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The nation's largest privately owned building materials supplier is turning 70 this year. Big year ahead!
84 Lumber has been named to Newsweek’s Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2026 list, marking the third consecutive year the company has earned this recognition. “Words can’t describe how proud we are to receive this recognition again,” said 84 Lumber owner and CEO Maggie Hardy. “Trust is the foundation of everything we do at 84 Lumber, from the way we support our associates to the relationships we’ve built with our customers. This honor reflects the integrity of our entire company across all 320 of our locations.”
2025 Rookie of the Year: Chase Chait In June 2021, Chait was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. After three months of treatment, he rang the bell and is now in remission. “They told me that if I would have waited any longer, I wouldn’t be here right now,” said Chait. “I’ve been in remission ever since. I’m working on my fifth year.” Chait started at 84 Lumber on Oct. 21, 2024, as a manager trainee at the company’s Dover, Delaware store. After six months, Chait was promoted to co-manager at the end of April 2025 and transferred to the Douglassville, Pennsylvania store. After nearly a year at the store, Chait was once again promoted to store manager of the company’s Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania store in the Philadelphia area. “Five years ago, I was in a hospital bed, fighting cancer,” said Chait. “And now here I am, rookie of the year, and I’m a store manager. That doesn’t happen to everybody. I’m so glad to be here.” For Chait, the 2025 Rookie of the Year recognition is just further confirmation that he’s where he’s meant to be. “I feel like I’m home, this is home. I feel like I finally found my roots, to plant and grow the life that I’ve always dreamt of for myself and my family,” said Chait. “That’s exciting to me. That’s a huge life achievement. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter’s going to be, but I’m going to enjoy where I’m at right now, and just take it all in.”
2025 Area Manager of the Year: Dave Fisher Fisher has been with the company for decades after starting as a manager trainee and working his way up the ladder. As area manager for the last 16 years, Fisher oversees 84 Lumber locations in Central and Western Pennsylvania, as well as Morgantown, West Virginia. “I wear the 84 Lumber ball, but I think I’m part of the ball,” said Fisher. “I’d like to think that whenever somebody’s 40 years in with this company and they go back and think, ‘who was an influence on me?’ I would hope that they say that I was.” Fisher’s experience, his attention to detail and his relationship with customers are credited to his overall success. He was also named Area Manager of the Year for 2023. “You want everybody rowing in the right direction,” said Fisher. “I always tell my guys it’s like we’re in a boat, everybody needs to grab an oar, and I’m just the guy in the back with the rudder, turning it, steering us in the right direction.”
2025 Manager of the Year: Chris Olmstead Olmstead started as a manager trainee in 1998 at 84 Lumber’s Knoxville, Tennessee location. In January 2000, Olmstead was promoted to store manager and relocated to Ridgeland, Mississippi. In 2005, he was promoted to area manager, overseeing 84 Lumber’s facilities in Mississippi, Louisiana, Western Tennessee, and Arkansas. In 2014, he was tasked with overseeing just the Gulf Coast states. Years later, a new opportunity presented itself. “I was at a town meeting and they said, ‘Boise, Idaho.’ And I’m sitting in the back, and I raised my hand. I was like, yep, I want to go.” Olmstead took on Boise, starting a new chapter for the company. He and his team are gearing up to add a door shop, siding and windows installation, and continue growing the store. “My strength is finding people who can their job better than I can and let them go do it.” “There’s just so much opportunity. I've never been happier in my entire career than I am right now,” said Olmstead. “This fits me great and I love being here.”
Next up is Alexandria Barber, Manager Trainee at our Ballston Spa, New York location. Alexandria grew up around the lumber industry and pursued the opportunity to turn that early interest into a career. As a manager trainee, she is gaining experience in operations, sales, and leadership. 👷♀️ Manager Trainee 📍 Ballston Spa, New York 💡 “Every time I take on new responsibilities, it feels like I am opening the door a little wider for the next woman.”
Women in Construction Week continues with Allison Young, Director of Regional Accounts for our Western Division. Allison’s path to 84 Lumber started in real estate and manufacturing before joining our team in Denver. She believes in building a career based on performance, growth, and contribution. 👷♀️ Director of Regional Accounts 📍 Western Division 💡 “There’s something inspiring about watching women excel in a male-dominated industry.”
84 Lumber recently provided a donation to Samaritan's Purse in support of rebuilding efforts in Jamaica. Our Government Sales team visited their operations center to see how relief materials are organized and distributed. Rebuilding at this scale requires coordination, resources, and long-term commitment. We are proud to contribute.
84 Lumber, a nationwide leader in the building materials industry and a proudly woman-owned company, is celebrating Women in Construction Week (March 1–7, 2026) by recognizing the women shaping the future of construction. A certified national women’s business enterprise owned by Maggie Hardy, 84 Lumber remains committed to empowering women and creating opportunities for them to thrive across the construction sector. The company is highlighting the stories of three remarkable 84 Lumber associates who represent the wide range of roles available to women in construction: Alexandria Barber, manager trainee at 84 Lumber’s Ballston Spa, New York, store; Isabelle Schroeder, customer sales manager in South Boston; and Allison Young, director of regional accounts for the Western division, based in Denver. “Women in Construction Week is about more than recognition, it’s about visibility, opportunity, and momentum,” said Amy Smiley, vice president of marketing at 84 Lumber. “Supporting women at every stage of their careers strengthens our company and strengthens our industry.”
As the country prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this July, 84 Lumber is launching its Building America250 campaign, a company-wide tribute honoring the past, present, and future of the industry that built America. A play on the company’s longtime mission of Delivering the American Dream, Building America250 will engage customers, vendor partners, and associates through a series of stories and initiatives throughout the year, commemorating America’s 250th anniversary. “For 70 years, 84 Lumber has supplied the materials and expertise that have helped America build homes, businesses, and communities across this country,” said Maggie Hardy, owner and CEO of 84 Lumber. “Building America250 is our way to highlight that legacy and say thank you to those whose hard work and commitment have helped shape the American dream.”
