Columbia Panel has been a suppler of quality plywood since 1920. The company originally began as a supplier of wooden panels for expensive pianos and organs and later ventured into the furniture market. In 1981, Gaylord Rush, the former Vice President of Finance for a major carpet manufacturer, bought Columbia Panel. The company was struggling after the passing of the previous owners. After the change of ownership the company expanded its product base and introduced added value to the panel products. Expanding the company proved to be a wise decision and by the 90’s Columbia Panel was at an all time high.

Gaylord Rush was in Atlanta at his eldest son’s wedding when the call came that a fire had completely destroyed the Thomasville facility. Not long after to returning to business, Gaylord’s youngest son Todd joined Columbia Panel. Todd continued to work with his father and in 2005, Todd Rush became the president and CEO of Columbia Panel. Today, Columbia Panel thrives in a new location in High Point, NC, and the changes Todd made with the facility offer a more efficient plant layout and design. “You never know how inefficient you are until you make a change like this,” says Rush.

Columbia Panel Manufacturing Company manufactures case-good panels for the furniture industry using a variety of core, veneer, and laminate materials to meet customer needs. Customers include hospitality, kitchen cabinet manufacturers, residential furniture makers, library furniture companies, institutional furniture producers and office furniture manufactureres.