Not many passing by would give the nondescript JR Stephens Co. in the industrial neighborhood of Arcata a second glance — but the little-known manufacturer has made record time developing a cutting-edge cabinet factory.

  JR Stephens owner Jim Stephens said that he tries to fly under the radar because the vast majority of his company’s work is made for public schools, hospitals, big commercial businesses and various other public sector contracts outside of Humboldt County. Many local businesses owners rely on value-added products to help create a name for themselves beyond the Redwood Curtain, and Stephens has taken some calculated risks with similar goals that are beginning to pay off in a big way.

  JR Stephens Co. is fully computerized and among the most automated cabinet manufacturing facilities in the state.

  Stephens said he had been doing cabinetry for years before he opened the business in 2004 with 14 employees. Today, with the help of a solid business plan and local funding, the custom manufacturing facility has expanded enough to accommodate bigger and better machinery along with 45 employees. The company has had several major construction contracts, including the cabinetry and millwork recently completed for the Stanford University Medical Center.

  Although Stephens said about “95 percent of what we do is in the Bay Area,” the company occasionally takes on a few higher profile local jobs. Locally JR Stephens Co. work can be found at Cher-Ae Heights Casino, the recently completed Arkley Center for the Performing Arts and Redwood Capital Bank in Eureka.

  As Stephens walks around his facility, the excitement over the precision equipment at his disposal is palpable. On a tour, he explained some of the steps taken in producing various projects in progress, ranging from surgery room cabinets to high school lockers for a science laboratory.

  Aside from having the luxury to start a new manufacturing facility large enough to accommodate the necessary heavy machinery, Stephens considers his “lean manufacturing” practices one of the secrets to his success.

  “We don’t build up a lot of stock (materials). We basically have what they call ‘just in time’ inventory,” he said, explaining that by avoiding storing expensive excess wood, they are able to maximize profits with less overhead.

  Gregg Foster, outgoing executive director of the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission, said his organization — with the help of Headwaters money — helped fund the JR Stephens expansion because he was confident the community would benefit. More jobs and keeping money that would have otherwise left the area were at the top of that list of benefits that Foster is proud to have helped facilitate.

  “It made business sense … He was bringing in some fairly high-tech manufacturing here, and I think that integrates well with the local colleges,” he said.

  Stephens agrees that there does seem to be a large pool of talent to draw from because of the student opportunities on the North Coast, but said he struggles along with most employers to attract and keep qualified personnel.

  He said that the quality of life in Humboldt County has on several occasions helped him draw employees from outside the area. For now, JR Stephens’ growth curve is leveling off, and while Stephens expects sales to continue to grow another 50 percent over the next three to five years, he doesn’t anticipate another large employee jump in the near future.