From Summer Job to Outside Sales: Building a Career at Lumbermen’s
What started as a summer job right out of high school has grown into a rewarding career for Brayden Woudstra. After more than five years with Lumbermen’s, Brayden has worked his way through several areas of the business, gaining a well-rounded understanding of the company and the customers it serves. Today, he brings that experience to his role as an Outside Sales Representative for the Specialty Kitchen & Bath Division, serving customers throughout the West Michigan market.
A Career Built from the Ground Up
Brayden joined Lumbermen’s just over five years ago as a summer employee. It didn’t take long for him to recognize that there was something special about the company’s culture.
“I quickly saw that this is a company you can build a great career with,” Brayden says. “That made it an easy decision to continue growing with the company.”
His career has given him the opportunity to experience the business from a variety of perspectives. He started by working in different areas of the warehouse, gaining hands-on knowledge of the day-to-day operations. From there, he moved to the customer pickup window, where he continued supporting warehouse operations while developing relationships with customers.
Brayden later became a Brand Experience Coordinator, a role that allowed him to step into several areas where additional support was needed. During that time, he served as a Project Manager in the Multi Family division and as a Job Coordinator for the Southern Market.
That broad range of experiences ultimately prepared him for his transition into outside sales. He initially managed several house accounts before growing his customer base across both the commercial and residential markets.
Brayden credits Cody DeBoer and Kevin Heyne for believing in him and giving him the opportunity to take the next step in his career.
“Working my way through different roles has given me a strong foundation and a well-rounded understanding of our business,” he says. “That has equipped me with the tools and knowledge that continue to help me succeed today.”
Building Partnerships Across West Michigan
Today, Brayden represents Lumbermen’s as an Outside Sales Representative for the Specialty Division, covering the West Michigan market. While approximately 90% of his customer base is residentially focused, he also works with a number of commercial customers.
Brayden’s commercial customers include cabinet shops, millwork companies, fabricators, and other businesses that rely on Lumbermen’s for quality products and solutions. The team supports projects across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, education, hospitality, retail, office spaces and multifamily.
For these customers, the value goes beyond individual products.
“We can be your one-stop shop for all laminate goods, laid-up HPL panels, cabinet hardware, and fabricated countertops,” Brayden says.
When he’s not working with customers, Brayden enjoys spending time with his wife and family. During the summer months, he spends as much time outdoors as possible, whether that means golfing, fishing or simply enjoying time outside.
From a summer job immediately after high school to a career spanning warehouse operations, customer service, project coordination and sales, Brayden’s journey reflects the opportunities available to those who are willing to learn, grow and take on new challenges.
From Summer Job to Outside Sales: Building a Career at Lumbermen’s
What started as a summer job right out of high school has grown into a rewarding career for Brayden Woudstra. After more than five years with Lumbermen’s, Brayden has worked his way through several areas of the business, gaining a well-rounded understanding of the company and the customers it serves. Today, he brings that experience to his role as an Outside Sales Representative for the Specialty Kitchen & Bath Division, serving customers throughout the West Michigan market.
A Career Built from the Ground Up
Brayden joined Lumbermen’s just over five years ago as a summer employee. It didn’t take long for him to recognize that there was something special about the company’s culture.
“I quickly saw that this is a company you can build a great career with,” Brayden says. “That made it an easy decision to continue growing with the company.”
His career has given him the opportunity to experience the business from a variety of perspectives. He started by working in different areas of the warehouse, gaining hands-on knowledge of the day-to-day operations. From there, he moved to the customer pickup window, where he continued supporting warehouse operations while developing relationships with customers.
Brayden later became a Brand Experience Coordinator, a role that allowed him to step into several areas where additional support was needed. During that time, he served as a Project Manager in the Multi Family division and as a Job Coordinator for the Southern Market.
That broad range of experiences ultimately prepared him for his transition into outside sales. He initially managed several house accounts before growing his customer base across both the commercial and residential markets.
Brayden credits Cody DeBoer and Kevin Heyne for believing in him and giving him the opportunity to take the next step in his career.
“Working my way through different roles has given me a strong foundation and a well-rounded understanding of our business,” he says. “That has equipped me with the tools and knowledge that continue to help me succeed today.”
Building Partnerships Across West Michigan
Today, Brayden represents Lumbermen’s as an Outside Sales Representative for the Specialty Division, covering the West Michigan market. While approximately 90% of his customer base is residentially focused, he also works with a number of commercial customers.
Brayden’s commercial customers include cabinet shops, millwork companies, fabricators, and other businesses that rely on Lumbermen’s for quality products and solutions. The team supports projects across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, education, hospitality, retail, office spaces and multifamily.
For these customers, the value goes beyond individual products.
“We can be your one-stop shop for all laminate goods, laid-up HPL panels, cabinet hardware, and fabricated countertops,” Brayden says.
When he’s not working with customers, Brayden enjoys spending time with his wife and family. During the summer months, he spends as much time outdoors as possible, whether that means golfing, fishing or simply enjoying time outside.
From a summer job immediately after high school to a career spanning warehouse operations, customer service, project coordination and sales, Brayden’s journey reflects the opportunities available to those who are willing to learn, grow and take on new challenges.
Emily Padecky – Office Manager, Building Materials
From navigating the fast-paced demands of the building materials industry to helping customers find solutions when challenges arise, Emily Padecky plays a vital role in the success of the Lumbermen’s Grand Rapids Building Materials team.
Kris Langerak – Human Resources Manager
Today, as HR Manager, Kris plays a central role in supporting Lumbermen’s employee owners and their families. From leading new hire orientation to helping employees navigate benefits, she works to make what can often feel complex and overwhelming much more approachable.
Brian Wilcox – Stone Production Supervisor, Counter Solutions
As Stone Production Supervisor overseeing CNC operations and programming, Brian’s role is “joyfully dynamic.” His focus on precision helps deliver the high-quality edges and finishes that drive customer satisfaction and long-term loyalty.
Evan Breuker Announced as New Outside Sales Rep for Northern Michigan
After gaining experience in various departments of Lumbermen’s, Evan Breuker has a new challenge in front of him as we welcome his customer-focused approach to the Door Division.
Ross Kornoelje – Production Supervision, LP Division
With nearly three decades of hands-on experience and a passion for both people and performance, Ross Kornoelje’s journey at Lumbermen’s reflects the dedication and culture that continue to drive the company forward.
Jack Symmes – Custom Door Builder, Door Division
Jack recently shared that he plans to retire in 2026. While it will be difficult to imagine the shop without his steady leadership, he has certainly earned the opportunity after a lifetime of hard work. The good news is that he plans to return part-time to keep his skills sharp—and will even be working alongside his wife, who is also part of the Door Division.
Jayme Stauffenecker – Outside Sales Representative
An addition to our Minnesota-based team less than a year ago, Jayme is already making her mark in the building materials industry.
Celebrating a Legacy: Henry Bouma Retires After 50 Years with Lumbermen’s Inc.
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.
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.
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.
Steve Hanker – Customer Service – Grand Rapids Building Materials
Steve Hanker has been with Lumbermen’s since 1996, when he joined the company as a Customer Service Representative.
Donna Ritsema & John Rutkowski
On December 7, 2023 Lumbermen’s celebrated the careers of Donna Ritsema (43 years) and John Rutkowski (31 years). Employee Owners, vendor partners, dealer customers, friends and family all gathered to congratulate these two on the positive impacts they have made for the company.