Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Scott Oliver, left, with brother John and Business Manager Linda Moore outside of the new Travel Trailer Sales and Service Center off of Swan Avenue.
The product that is really taking off is the travel trailer, said Scott. Just this month of June alone we have built 38 models both large and small, and as I said, we really don't have the staff to take any more orders. The model has grown and is more "state of the ark" than the first ones, we offer so many more options now, even solar power and an awning that when you are parked and enjoying the scenery, if a sudden strong breeze comes up, the awning will automatically pull itself in."
It's hard to believe that Oliver Technologies, Hohenwald's major employer started here in Lewis County 25 years ago, and yet they nearly didn't come here at all, in fact as I heard the stories related to me many years ago, it was Bob Gafford who was in Nashville with a Better Business Team that he heard about a California company wanting to move and set up rootes here.
Actually the truth is more like he saw a letter on the desk at the meeting in Nashville and while the person was out of the room wrote down the name and address of the California Company who wrote to the State of Tennessee showing an interest in moving to the area.
It was Gafford who then wrote to the California based company asking if they would like to come into Hohenwald to see what they could offer. James Oliver replied that he would like very much to come in and see the place, and so they did. And so the Oliver/Lewis County connection was born. If it hadn't been for the "Go Get Em Attitude" of Bob Gafford, Olivers would probably not have come to Lewis County and Hohenwald.
So call it luck or God's divine leading, Hohenwald today is blessed with Olivers Technology and it's four companies that employs over 800 people and started off in a 30,000 square foot building on Swan Avenue twenty 25 ago, it now has over 1 million square feet of factory floor and offices and warehouses in Hohenwald as well as Texas and Florida producing the amazing walk in bathtub seen on television from Canada all across the US with Pat Boone, to the equally incredible travel trailer that has orders backed up through 2022. "We just cannot take any more orders at the present time" said one of the family partners, Scott Oliver.
"It is and always has been a family business" said Scott. "After Dad passed away Emily, John and myself took over control and while there have been a number of offers to buy us out, we have no intention of doing so, we are quite happy the way it is. We have plans to expand, but the main problem is getting staff. At the present time we are around 40 people short.
Former Lewis County Mayor and Chief Executive Terry Bunch remembers the visit well, and said "The first time I met the Oliver's was in Bob Gaffords office above mine in the Court House."
OTI was founded in December of 1995 by James and Evon Oliver. Located in Hohenwald, Tennessee, OTI develops, manufactures and markets foundation products for the Manufactured Housing Industry. For over 15 years prior to forming OTI in Tennessee, the Oliver's developed, manufactured and sold numerous products to this Industry in California and Arizona. Today, OTI sells its products throughout the continental United States.
We continue to use our resources to develop innovative foundation products. Given the years of experience we have through our workforce and management, creativity and manufacturing capability continue to be our strong points. We have products to satisfy most foundation needs.
Our mission, as it has always been, is to serve this Industry by providing the best foundation products available. We will continue to improve our existing products and develop new products as the need arises.
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