Hank Adams was born and raised in the middle of hardwood country in northeastern Ohio. In 1983, Hank began his career in the hardwood industry by building Buckeye Hardwood & Lumber Co. from the ground up. He started by building a dry kiln with a partner in northeastern Ohio and moved hardwood products into western Montana. During this time, Hank taught social studies and coached athletics at the high school level in the Jocko Valley at Arlee High School. He also worked extensively in Alaska where he was awarded his Journeyman Jointer and Carpenter’s certification. After leaving the education field, he started his own construction business and built everything from very basic structures to high-end custom homes.
In 1996, Hank decided to make molding, lumber, and flooring his full-time job and built a physical office, showroom, warehouse, and mill for Buckeye Hardwood & Lumber Co. From 1996 to 2017, Hank grew Buckeye Hardwoods significantly. What began as a small company run out of his home expanded into a large flooring/flooring accessories distributor and an exceptional flooring/molding manufacturer known for its high dedication to quality. Once established, Buckeye quickly expanded from serving western Montana to having customers throughout the greater northern Rockies region and beyond.
In 2012, Hank was recognized by the National Wood Flooring Association for his achievements and commitment to the industry. In 2017, Hank sold the business, which became Bison Hardwood and part of the greater Flooring Distribution Group. He is committed to continue growing the company well into the future. In 2019, Hank was named to the National Wood Flooring Association’s (NWFA) Technical Standards Committee.
In Hank’s personal life, he attended Thiel College and Youngstown State University, graduating with a BA in History and Political Science and minor in Education. Athletics have always been a significant part of his life, having played baseball and basketball in college, and then baseball beyond college. He and his wife moved to Montana in 1974, where they raised their family and have established their lifelong home.