september 2011
CityLight.org
9
a "Quest for Quality" winner for 23 years
in a row, and SEFL has a host of shipper
awards from companies such as Yamaha,
Lowe's, Moen and Home Depot.
"I loved the trucking business from my
very first day, as I particularly loved work-
ing side by side with our people, who are
so down-to-earth," Cassels says. "Because
I loved what I did during the summers so
much, I never really seriously considered
any other career. Having said that, I nev-
er remember, as a young person, thinking
about whether or not I would actually be
head of the company. I just knew I wanted
to work in the business."
"We want our associates to not only give
us their hands and their feet, but also their
heads and their hearts."
Statistics show that only one-third of all
family businesses are successfully trans-
ferred to the next generation and only 13
percent are transferred onto the third gen-
eration. SEFL is one of the companies that
has made that third-generation transition,
and done it well. There are several reasons
for that, Cassels explains.
He gives much of the credit to Paul Taylor,
who was president of the company from
1984 until 2001. "He did a wonderful job
of help building a wonderful leadership
team to help ensure the success of our
company."
Cassels says his father deserves much of the
credit, as well. At nearly 80 years old, Bill
Cassels still comes to work five days a week
and serves as chairman of the company.
"He has done a wonderful job of letting go
and allowing me to lead the company and
make my mistakes, but at the same time he
is there to give advice and brainstorm with
me as needed. I think we sometimes un-
derestimate the significance of the role of
the senior generation of being able to let
go and yet still be involved in a successful
way."
The third, and most important secret be-
hind that success, Cassels says, "has to
do with the fact that I believe that God's
blessings have been on our company. As I
look back to some of the key events that
have happened in our company, as well as
to some of the key people that have be-
come a part of our company, I see God's
hand through all of it. As I say this, I cer-
tainly am not implying that he will choose
to always bless us, but there is no doubt in
my mind as I look to the past that I see his
hand in our success."
From the March 2009 issue of
Heavy Duty Trucking.