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From: “Jay Leopold”
Hi Paul,
I have a question for you. I’ll try to keep it brief, which is a challenge for me. I’m with DPR Construction Inc., a young progressive large General Contractor that, like yourselves, is considered a maverick in an otherwise unprogressive industry. In fact, a recent business book entitled “Mavericks at Work” highlights 42 companies in different industries that are re-writing the rules as to how business ought to be done and we were fortunate enough to get featured as one of those companies. With that background (you can see more about us at www.dprinc.com ), here’s the scoop.
I have responsibility for our San Diego office (we do about $200 million annually here), and I’m remodeling the lobby area for several reasons, one of which is to better express our very strong culture by making an unmistakable statement about our core values. We have four of them, and they are for real. Integrity, Uniqueness, Ever Forward, and Enjoyment. This strong cultural statement is going to be done with surfboards…one for each statement that embodies the essence of our core values. For instance, for integrity, there will be Greg Noll’s “Duke” board, a hand shaped Koa board representative of that era of surfing. It smacks of integrity, as does Duke.
My homework has led me to Paul Jensen surfboards as a strong possibility for one of the other four boards, all of which will be prominently displayed in our lobby area in a pretty special way. From what I can tell, one of your boards could be perfect for our core value of Uniqueness (defined by us as follows: We must be different from and more progressive than all other construction companies; we stand for something). There’s no questioning the innovative spirit of your boards. I’m actually intrigued because I was looking for something reflective of Tom Blake’s innovative hollow wooden surfboards from the 30’s and kind of gave up, and then I came across your company. Your boards look beautiful, and they as well as your company seem to be extremely innovative.
I’m interested in the 10’4" or 9’8" waterlogged (my Greg Noll Duke board is also a 10’ 0"). I guess my ultimate question is that if this is the road I go, what are the chances of getting one? The catch is that we have an Open House on May 10. Is there a way to get one by then if I were to go this route? I’m pretty excited about what we’re up to and how one of your boards might fit in to my plan here. I think it’d be very cool for you guys and very cool for us.
Sincerely,
Jay Leopold
Thanks for that…
I gotta keep this short, I’m between flights at JFK NY…Today will have me in London, finally in Ireland where I’ll be till May 13…Teaching a “How To” Class…
I’ll have time in Ireland to get back to you and we can move forward, if you can wait…
Thanks for finding a way to get back to me in the midst of your travels.
Jay
The ONLY boards I have that are available are in Washington State…I CAN arrange for THAT to happen…I need to have a friend in Washington State ship it to you…It’s not that big of a deal…
Let me have as much notice as possible, so I can pull some strings from this side of the Atlantic…
Paul
I’m in!
you will be glad you did this.
Integrity: The Greg Noll Duke board
Ever Forward: a Gerry Lopez Patagonia board
Enjoyment: A Robert August Wingnut model board (a la Endless Summer)
Uniqueness: One of your boards
If you’re in, so am I! Thanks again for being responsive Paul.
Jay
Just wanted you to know that the board made it here safe and sound last week.
Jay
One more from Jay…
Paul,
Just wanted you to see how our core values corridor came out, and the company your board is in. We had a few hundred folks here last night for our annual Open House and this whole thing with the four boards was a huge hit. Thanks so much for working with me. We have a lot of surfers in our business circle and folks loved your board and the story it told. Below is what I wrote up and put on the acrylic sign in front of your board. Just for context, below are the other 3 core values and descriptions of why I chose the boards I did.
UNIQUENESS. We must be different from and more progressive than all other construction companies; we stand for something. - Adapting a technology originally developed by surfing pioneer Tom Blake in the 1930’s, Paul Jensen now makes these hollow wood boards as an alternative to the industry’s traditional surfboards. Using wood and carbon fiber, these surfboards are unique not only in their construction and appearance but in their performance.
EVER FORWARD. We believe in continual self-initiated change, improvement, learning and the advancement of standards for their own sake. - This board was shaped by legendary surfer Gerry Lopez for Patagonia, a company known for setting the standard in their industry, as did Gerry at Pipeline. Using alternative materials such as EPS (extruded polystyrene) foam, their innovations have resulted in surfboards that are lighter, stronger, more durable, and better for the environment.
INTEGRITY. We conduct all business with the highest standards of honesty and fairness; we can be trusted. - This board, a replica of a Duke Kahanamoku 1910 surfboard, was hand carved from Koa by legendary surfer and big wave pioneer Greg Noll and his son Jed. Duke, the consummate waterman of his era, is revered for his unsurpassed skill as well as his unassailable character. The Duke is synonymous with integrity.
ENJOYMENT. We believe work should be fun and intrinsically satisfying; if we are not enjoying ourselves, we are doing something wrong. - Robert August and “Wingnut” are best known for traveling the globe in their quest for the perfect wave in the “Endless Summer” movies. This surfboard, the “Wingnut” model shaped by Robert August, personifies their belief and ours that work can and should be fun and fulfilling .
Thanks again for accommodating my tight time line. When you’re back in the states and can talk, let’s sort out where to go from here. I definitely want one of your boards to take up permanent residence in this spot and would like to figure out options/timing etc…
Sincerely,
Jay
