FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
From the February 20, 2011 issue of The Tennessean
The nearly 90-minute drive from Nashville to Lawrenceburg, Tenn., winds through a rocky but picturesque countryside. Along the way, don't be surprised to see a few horse-drawn wagons clip-clopping on the shoulder of the road, steered by young Amish men hauling crops, lumber or handmade furniture to market. Lawrenceburg, after all, sits in the midst of Tennessee's small Amish community, which draws a few tourists to this area just south of Columbia.
Their slow-moving wagon wheels turn at a pace that resembles the hesitant economic recovery here. Things are moving in the right direction, but expect to get jostled a bit if you're aboard for the ride. The road to Lawrenceburg also passes through Spring Hill, where General Motors' once-bustling auto assembly plant sits idle, a lingering sign that big business isn't doing that much to lead the way to recovery.
Many big businesses are keeping payrolls lean as they hint at adding jobs in 2012 or beyond rather than this year.
The latest federal jobs data — issued earlier this month — showed a U.S. unemployment rate of 9 percent for January. That's uncomfortably high, but still a vast improvement over the 9.8 percent jobless rate that existed just two months earlier.
So, who is hiring?
Small businesses and entrepreneurs are leading the way. More people seem to be taking the plunge of opening their own shops or are going to work at other small firms that are adding jobs by ones, twos and threes.
In Lawrenceburg, Clayton Washburn, CEO of Miller Drilling Co., is among bosses who plan to hire this year.
Miller Drilling's fortunes are linked to public works projects and some commercial development gigs. It specializes in water quality projects and environmental testing. Developers and government agencies have to hire someone to dig to see what hidden hazards lie beneath the surface when new roads, dams or buildings are built.
Once a family-owned business, Miller Drilling (now a division of a larger company called Geotech Resources Inc.) was bought by NLM Capital Partners of Dallas two years ago. NLM is a boutique private equity firm with interests in everything from hospital management services to pharmacy benefits to educational supplies for schools and colleges.
NLM hired Washburn, a civil engineer and 1990 University of Tennessee graduate, as CEO six months ago. It aims to expand the drilling company's footprint.
Washburn has gone after jobs as far away as California and New Jersey. Two-thirds of Miller Drilling's work has been for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or for other government agencies, including municipal water districts.
The bottom line is this: Its revenues are projected to grow from a modest $8 million in 2010 to $11.5 million this year. The company plans to hire 15 more workers — growing its staff to 55 employees.
"We're making a significant investment in new equipment and adding positions. We're taking a long-term view, and with our equity partners we may be in a position to acquire other companies," Washburn said. "As we pick up more work, we'll pick up more people."
Who can argue with that game plan?
Randy McClain is business editor of The Tennessean. Reach him at 615-259-8882 or ramcclain@tennessean.com.