Executive Wood Products

Craftsmanship Born in a Basement. Excellence Built in Missouri.

Like many great American companies, Executive Wood Products began in a family basement. In 1982, engineer and inventor Paul D. Alexander started by handcrafting wooden candy dispensers, driven by a deep respect for materials and a passion for design. That hands-on spirit of innovation soon led to the development of a game-changing product: in 1989, Paul invented the folding tabletop lectern – a breakthrough that would become the foundation of a company now trusted by institutions across the nation.

More than 40 years later, Executive Wood Products remains proudly family-owned and based in Sullivan, Missouri. What started as a single candy dispenser sale has grown into a state-of-the-art facility where skilled craftsmen and innovators build wood furniture and security solutions with unmatched quality and care.

The company’s lecterns, custom furniture, and ballistic protection solutions are now found in schools, courthouses, houses of worship, and public institutions across the country. Dozens of public figures, celebrities, and leaders have stood behind Executive Wood Products podiums – including every U.S. President since Bill Clinton. From small-town boardrooms to the national stage, Executive Wood products help shape how America speaks, leads, and protects.

Even as the company has grown, it has never lost sight of its responsibility to customers, to its community, and to the planet.

Environmental and social stewardship are at the core of how we operate. Executive Wood Products sources lumber from FSC-certified suppliers to support responsible forestry. Executive Wood Products HVLP spray technology reduces emissions and material waste during finishing. We use low-VOC products to ensure a healthier environment, both in the shop and for customers. Wood scraps are recycled whenever possible, while in-house filtered water bottle refilling stations have eliminated the need for thousands of disposable bottles each year. Every product is built and packaged with conservation in mind – a promise to environmental sustainability that runs through every level of operation.

We also invest in people. Through the Executive Wood Products apprenticeship program, we help young adults in rural communities gain skills and meaningful employment. As active members of the local Chamber of Commerce, we support regional business growth and regularly contribute to community fundraising initiatives that strengthen the town’s economic and social fabric.

At Executive Wood Products, quality is more than a standard – It’s a value. We believe that doing things right means caring about how they’re made, who makes them, and how they impact the world. From first folding lectern to today’s advanced ballistic solutions, every product is a reflection of decades of craftsmanship, innovation, and integrity.

We’re proud of where we come from. And we’re even more excited about where we’re headed.

We are recognized as one of the Top 50 Small Businesses in St. Louis, have been featured as a Top Small Business in the Congressional Spotlight, are recognized by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Missouri as an essential manufacturer and a member of Buy Missouri.