Member Name: Andy Penny
Company Name: Feeney, Inc.
Position: VP Marketing & Advertising
Member Category: Manufacturer
Location: Oakland, CA
When did you first get involved with this industry? It’s been about 30 years…ouch!
What was the first thing you ever built? I built this really cool coaster with a 2×4 frame, rope steering, and thin ball-bearing wheels held on to 1/2″ rod axles with cotter pins. Completely dangerous but totally fun. I’ve never built a deck, but I’d like to.
We want to get to know you, please tell us a little about your business: Feeney’s been around since 1948. They started as a small, family owned wire, rope, and rigging supply company serving the San Francisco Bay Area maritime and industrial communities. In the late 1980’s I joined the team to manage the marketing of a new line of stainless steel cable assemblies that was soon to become our CableRail product. Since then, the company has grown exponentially, and while we still do some industrial rigging, our main business is architectural products. We obviously still have CableRail going strong, but we also have our DesignRail aluminum railings, stainless steel structural & decorative rods, as well as a line of rod & cable garden trellises. We distribute throughout the USA and beyond and have worked on thousands of deck and railing projects spanning commercial, institutional, and residential applications. I still head up the marketing and advertising, and it continues to be busy, crazy, fun (and sometimes not-so-fun) and rewarding.
How do you define success? Personally, I’d say happiness is my primary measure of success. Professionally, building a profitable company/business while treating people (employees, customers, vendors) honestly and respectfully.
What advice would you like to share with fellow members that you have learned in your career? A lot of people don’t know what they’re talking about but pretend otherwise, so as my wise old Nicaraguan media director boss used to tell me, “follow your gut, man; follow your gut.”
Why do you support NADRA’s Deck Safety Initiative? Given the nature of our deck and railing products, Feeney, Inc. has always been committed to deck safety, and we’re proud to partner with NADRA during May’s Deck Safety Month. Deck safety hits close to home with our Feeney family, especially when the safety of a deck and railing can depend on how we develop and explain our products. We strive to ensure that all of our products, when installed properly, exceed code safety standards, and we proudly support an organization like NADRA that shares our standards and values. This month we’re supporting the cause with social media promotions as well, utilizing our Facebook and Twitter feeds to share information about NADRA and our industry’s Deck Safety Month efforts.
What would you do for a career if you weren’t doing this? Good question. You, know, it’d have to be something outdoors. I could see being a carpenter or contractor, and then I could also see being a river raft or backpacker guide somewhere. Hmmm… now you got me thinking.
A little more about Andy: Born and raised in Oakland and still not a Raiders fan. No pets, married with one 14 year old daughter who is the love of my life even though she drives me crazy sometimes. I enjoy biking, both road and mountain, skiing, golfing, kayaking, building/repairing stuff around the house, BBQing, and drinking beer.
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