Jay Ward was the president and fourth-generation owner of Ward Lumber until March of 2021. In 2021 Ward realized a long term vision of transitioning his family owned, 130 year old company to employee ownership through a worker-owned cooperative (as opposed to an ESOP). Ward Lumber is a successful two-unit lumber yard, hardware and paint store operation located in the Adirondacks and North Country of NY state. The company is now directly owned by more than 40 of the 60 employee team members. Jay is working for the employee team as the CEO and reports to the worker-owned cooperative board of directors made up of employee owners.
2022
Fabian Galeana is the credit manager for TAL Holdings LLC. Based in Vancouver, Washington, TAL Holdings is a family-owned company with over 25 different lumberyards in the Pacific Northwest Fabian started his career as a credit manager at a small furniture store. Wanting to expand his Credit knowledge to a larger setting, the opportunity became available to be in the lumber business with TAL. What started as overlooking credit for four branches, he is now helping oversee 25 different locations.
Josh Johnson is general manager of Ivey’s Building Materials in Northwest Louisiana, a business founded by his grandfather in 1969. After graduating college, Josh took an unconventional route to the family business, and spent seven years on the road with a nationally touring rock band. In 2011, he returned to Ivey’s, which has added a location and seen significant growth under his leadership. Josh is always seeking to learn, and knows that many disciplines inform Ivey’s vision and strategy, believing, “All of my success has largely come from seeking out and listening to people much smarter than me.” Away from the yard, Josh enjoys spending time with his family, travel, good restaurants, and writing/playing music with his old band buddies.
Crystal graduated from the University Minnesota’s Carlson School of Business Management, with a double major in Marketing and Operations. Crystal relies on her experience and inquisitiveness to help her lead the creation, management, and execution of all of Mid-Cape Home Centers’ marketing and communications strategies, with a special focus on business development. From multi-channel media campaigns and comprehensive digital strategies to internal and external branding and communications, events of all shapes and sizes, and relationship marketing focused on both builder and community engagement, Crystal is passionate about advancing Mid-Cape, its team, and the communities it serves.
As a fourth-generation addition to the Builders’ General roster, TJ began his career as a teenager filling summer help needs in the yard and warehouse, later moving to driver and sales. After graduating from college with degrees in Business and Drama, TJ leaned on both skill sets to assist his ever-evolving career as a branch manager at multiple locations, and then as sales manager for their LBM sales and cabinet teams. Builders’ General celebrated its 90th anniversary last October. In 1931, the Shaheen family emigrated from the country of Lebanon and founded Builders’ General in Cranford, NJ. Today, the company operates seven locations within NJ. TJ is the executive vice president, an officer, and a board member for Builders’ General. He is also an active board member trustee for the NJ Building Materials Association (NJBMDA), and serves on the legislative, education, and convention committees on behalf of the NJBMDA and the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA).
Brock Lacy is an analytics expert who has focused his talents in the real estate industry for over a decade. His professional experience includes a concentration in market and housing analysis along with risk assessment and forecasting. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Utah and holds dual Master’s degrees from Boston University and The London School of Economics. Lacy lives near Dallas where he coaches an overly-competitive Texas 10U baseball with Bradley Hartmann.
Mike McDole has been in the pro-dealer industry for 40-plus years. After 20 years at National Lumber in Massachusetts, he started Firing-Line LBM Consulting in 2021. McDole’s consulting expertise is in bottom-line improvement, metrics to improve efficiency, product categories, employee education, sales training, and more. He has written monthly columns for trade magazines, and has spoken at numerous conferences. McDole is involved with Building Industry Partners, Building Supply Channel, Inc., NRLA, and Rhode Island Lumber Dealers Association.
Matt Ellis is the VP of talent management & marketing for DW Distribution, a recipient of the 2021 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award. Like building a home, there is a process to building an exceptional place to work. Most leaders don’t know where to start. Matt’s ability to present complex things in a simple way ensures you will walk away with a blueprint to begin the process and understand what it takes to achieve your culture goals.
Rob Walker is the sales and service manager for BLC Projects, a division of Beisser Lumber Company in Grimes, Iowa. Rob has been in the building materials and construction industry for over 35 years, the last 27 years at Beisser Lumber. In 2006, Rob was instrumental in starting the Installed Sales division, as well as the re-branding to BLC Projects two years ago. Overseeing a full time staff of carpenters, service techs, and sales support, Rob and BLC Projects staff strive to exceed expectations on all projects, large and small. In his free time Rob enjoys traveling, cheering on his favorite sports teams, sampling new bourbons, and hosting weekly Sunday night dinners for his whole family.
John Marshall has more than 40 years experience in business development, organizational/operational development, team building, and executive management. Prior to joining Wilson Lumber, he had managed in 17 different industry sectors. As chief operating officer at Wilson Lumber, he has helped lead the company through a 400% growth in organic revenue and 300% operational growth over the last six years. John has traveled extensively providing products, services, and management around the world.