--- title: "Minute with Matt: Building for the Future While Respecting the Past" description: John Hansen’s journey has taken him from Eau Claire to Afghanistan and Chad, and back to Eau Claire again. image: https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/hubfs/McDonough%20Blog.png --- [![McDonough Manufacturing Company](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BID%20+%20McDonough%20logo%20horizontal.png?width=233&height=60&name=BID%20+%20McDonough%20logo%20horizontal.png "McDonough Manufacturing Company")](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com) Open main menu Close main menu - [Home](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com) - [Products](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/products) Open the submenu - [Resaws](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/products/resaws) - [Bandmills](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/products/bandmills) - [Carriages](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/carriages) - [Board Edgers](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/products/board_edger) - [Gangs](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/products/gang-edgers) - [Material Handling](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/material-handling) - [Custom Rolls](https://info.mcdonough-mfg.com/en-us/mcdonough-custom-rolls) - [Current Inventory](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/inventory) - [Equipment Videos](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/videos) - [Parts & Service](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/parts) Open the submenu - [Parts](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/parts) - [Wheels](https://info.mcdonough-mfg.com/wheels) - [Service](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/service) - [Specialty Services](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/services) - [Tips & Tricks](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/tips) - [Linear Bearing Saw Guide Assembly](https://info.mcdonough-mfg.com/en/linear_guide_assembly) - [Linear Edger Guide](https://info.mcdonough-mfg.com/en/linear_edger_guide_download_page) - [Our Story](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/about) Open the submenu - [Projects](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/projects) - [Blog](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog) - [Careers](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/careers) - [Contact Us](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/contact) # Minute with Matt: Building for the Future While Respecting the Past [Team McDonough](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog/author/team-mcdonough) [Share this blog post on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog/mwm-leadership) [Share this blog post on Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog/mwm-leadership) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog/mwm-leadership) ![](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/hubfs/McDonough%20Blog.png) One of the questions I am asked most often is what makes McDonough different. While our equipment is certainly part of the answer, I believe the real difference comes from the way we approach our work and the values that guide our decisions. Since 1888, McDonough has been serving the sawmill industry by helping customers improve productivity, increase recovery, and build stronger operations. During that time, our industry has experienced tremendous change. New technologies have emerged, customer expectations have evolved, and mills have become increasingly sophisticated. Through all of those changes, our commitment to quality, innovation, and customer success has remained constant. I believe leadership requires a balance between respecting the past and preparing for the future. The history of McDonough provides a strong foundation, but it is our responsibility to continue improving, investing, and finding new ways to help our customers succeed. Every generation of employees has contributed to the company's growth by building on what came before them while embracing new ideas and opportunities. That same philosophy continues to guide us today. We remain focused on designing reliable equipment, supporting our customers long after installation, and developing solutions that address the challenges facing modern sawmills. Our goal is not simply to build machinery. Our goal is to help our customers operate more efficiently, more profitably, and with confidence in the equipment they rely on every day. As we look ahead, we are committed to carrying forward the values that have defined McDonough for more than a century while continuing to evolve alongside the industry we serve. By staying focused on quality, innovation, and customer relationships, we believe we can continue building a company that will serve the forest products industry for generations to come. ### Leave a Comment ## Related Articles [![](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/hubfs/McDonough%20Blog-1.png) ](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog/rebuilding-for-the-future-gates-milling-invests-in-a-new-mcdonough-band-mill) ### [Rebuilding for the Future: Gates Milling Invests in a new McDonough Band Mill](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog/rebuilding-for-the-future-gates-milling-invests-in-a-new-mcdonough-band-mill) When a fire destroyed Gates Milling's maintenance shop and primary breakdown area, the mill lost its ability to saw logs, bringing a critical part of the operation to a... [Team McDonough](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog/author/team-mcdonough) [Read More](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog/rebuilding-for-the-future-gates-milling-invests-in-a-new-mcdonough-band-mill) [![](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/hubfs/Steve%20Kriese.jpg) ](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog/steve-kriese) ### [Steve Kriese - Business Excellence](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog/steve-kriese) We would like to welcome Business Excellence expert, Steve Kriese, to the team! Working out of our Eau Claire location, Steve brings a unique combination of CNC & CMM... [Team McDonough](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog/author/team-mcdonough) [Read More](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/blog/steve-kriese) #### Products - [Resaws](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/products/resaws) - [Bandmills](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/products/bandmills) - [Carriages](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/carriages) - [Board Edgers](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/products/board_edger) - [Gangs](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/products/gang-edgers) - [Material Handling](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/material-handling) - [Current Inventory](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/inventory) - [Sterling Drill Grinder](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/sterling-drill-grinder) #### Parts & Service - [Parts Request](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/parts) - [Service Request](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/service) - [Specialty Services](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/services) #### Our Story - [The McDonough story since 1888](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/about) - [Work at McDonough](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/careers) - [McDonough on the Map](https://www.mcdonough-mfg.com/map) ### Sign up for our newsletter. [Follow us on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mcdonough-manufacturing-canada-ltd/?viewAsMember=true) [Follow us on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/McDonoughManufacturing/) [Follow us on Facebook ](https://twitter.com/McDonoughMfgCo) [Follow us on Facebook ](https://www.youtube.com/c/McDonoughMfg/videos?view_as=subscriber)