Working in Clark County: Steve Hull, transportation broker, manager at Allen Lund Co.

The next time you pick up a bunch of carrots or a bag of apples at the store, think about how it got there. There are many unseen individuals working transactions behind the scenes to link up farmers and vendors with trucking services and shippers who then bring the products to the retailer. Steve Hull of transportation brokerage Allen Lund Co. is one of those making such arrangements, saving time and money for all involved.

“Most people don’t know my part of the trucking industry even exists!” Hull said. “Almost every item for sale in a grocery store or department store spent some time on a commercial truck. This creates a demand in the marketplace for companies like Allen Lund Co. to play a part in connecting all the various parties together.”

Name: Steve Hull.

Residence: Hockinson.

Employer: Allen Lund Co.

Business address: 7720 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive, Suite 250, Vancouver.

Age: 41.

Educational/professional background: I grew up in the Los Angeles area and graduated with a double major in political science and U.S. history from the University of Southern California. While in college, I worked a few summer jobs, such as at an outdoor garden venue where I was the assistant to the wedding coordinator. I also worked at a fried chicken/deli restaurant and at a shipping warehouse running a pallet jack. I was also the student equipment manager for the baseball team all my four years at USC.

How — and when — you got started in your business: After college, I was looking for a job, and my barber pointed me in the direction of Allen Lund Co. The owner, Allen, also went to the same barber and mentioned they were looking to hire. So I applied, and was hired in 1996 as a transportation broker. I learned this business there from the ground up before being promoted to management and relocating to Vancouver in 1998. It’s a very interesting business, and it’s fun to watch basic supply-and-demand market forces play out right at my desk every day.

Personal/business philosophy: Be good. That’s it, everything stems from that idea. Do the right thing, whether you are under the spotlight, or all alone. Be good to your employees, your co-workers, and your customers, and everything will work out all right. Also, being good means being an active participant in your community, so I’ve coached youth sports teams for many years and my family donates time and resources to various charities.

Most rewarding part of job: Seeing the families of my employees grow up over the years. It’s great to see their marriages, children being born, children graduating high school and going to college, employees being able to pay off their mortgages, etc. Their successes are my successes. Also, being a part of the Allen Lund Co. family. Being employed by a private, family-run company fits well with the way I want to work. I get to talk to a wide gamut of people every day: drivers, trucking and shipping companies, even CEOs of receiving companies. It’s an interesting way to spend the day. Every day is different; every call is different. There’s always something new.

Most challenging part of job: Dealing with a constantly changing business landscape is very difficult. Between new federal regulations regarding trucking companies, new technologies being created every day, and a changing pricing structure (very similar to the ups and downs of the stock market), I am constantly making adjustments. Keeping up with those adjustments, and trying to predict the next ones, is quite a challenge, but also very fun!

Something surprising about your work: Most people don’t know my part of the trucking industry even exists! Almost every item for sale in a grocery store or department store spent some time on a commercial truck. Even locally sourced items were trucked at least a few miles. Many times, that truck that hauled that product was a small, driver-owned company. This creates a demand in the marketplace for companies, like Allen Lund Co., to play a part in connecting all the various parties together.

Best feature of my Clark County community: My wife and I feel very safe and secure in Clark County. We’ve chosen to stay in this community to raise our two kids, and I’m not quite sure they realize how great they have it here in Vancouver!

An improvement you’d like to see in your community: More development of restaurants and shopping all along the Columbia River. The Waterfront Development Project is a great start, and hopefully that will spur on even more new construction.

Favorite travel destination and type: I enjoy flying with my family to new places, usually involving warm weather or sporting events. We also love to travel to my wife, Kimberly’s, hometown area of Santa Barbara, Calif., to spend time on the beach.

Favorite restaurant/pub/coffee shop/store: Las Mesitas Restaurant in Battle Ground (best salsa in Clark County!), McMenamins (either Vancouver location), tie between Black Rock Coffee Bar and River Maiden, Cost Plus World Market.

Hobbies: I spend a lot of time with my kids at their various activities. Youth sports, dance, and school events take up a lot of time! I also like to get out and play golf, as well as run a few 5Ks occasionally.

Most enjoyable book/play/movie/arts event in past 12 months: I’ve seen a few different plays and musicals in Portland recently, including the tours of “Wicked” and “Beauty and the Beast.” My most enjoyable in Clark County are performances including “The Nutcracker” and “Hansel and Gretel” put on by Danceworks Performing Arts and Vancouver City Ballet. My daughter has danced with those groups for many years.

Something you’d like to do this year/within five years: I’d like to travel to Europe to take in a soccer game in London, and have dinner in view of the Eiffel Tower.

One word to describe yourself: Problem-solver.

Person you’d most like to meet: Phil Knight.