Lynden is recognizing employees who make a difference every day on the job and demonstrate our core values, Lynden's very own everyday heroes! Employees are nominated by managers and supervisors from all roles within the Lynden family of companies.
Introducing George Holland, Driver and Driver Trainer at LTI, Inc. in Sunnyside, WA. 
Name: George Holland
Company: LTI, Inc.
Location: Sunnyside, WA
Title: Driver and Driver Trainer
On the Job Since: 2010
Superpower: Approachability
Hometown: Prosser, WA
Favorite Movie: Schindler's List
Bucket List Destination: Europe
For Fun: Spending time with my wife, family and friends and riding my 2020 Harley motorcycle
How and when did you start working for LTI?
I grew up driving, hauling potatoes to the processor and hauling fertilizers, chemicals and liquids. I drove a reefer truck for 15 years, then came to work for Lynden. Val Morales recommended me for the job, and I interviewed with Al Gunderson. When I was hired, there were 92 people working there. Now I have worked my way through the ranks to now be 26th in longevity. I worked for the Yakima division hauling apples on flatbeds. Now I do special projects.
What is a typical day like for you?
I live one mile from the LTI, Inc. yard, so I can get up around 45 minutes before I go to work. And I have a beautiful wife that gets up every morning to make me a lunch! I start my day anywhere from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. depending on the project I'm working on. Right now I'm working on the salt project driving salt over the mountains to Pasco.
What has been most challenging in your career?
Not getting old so I can keep driving! Learning new onboard technology has been a challenge. I've been a defensive driver my whole life and an increase in traffic and other drivers' habits present challenges at times.
What are you most proud of in your career?
I've been asked to work on a lot of special projects over the years. I went to Colorado to pick up a climbing rock with driver Tommy LaRue for delivery in Lynden, WA. It was oversized at 14-feet on a drop deck trailer, so we had to route through Montana. We had some icy roads and other challenges.
I was also happy to be a part of the delivery of feed to dairy farmers who were stranded after spring flooding. We were driving over flooded roads and they were very happy to see us so they could feed their cows. I also hauled other filler used for feed to dairies in Idaho and also drove to Morton Salt in Salt Lake City for road salt.
I was asked to work on setting up the yard in Sunnyside that we call the port about four years ago. I hauled eco-blocks and other materials to construct it but then was responsible for moving 102 pieces of equipment from one to another. Some pieces had to be picked up by front-end loader to get them over there.
My profile photo shows me standing next to tankers that were part of the 129 project. Even though I am not a milk hauler, I was asked to test drive new tankers capable of carrying 129,000 pounds gross vehicle weight from the Coulee Flats Dairy to Darigold in Sunnyside to see how they performed.
Can you tell us about your family and growing up years?
I was born in Prosser, WA then moved to Moses Lake. I have been driving since 1974 when I was 14 years old on my family's farm in Moses Lake. My dad would ask me to take his GMC farm truck into town on a Saturday afternoon. In those days you had a combination-endorsement license if you lived on a farm so you could legally drive just about anything when you were a teenager. I've been on motorcycles since I was 5 years old. Working on motorcycles and fixing farm equipment is how I got my mechanical aptitude. To start driving at a young age, you had to be in a farm family. It was a privilege.
I have one younger brother. My dad was killed in a logging accident about 20 years ago. My mom lives with me and my wife. I have five kids; Justin, 44, Brandon 42, Lindsey 40, Sydney 32, Alexis is 30. Justin and Brandon live in Moses Lake. I have two daughters in Sunnyside. Lindsey and Ben live in Prineville, OR.
I have 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. We try to get together for an annual family camping trip each year in different locations.
What was your first job?
I delivered newspapers. I was fortunate my dad used to take me in the car before he went to work. I was only 11 years old and delivering 100 of those big, heavy Sunday papers was not easy for a scrawny kid.
Me and a couple of my buddies had routes until we were 14 or 15.
What would surprise most people about you?
I've taught a lot of people how to ride a motorcycle, but I'm really an entertainer and food man. I make up all kinds of smoked stuff and am a pretty good cook. When people come to my house, I make sure everyone is happy and they get fed.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I ride my Harley, smoke things in my smoker, go to the gym with my wife, and hang out with family.
What do you like best about your job?
I've had so many opportunities here at Lynden. It's kept me going in my job and given me a sense of pride in my job. I enjoy the people I work with and like to have a good time at work. I do the best I can and make sure I get the job finished to the end. I've really liked training new drivers. Some of them are gone, some are still here. I've probably trained about 100 people over the years.
Topics from this blog: Lynden LTI Inc. Lynden Employees Everyday Heroes Featured