I have worked with Dennis Stone at Overhead Door for a long time. When he announced that his retirement would be effective at the end of 2018, I had mixed emotions.
Dennis joined the company as President in February 2001. He was promoted to CEO a year later. He has thrived for almost four times longer than the average chief executive. I believe that his enduring success is the result of understanding the true nature of the responsibility that he accepted.
Overhead Door is special. It is more than a highly recognized brand or a profitable business. It is more than great products that provide access and security to our homes and businesses. It has provided stability and prosperity to thousands of families for almost a hundred years. It is special because it has been anointed by the Father to provide blessings for his children.
Dennis has embraced his role as the chief caretaker of that blessing.
The world has changed during his time here. 9/11. Social media. Smartphones. Working remotely. Going green. Brick and mortar moved online. The Great Recession.
Other famous companies have lost their way and failed during his tenure. Overhead Door continues to shine brightly, flowing hope and peace into a troubled world.
If I have witnessed the secret to Dennis’s success, it is his intense commitment to a simple concept:
Copies of our core values are scattered around our office buildings nationwide. To most people, they are nice thoughts. For Dennis, they have been his north star. He understands that leaders exist for a greater reason than guaranteeing quarterly results. He understands that leaders make decisions that define our collective character.
I have also known Dennis’s successor, Kelly Terry, for many years. I have watched him defend forgotten people when he thought no one was watching. I am proud to serve with him. True to form, Dennis is handing guardianship to someone sworn to uphold the same values.
I have interviewed many people who were looking for jobs at ODC. One of the questions I am most frequently asked is:
“In a world where people change jobs so frequently, why have you stayed here?”
My answer is always the same. “Every day, I wake up and come to work. I try to create a better life for people. I am able to focus on doing my best because I am never distracted by scandals or being embarrassed by the actions our company has taken. I choose this job because I believe in our leaders. I have watched them survive both storms and the everyday details without compromising their integrity. I am here because they lead where I hope the world will go.”
Overhead Door is built on ideals that are worth safeguarding, and embracing those ideals requires a long-term commitment to serving the needs of others. For 18 years, Dennis has put us first.
Dennis is retiring with a long list of victories. He has served well and is now shifting his focus to his wife, children, and grandchildren. Like so many others, they will continue to be blessed through him.
Our careers are short and our legacies are brief. The most we can achieve during our time here is to do our level best and to inspire the next generation to do the same.
Thank you, Dennis, for your faithful service. Thank you for your leaving us a company that is worth defending. Thank you for showing us how to do it well.
May God bless you and keep you as love and prosperity continue to grow in your footprints.
