We are proud to welcome Tom Dean to the OHC family. Tom has been in the lumber, millwork, flooring, and decking business for 26 years. Tom earned his stripes in the lumber industry working for the family business (Dean Hardwoods, Inc.) since the age of 20. He’s worked the floor in the lumber yard and within each process of his family’s business. While working in the millwork shop, Tom gained experience in tooling and operating machinery, rip saw operation, making moulder knives, and running the moulders. Tom is also trained in kiln drying lumber with over 10 years of experience operating kilns.
Tom has extensive experience purchasing lumber from South America and Asia. As one of the early importers of Ipe decking, Tom was responsible for making this beautiful species so popular in the United States. Over the years, Tom has gained an extraordinary amount of knowledge about domestic and international hardwoods. From Sapele to White Oak, Tom is a veritable encyclopedia on every species of wood used in boats and millwork applications. His knowledge will enable OHC customers to make the right choices for their boat building and millwork lumber needs.
As a member of the IWPA Board of Directors, Tom was a part of a team who represented lumber companies throughout the world. He was also involved in the redecking of two of our armed forces most decorated and storied vessels, the USS North Carolina (Burmese Teak) and the USS Alabama (Ipe Decking).
Tom brought his knowledge and expertise to the boat building industry and is well known amongst the world’s most prized boat manufacturers. Both he and his family have served and sold lumber products to marine businesses including the Rybovich family, Chris Craft, Viking Yachts, Hatteras Yachts, Palmer Johnson, and many others.
Tom will continue to provide these leading boat manufacturers and customers throughout the East Coast with Meranti, Ipe Decking and other high-performance lumber products.
