After an extraordinary 50-year career at Lumbermen’s Inc., Henry Bouma is stepping into retirement—leaving behind a legacy defined by dedication, adaptability, and unwavering customer focus.
The Bouma family, including Henry’s father, founded Lumbermen’s in 1955. Henry began his journey with Lumbermen’s as a youth, helping in the warehouse and literally growing up with the business. As an adult, he stepped into the Specialty/Kitchen & Bath Division at a time when the product offering centered around Westinghouse Micarta high-pressure laminate. In 1976, Henry played a role in a pivotal transition to Wilsonart laminate—now the industry leader. “It was a great move for us,” he recalls. “Wilsonart was great product then, and is now the leading manufacturer of high-pressure laminate.”
From the very beginning, Henry recognized what mattered most to customers: speed and service. “Our customers wanted daily delivery so they could service their customers well,” he says. “Lead times and availability of product were what set us apart from the competition.”
Over the decades, Henry witnessed—and helped navigate—tremendous changes in the building materials industry. “In the ’70s and ’80s, almost all kitchen countertops were made from high-pressure laminate. Then in the ’90s, solid surface materials became popular. And over the last 25 years, granite and quartz took over.” Lumbermen’s adapted every step of the way, always staying “ahead of the curve” to meet shifting customer tastes and emerging product trends.
Henry also saw how logistics and installation timelines evolved in importance. “When someone is remodeling their home, they don’t want to be without a kitchen for long. We often have to wait until the cabinets are installed before templating the countertops, and then turn them around quickly so they can move forward. That speed matters.”
Even as the products and technology changed, Henry believes the foundation of Lumbermen’s success remained the same: relationships and trust. “In the beginning, our customers already had sources for all their products. To win their business, we had to show them they could trust us to deliver what they needed—on time, every time, at a competitive price.” Decades later, that core value still drives the company’s approach.
Another core value to Henry has been the Lumbermen’s vision: “To be the first choice of employee owners, customers and supplier partners, while striving to serve our communities with the resources entrusted to us.” Henry lived that vision to the fullest during his tenure, and many employee owners, past and present, took the chance to share memories of his impact on them and the West Michigan community during an open house celebration for him this past June.
As Henry retires, he leaves behind not just a storied career, but a living example of what it means to serve customers with integrity, curiosity, and care. His insights and work ethic have shaped the company’s Specialty/Kitchen & Bath Division and have contributed meaningfully to Lumbermen’s reputation in the industry.
Henry will remain on the company’s Board of Directors, and while he may be stepping away from the day to day happenings at the company, his legacy will remain woven into the story of Lumbermen’s for years to come.
After an extraordinary 50-year career at Lumbermen’s Inc., Henry Bouma is stepping into retirement—leaving behind a legacy defined by dedication, adaptability, and unwavering customer focus.
The Bouma family, including Henry’s father, founded Lumbermen’s in 1955. Henry began his journey with Lumbermen’s as a youth, helping in the warehouse and literally growing up with the business. As an adult, he stepped into the Specialty/Kitchen & Bath Division at a time when the product offering centered around Westinghouse Micarta high-pressure laminate. In 1976, Henry played a role in a pivotal transition to Wilsonart laminate—now the industry leader. “It was a great move for us,” he recalls. “Wilsonart was great product then, and is now the leading manufacturer of high-pressure laminate.”
From the very beginning, Henry recognized what mattered most to customers: speed and service. “Our customers wanted daily delivery so they could service their customers well,” he says. “Lead times and availability of product were what set us apart from the competition.”
Over the decades, Henry witnessed—and helped navigate—tremendous changes in the building materials industry. “In the ’70s and ’80s, almost all kitchen countertops were made from high-pressure laminate. Then in the ’90s, solid surface materials became popular. And over the last 25 years, granite and quartz took over.” Lumbermen’s adapted every step of the way, always staying “ahead of the curve” to meet shifting customer tastes and emerging product trends.
Henry also saw how logistics and installation timelines evolved in importance. “When someone is remodeling their home, they don’t want to be without a kitchen for long. We often have to wait until the cabinets are installed before templating the countertops, and then turn them around quickly so they can move forward. That speed matters.”
Even as the products and technology changed, Henry believes the foundation of Lumbermen’s success remained the same: relationships and trust. “In the beginning, our customers already had sources for all their products. To win their business, we had to show them they could trust us to deliver what they needed—on time, every time, at a competitive price.” Decades later, that core value still drives the company’s approach.
Another core value to Henry has been the Lumbermen’s vision: “To be the first choice of employee owners, customers and supplier partners, while striving to serve our communities with the resources entrusted to us.” Henry lived that vision to the fullest during his tenure, and many employee owners, past and present, took the chance to share memories of his impact on them and the West Michigan community during an open house celebration for him this past June.
As Henry retires, he leaves behind not just a storied career, but a living example of what it means to serve customers with integrity, curiosity, and care. His insights and work ethic have shaped the company’s Specialty/Kitchen & Bath Division and have contributed meaningfully to Lumbermen’s reputation in the industry.
Henry will remain on the company’s Board of Directors, and while he may be stepping away from the day to day happenings at the company, his legacy will remain woven into the story of Lumbermen’s for years to come.
Ryan Hagan – Sales Consultant, Door Division
Ryan Hagan has grown significantly since joining Lumbermen’s, starting in the Door Division Service Department, and now moving to an Outside Sales role. His experience with the inner workings of operations has prepared him to be a problem-solver in the field.
Brandon Kitkowski – Sales Consultant, Building Materials
Brandon Kitkowski has seen his business card change in 2025, going from Field Sales Representative to now Outside Sales Representative. However, his commitment to service and our customers is his defining characteristic.
Cristina Wasel – Quality Management Supervisor, Door Division
Cristina Wasel leads our Door Division’s commitment to quality and getting things right. Her engineering expertise helps build tools and systems that work to prevent and solve issues on the production floor.
Thai Xiong – Commercial Vehicle Driver
Thai Xiong is part of a new group of Employee Owners in Minnesota, joining the company in April of 2024.
Lumbermen’s Inc Grows Building Materials Division Leadership Team
Lumbermen’s is excited to announce leadership growth within our Building Materials Division. Significant growth in sales, workforce, and expansion into new territories like Minnesota in 2024 has led us to make some changes to our leadership structure.
Terry Lynn – Facilities Manager
Terry Lynn joined Lumbermen’s in September of 2007, as a member of the Grand Rapids Building Materials division.