At Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, our motto is that it’s more than a membership, it’s a partnership. In holding to that, we work to spotlight our members to provide positive exposure to their business and share their views on the benefits of Chamber membership. This week we spoke with the fantastic people at TRU® White Pine home building facility to discover more about what they do, and how they have benefited by joining the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.
TRU: An Introduction
If you haven’t heard TRU’s name, you are probably more familiar with the business than you think. TRU White Pine is one of Clayton Home Building Group’s® 40 off-site home building facilities nationwide. This year, TRU White Pine is celebrating 25 years in business. The home building facility employs 330 team members committed to building affordable homes for families in East Tennessee and the surrounding regions. The need for affordable housing is crucial in the United States, and Clayton aims to make the dream of homeownership a reality for as many families as possible. TRU White Pine helps this mission by constructing off-site built homes ranging from 765 sq. ft. to just over 2,000 sq. ft.
TRU Vision Statement
“To be an evolving, world-class home builder that is the employer of choice, the preferred builder in any life stage and a committed steward of the environment and communities we serve.”
TRU’s History
Clayton Homes was founded by businessman, investor, and philanthropist Jim Clayton in 1956 in Knoxville, Tennessee. TRU White Pine falls under the manufacturing division of Clayton Home Building Group® and is one of Clayton’s eight home building facilities in Tennessee. In 2003, Warren Buffett’s holding company acquired Clayton, folding TRU and Clayton’s other subsidiaries into Berkshire Hathaway. Today, TRU operates six building facilities: two in East Tennessee and four in Alabama and Texas.
TRU: A Family-Oriented Company
TRU White Pine is the largest Clayton home building facility producing the TRU product line. As a family-oriented company, TRU is well into its second and third generation of builders, with many Team Members recalling their grandparents working at the facility when it first began operations. Team members at TRU are incredibly proud of what they build and realize the importance of quality and attention to detail they invest in each home they build for home buyers. TRU homes are often the first home investment opportunities for many people. TRU also believes in rewarding its team and celebrating accomplishments. One of the favorite workplace traditions at TRU is firing up the grills and providing a steak lunch for team members.
TRU White Pine and Jefferson County Chamber: A Partnership
TRU White Pine joined the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce in 1995 as a vehicle to further their commitment to serving the communities in which they operate. TRU realized the importance of building a dynamic business environment that contributes to the community’s health where their team members live and work. TRU works closely with the Chamber of Commerce to ensure that local businesses have the resources they need to thrive. Additionally, TRU utilizes the Chamber to develop new leaders, attract new companies to Jefferson County, and maintain a vibrant and attractive business community that contributes to its continuous growth.
Since joining the Chamber, TRU has benefited by enhancing its visibility in the community and by making valuable connections with other business and community leaders. Through the Chamber, TRU has been able to identify opportunities for growth and partnership throughout the region, including facilitating relationships with local schools and providing them with crucial opportunities to develop their workforce of the future.
TRU is a prominent and active member of the Leadership Jefferson County Program, a community program designed to identify and groom leaders who will positively impact the growth and development of Jefferson County. Not only does TRU encourage their up-and-coming leaders to participate in the program, but they also partner with the Chamber to host portions of the program, including business and industry tours and introduction sessions. TRU’s Plant Manager, Blake Ryman, also serves on the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Additionally, you’ll find TRU representatives at all Chamber events such as the Holiday Food Drive, Annual Banquet, and Chamber Golf Classic.
More Information on TRU
For more information about TRU or to find out about TRU retailers located in East Tennessee, you can visit TRU’s website.
Join the Jefferson County Chamber
The connections you make through the Chamber will be invaluable to your business, and there has never been a better time to join the Jefferson County Chamber! Membership in the Chamber provides direct benefits that vastly outweigh the tax-deductible cost of membership, including massive exposure of your business to the public, connections through other reputable Jefferson County companies, and access to tools, education, and seminars you can use to improve and expand your business. Chamber members consistently see business growth, make lifelong friends, and enjoy participation in numerous exciting events throughout the year.
Make the move to join the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce by completing a membership application today. Have questions before you join? Contact us online, by email at info@jeffersoncountytennessee.com, or over the phone at (865) 397-9642.
