University of Vermont honors r.k. Miles
r.k. Miles, the Vermont pro dealer and hardware retailer, has been recognized by the University of Vermont’s Grossman School of Business.
The dealer, celebrating its 80th anniversary, was presented with the school’s 2020 Multi-Generation Family Business Award during a virtual ceremony on Oct. 2. The award celebrates first and later generational family-owned businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to creating sustainable business through leadership and innovation.
Panelist Judge Evan Langfeldt, CEO of South Burlington-based O’Brien Brothers and last year’s recipient of the UVM Vermont Legacy Family Enterprise Awards, presented r..k MILES with this year’s award on behalf of his fellow judges.
“2020 marks the 80th Anniversary of this iconic Vermont company representing a wonderful story of how each generation has contributed to its growing legacy of success,” Langfeldt explained.
According to Langfeldt, the judging panel was impressed with r.k. Miles on a variety of fronts, including thoughtful governance, financial growth, dept of community contributions, and proactive development of the next generation of leaders.
“While all of the nominated business had impressive track records and compelling stories, r.k. MILES stood out to me personally, not just for their sustained success over generations in a difficult industry, but because they have been an integral project partner and material supplier to our company, O’Brien Brothers, on our ongoing project Hillside at O’Brien Farm,” Langfeldt said.
r.k. Miles joins the ranks of 33 other businesses to be presented with such a distinguished award over the past nine years by the School.
“We are incredibly honored to have been nominated and chosen as this year’s recipient of UVM’s Grossman School of Business Multi-Generation Family Business Award,” said Joe Miles, president and third-generation owner of r.k. MILES. “This recognition is due in no small part, to the team behind the name.”
Based in Manchester Center, Vt., r.k. Miles operates four locations in Vermont along with two locations in Massachusetts. Earlier this year, the company announced that it was acquiring Allen Lumber, which operates four locations in Vermont.
That deal is expected to close in November, according to r.k. Miles, giving the dealer a total of 10 locations in two states.
Regarding the recognition, Joe Miles said the dealer's core values and everyday strategies are keys to the company's success.
“As generations before me set the foundation for our business, we understand that success doesn’t always come from grand strategies, but rather from the small individual contributions by our staff that happen day in and day out – acknowledging our customers by name and going the extra mile to make sure they get what they came for – that’s what sets us apart and makes r.k. MILES what it is today,” Miles said.