truly being a ‘Best Place to Work’. A seventh-generation, family-owned integrated forest products company who is passionate about our people-first and values driven culture, innovation drives us to work smarter so our customers don’t have to work harder.
Hanging on the wall in the company’s Home Office in Casco is an original copy of a hand-written contract dated October 4th, 1848 for the construction of a new mill for the grand sum of $850. In the original 1848 contract between N&S Decker and Ambrose F. Wright the agreement reads, “Nathan and Spencer Decker agree to pay to the said Wight for building the said mill and dam the sum of eight hundred and fifty dollars, one hundred in two months and the remainder when the work is completed…” It is only by mere circumstances that Hancock Lumber exists under this name and is not called Decker Lumber. Nathan Decker originally began the lumber business in Casco Village in 1859, around the same time he married his wife, Hannah Stuart Hancock.
Hannah was the widow of Sumner M. Hancock who had died, leaving her with a baby boy, Sumner O. Hancock. The couple lived in Casco village and Nathan raised Sumner as his own; in fact, the child’s name always remained “Hancock.” Sumner O. Hancock inherited the Decker fortune as there were no other children. Eventually the family chose to rename the business Hancock Lumber, as it remains today nearly two hundred years later. Family Business Magazine recognizes Hancock Lumber Company as the 71st oldest family business in America.