Jason Cornman isn’t content with the status quo. Already an integral part of the manufacturing company his grandfather founded more than three decades ago, five years ago he opened a second business. “I saw the need to service the local community and went for it,” Cornman said.

This 1995 graduate of Bedford High School works for his family’s business, Platt & Son Inc. near Centerville, and runs a Stihl outdoor products sales and service dealership. He finds jobs and does the bidding on government contracts for the manufacturing company, which makes wire ropes and assemblies, mostly for military applications. “We make things such as tank tows, recovery wench lines, aircraft and engine slings. Basically if they need to pick it up, drag it or pull it, we make it,” Cornman said. Among their products was the wire tank tow line that dragged Saddam Hussein’s statue off it’s pedestal in Iraq.

Cornman started working in the company “soon after I could walk.” He remembers sweeping the shop floor, and later working as a laborer, running machines and eventually migrating into the office, where his knowledge of computers was particularly useful. He eventually moved into his current position as sales manager - working under his father, Larry, who is president. “It’s challenging and rewarding working for my father,” he said. “He knows the machines inside and out. I’m always learning from him.” In the meantime, Jason is slowly upgrading the company’s computer network and capabilities. Business has been brisk, with 16 working in the company and another three new hires coming on line.

He started the retail business because he said he saw a need to serve loggers in the county. “I like variety and working with loggers is satisfying,” he said. He’s had a sharp learning curve since opening. He services as well as sells items such as chain saws, weed eaters and other power equipment, and attended workshops to learn the products and how to service them. But he said the most important skill he’s learned is to “listen to the customer. You’ve got to be able to understand what they want and help match them to the right piece of equipment.”

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