Employment Opportunities

Gulf Coast Shelter (GCS), a subsidiary of Shelter Products, Inc. (SPI), operates a trading office in Daphne, Alabama and a distribution yard/trading office located in Laurel, Mississippi. GCS and SPI-Southeast have combined annual sales in excess of $70 million and currently employ over 30 traders and support staff.

Gulf Coast Shelter is engaged in the purchase, sale and distribution of building material first and seconds and imported products for domestic consumption. GCS customers are primarily contractors, retailers, distributors, and industrial manufacturers. We offer a full range of products including lumber, plywood, OSB, roofing, fixtures, molding and millwork, hardwood lumber and flooring, tile and imported laminates, panel products and cabinetry.

Gulf Coast Shelter has grown its business exponentially since its inception in 2004. GCS is constantly looking to grow its business through the development and growth of its trader base. We look for talented entrepreneurial individuals with the drive and initiative to earn exceptional income while working in a commission based team environment.

We ensure the success of our GCS Traders by providing:

• Financial Strength and Support
  Gulf Coast Shelter’s has been a phenomenal addition to our business. Shelter Products specializing in Contractor Sales for over 50 years, has been fortunate enough to profitably grow our business even during these changing economic times. GCS has provided us the opportunity to diversify our business model and put our excess capital to work. Since its inception, GCS has surpassed our expectations and we are committed to investing the capital and resources required to further grow this important segment of our business.

  Joe Beechler CEO Shelter Products, Inc.

• Custom Designed Order Processing and Trader Information Systems
  Our I/T Team is committed to supporting our traders with fast, cost effective and efficient systems to effectively manage their businesses.

  • All our systems are custom built by an IT staff with extensive building materials experience. We have one of the most robust and complete set of systems of any trading house in America.
  • We understand what it takes to be a trader and our systems are designed to enhance every aspect of trading.
  • When problems do arise, our IT staff responds in minutes, not hours or even days.

  Charles Smith Director - Information Technology

• Customer and Mill Management Systems
  Trading is a complex fast paced competitive business. To ensure success, our traders need accurate information at their immediate disposal. Our custom designed Customer and Management Systems provide:

  • Comprehensive real time information putting account profiles and history at your fingertips
  • Information as to what products your customer bought, when they bought them, and at what prices
  • A database with the ability to source specialty and hard-to-find products quickly with a complete mill-to-product cross reference inquiry system

  Colin McDonell Manager - Information Technology

• Domestic and International Market Presence
  Shelter Products and GCS are recognized in both domestic and international markets. We have a broad domestic supply base that is complimented with imported products to meet the constantly changing and ever competitive market landscape. To ensure the greatest opportunity for success, our traders:

  • Are not constrained by regional, territorial or product restriction in their trading activities
  • Have access to imported products from all parts of the world
  • Have the support of a team of successful traders working together to support the growth of their trading activities

  Rex Sharkey Sales Manager

  Scott Chapman Sales Manager

• Business Development and Support
  Trading is a complex fast paced business with a myriad of opportunities which at times, by their nature, require looking beyond the mere purchase and sale of a product. Some of those complexities include taking large positions, purchasing inventories, importing products, remanufacture etc. In these cases we provide our traders the necessary Business Development and Support to ensure that these transactions are managed to ensure the optimal returns and success of each program and trader. Some of the support processes include:

  • Custom designed forecast models
  • Custom designed inventory management and reporting systems
  • Remanufacture costing and tracking systems
  • Market information, research compilation and analysis

  Our Business Development and Support Group is well versed in the multifaceted trading business and provides the assistance and support necessary to effectively manage large scale, complex and capital intense trading opportunities..

  Jack Clark Vice President Operations and Administration

• In-House Credit Department
  Our Credit Department provides fast and efficient management of credit for our traders, by providing:

  • Quick turnaround on new applicant approval process, typically less than 1-2 hours
  • Improved cash flow which increases buying and sales opportunities.
  • Increased risk management awareness, greater latitude to managing known risk
  • Account reconciliation
  • Reduced bad debt exposure
  • Increased sales by focusing on reliable and profitable customers
  • Unique payment terms to meet the varied needs of our customers
  • Various payment vehicles, eg. Chax, bankcards, checks, wires, lock box etc.

  With over 25 years credit management experience, in new account acquisition, scoring models, fraud/risk management, collections, bad debt, payment processing, training/coaching, proprietary and commercial credit experience, lien law knowledge, contracts management (just to name a few) Our in-house Credit Department plays a key role in helping grow business while reducing/managing losses with the ultimate goal of increased profitability.

