25 Years In, We’re Still Saying Yes
Twenty-five years ago, Chesapeake made a bet.
A bet that there was a better way to work with wood.
A bet that saying yes — to complex problems, closer partnerships, and higher standards — could move an industry forward.
A bet that premium materials deserve equally serious problem-solving.
That belief still guides us.
Setting the Standard isn’t a finish line. It’s a daily practice. It lives in the decisions made before a sheet is cut, before a load is staged, before a project moves from plan to production.
From the beginning, Chesapeake was built around a simple idea: when others say no, we lean in. When we’re told something isn’t possible, we look past convention and find a way through.
That mindset has shaped the past 25 years.
It’s how a small operation in Baltimore — started by entrepreneur John Emden and now led by his son, Jeff — grew into a partner serving the broadest range of industries, with one of the most comprehensive selections of premium plywood available.
And it’s why, every day, across our facilities, hundreds of products move coast to coast — quietly supporting the spaces, structures, and experiences people remember.
What’s changed is scale.
What hasn’t changed is intent.
The same conviction that defined our early days continues to ground Chesapeake today — rooted in the belief that standards matter, that details add up, and that saying yes carries responsibility.
Twenty-five years in, we’re still doing the work.
And we’re just getting started.
