Timbertrove is a unique, award-winning, 100% Irish-owned family business, in the Dublin mountains. Owned by husband and wife team, Henry and Shirley O’Kelly, it has over 30 years’ experience in the design, manufacture and installation of top quality timber products. It also operates a Country Store and Café. "THE STORY OF TIMBERTROVE"  is a story of … two people, from ordinary backgrounds, who both left school early, mad keen to work, and who found they shared the same dreams of success; how they succeeded in achieving their dreams – through hard work, ongoing learning, a lot of help and a bit of luck; how they overcame two recessions – though the last one almost cost them everything – through sheer self-belief and determination; a small family business, with super, hard-working, loyal employees, that grew and retrenched – and grew again; the challenges of running a small business today – the day-in, day-out grind, the obstacles and hassles; the joy of running a small business today – meeting and serving customers, freedom in decision-making, seeing the direct results of your efforts; a family of entrepreneurs, beginning again now in the third-generation. Most of all, it’s the story of Shirley and Henry, of their family, of O’Kelly’s Sawmills and Timbertrove, of up and downs, good times and bad. Shirley says: “Our story – the story of Timbertrove – is quite simple: we followed our dream in setting up and running a successful business, while achieving our goals along the way. We have walked the talk! We built the business from the ground up with very little money, just a dream!”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KEVIN EMPEY is Founder and Managing Director of WorkMatters and has specialized in organizational change, leadership and people strategy for over 25 years. With a background in technology and business development, Kevin developed an international career in people consulting, coaching and leadership development, working across a wide range of organizations, sectors and geographies. A former member of the Labour Market Council in Ireland, Kevin has also won several national and international awards for his work in the areas of employment policy, social entrepreneurship, and Future of Work research.