  Lori Govantes Director of Credit

• In-House Traffic Department
  The order has been sold and needs to ship to the customer before the sale is complete. Our traffic department is ON IT! - To book the most cost effective and efficient way to get the product from the mill to our customers’ door. Our traffic department accomplishes this through:

  • A fully integrated order entry, dispatch, and load offer system.
  • Network access to over 1000 qualified shipping alternatives.
  • Blast broadcast of load offerings to a select base of truckers to attain the most competitive rates to optimize profitability.
  • Daily online tracking and notification of bookings to our mills, customers and traders that the order has been scheduled for pickup and subsequent delivery to ensure the highest level of customer service.

  Our traffic group takes pride in the service we provide in managing the movement of our products from our mills to our customers in the most efficient, cost effective and competitive manner available.
• Experienced Administrative Support
  Our traders work hard to get the order and we are there to stand behind them to complete the back office work necessary to pay our mills, truckers and process the invoices to our customers. In addition, our support staff works alongside our traders to:

  • Assist the trader in gathering any other documentation required.
  • Arrange for release of materials from inventory.
  • Balance and reconcile inventory positions.
  • Process any adjustments necessary to complete or modify the order.
  • Resolving any issues we can in following up on orders, as required by our traders.

  We share a close working relationship with our traders to assist them in any way we can to support their trading efforts on a day to day basis. The traders success is our success and we are here to support them to facilitate the growth of their trading businesses.

  Leah Wilkins Administrative Supervisor Daphne

  Beth Taylor Administrative Supervisor Laurel

• Ongoing Sales Training Programs
  GULF COAST SHELTER IS A LEARNING COMPANY. Trader development is directly tied to individual growth and systems improvements. Encouraging and assisting all our employees to their maximum potential is our strength. We provide the following:

  • Professional Sales Training
  • Product Training
  • Professional Coaching
  • A Personally tailored Development Program
  • A sustained ongoing support system of personalized critiques to increase your productivity.

  Jay Brandon Training for Results

• Lucrative Incentive Based Compensation Program
  Our Compensation Program is specifically designed to incent and reward our traders to grow their businesses. To accomplish this, Our Program:

  • Progressively rewards our traders as the traders’ earnings grow.
  • Is unlimited with no top end.
  • Provides a monthly base draw that increases as traders’ earnings grow
  • Offers a Rookie Bonus Program that is specifically designed to reward and incent new traders as they learn and grow their businesses.
  • Recognizes and celebrates the earnings of our top performers.

  Our goal is that all of our traders grow to their maximum potential. We recognize that each of our traders is a committed entrepreneur who is looking for a career that allows them to grow financially as well as professionally and personally. For this purpose, we have created a compensation program in conjunction with a support system from which each trader can grow their businesses and attain the level of financial wealth and security they desire. A compensation program that is only limited by the level of commitment our traders are willing to make.

  John Austin President Gulf Coast Shelter

• Comprehensive Benefit Program
  The most valuable resource of our company is its employees. The key functions of the Human Resources Department are provided to ensure the well being and management of people working in our organization. HR helps to accomplish the aims and objectives for both you and the company. We provide you with:

  • A positive work atmosphere and environment.
  • Help in developing a winning team.
  • Medical, Dental & Vision coverage; we pay for your complete coverage and a portion of your family’s coverage.
  • 125 Flexible Benefits; we offer you a pre-tax spending option for health care and dependent care costs that saves you extra money.
  • 401(k) Savings Plan that includes a company grant each year.
  • Life Insurance; we provide you with $20,000 coverage, $35,000 after 10 years and the opportunity for low-cost additional coverage.
  • Short and Long Term Disability coverage.
  • Travel Accident Coverage.
  • The ability to invest in company stock through your 401(k).
  • Employee Assistance Program for free professional, confidential help with financial, legal or family issues.
  • Paid Vacations.
  • Paid Holidays.

  Karen Austin Director of Human Resources

To apply for an open position:

Download and complete the SPI application form.  Mail, fax or email.

Employment Form (196KB)

OR

Send resume and cover letter

Shelter Products, Inc
Attention Human Resources
P.O.Box 42100
Portland, OR 97242
FAX 503.233-2515
Or E-mail to: Karen Austin

SPI is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

CURRENT OPEN POSITIONS

BUILDING MATERIALS  SALES/TRADER

We are looking for an experienced, back to back trader specializing in closeouts, seconds, off grade and related building materials.  We offer an excellent opportunity to build a high-income career with unlimited potential.

Successful candidates will possess:

• Proven track record in commission sales
• High energy with a strong work ethic
• Ability to thrive in a competitive environment where your own initiative is the key
• Commission based motivation with an entrepreneurial spirit