Cory Alder is president of Alder Sales Corporation, title sponsor – and valued friend – of AIA Utah. As title sponsor, Alder Sales Corporation enjoys supporting the community. Like AIA Utah, they also believe in the goal of a better-built environment. By partnering with the AIA, Alder’s unique conscientiousness assists the community in expanding the quality of life.
AIA Utah recently interviewed Cory about the company, its history and future direction.
Why did the company’s founding members decide to start the company?
Alder’s started as a restaurant supply company during the Great Depression. George Alder had been working in that business, and the company he worked for failed. He and his four sons decided they would open their own business out of the necessity of needing a job. They were successful in the restaurant supply business until the early 1950s. However, in the late 1930s, they started a division selling architectural specialty products like accordion doors. The restaurant supply business began to slow down in the early 1950s, and the family focused their efforts on architectural products.
All the founding members were Alders. What was their family relationship with each other?
G. Alfred Alder founded the company with his four sons, Lin, George, Don and Gerald. Each gave their attention to the business; however, other interests came along at different times for Lin, Gerald and George. My grandpa Don was the one who ended up staying with the business.
Please tell us about the history of Alder Sales Corporation. In particular, what would you like to say about the three generations that came before you?
Don was my grandfather. After the passing of his father, he started the process of buying out his three brothers. That buyout was completed in the 1960s. My father was the youngest of five children. His older siblings chose not to be in the family business. My dad started working at Alder’s at the age of 18. As my dad was the youngest sibling, his parents were aging out of the business, and my dad was asked to take over at a very young age. With the help of very good mentors in and out of the business, he took the company into steady 40-year growth. He acquired more product lines and expanded our footprint into the surrounding states of Nevada, southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming.
Did you always intend to join the family company? Please tell us about your decision.
I knew from the time I was little that I wanted to be a part of this company. I always enjoyed working alongside my dad, and I knew it was something I would want to do for my career. I also saw how much my dad loved doing this for a living, and I knew I would want to find that same joy.
How has your perspective about the company changed as you have grown up, held positions within the company, and become president?
As a child, I only saw the benefits of a family business. I didn’t see the long hours and sacrifices my parents put into it. As I have grown inside the company, I have seen those long days and hours and what this company means to so many other people. We have such a great core of employees that make this company go. I now also see the time and efforts put in by everybody in our company. As I started shadowing my dad around the office, I also learned of the great joy he got from watching everyone around him succeed. He loved seeing people grow and better their lives, personally or financially. He just loved seeing those in our company thrive.
What has each job you’ve held contributed to your understanding of your company?
The requirement my dad gave me was to work my way up and prove myself. When I was in high school, I worked part-time in the warehouse. During college, I spent an entire summer on our service crews. After graduating from BYU, I worked on job sites and installed products. These experiences gave me a true appreciation for how the process works. I learned how our installation crews dealt with issues on job sites that aren’t on the shop drawings. I also learned how important job site safety is. We have always taken that very seriously, and after spending a couple of years on job sites, I will continue that tradition always.
The company website lists your products as daylighting solutions, space management solutions, fire and smoke containment, and commercial openings. What would you like architects to know about each of these products other than what is on the website?
We know we are partnered with the very best manufacturers in the industry. Their ideals and goals align with ours, and we have long-term and successful partnerships with each one. This approach allows us to stand behind everything we do and gives architects the confidence that we will perform for their clients.
Why did the company choose to focus on these products?
We found that these products go to market in the same fashion; we help architects detail and specify each product. All these products require factory-trained technicians to ensure proper installation and function. In addition, our company services and maintains all our products for the life of the building. We have two full-time service technicians who only focus on ensuring that our products operate to the highest standards. For example, our technicians still service operable walls my grandfather installed in the 1950s!
What are the advantages of working with commercial organizations?
We have found our products lead us in that direction.
Working on the new Salt Lake International Airport must have been an important project. Please tell us about it.
This project was not only an important one for us, but the largest scale daylighting project our company has ever handled. The sheer size and scale of the skylights and canopies led to our being tasked with supplying and installing all the daylighting panels and other scopes, such as proper air venting in the parking garage atrium space. We also ensured our systems complied with seismic movements required by code.
What are a few other projects the company is particularly proud of? You have some pictures on your website about some of them. What would you like to say about these projects?
We are, of course, proud of all projects we have been a part of. One project that sticks out is the original construction of the Salt Palace in 1983 and the subsequent additions. All those phases have played a big role in where we are currently in the operable wall market because of our expertise in dividing convention space.
Your website highlights Bob Holbrook, Scott Lewis and Reuben Payzant. Is there anything else you would like to add to that information about them?
Bob Holbrook and Reuben Payzant were two great mentors for my dad when he took over the business at a young age. Scott Lewis is our business consultant who has helped my father and me deal with changing business climates.
And finally, please tell us about your plans for the company.
Our goal is to handle the highest quality products and provide a place where we can help people and families in our community grow and better their lives. I plan to continue that legacy. We have grown our company’s footprint in the last few years into different markets. In 2004 we expanded into the Las Vegas market, and in 2020, we opened an office in the Boise market. We always look to add quality and reliable products that align with our ideals and the architects’ ideals. Our ultimate goal is to direct the client to what meets their needs in our markets.
