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.
Ross Kornoelje has been part of the Lumbermen’s team since February 1999, starting his career on the panel line when it handled both panel production and post-form countertops. Nearly 27 years later, Ross now manages the panel line as Production Supervisor for the LP Division, bringing decades of experience to his role.
Today, Ross serves in a support-focused position—stepping in where needed on the floor and in the office, helping with job quotes, and managing production schedules to keep lead times low and customers serviced on time. He has seen Lumbermen’s through many changes, including the shift away from post-form countertops and the evolution of the machine shop.
Ross takes pride in his longevity with the company and in working for an organization that genuinely cares about its employees. “That’s something I try to pass along to my team every day,” he shares.
Outside of work, Ross is passionate about pickleball. He discovered the sport 15 years ago, became one of West Michigan’s first ambassadors, and now serves as the teaching pro at the Curly Cone Pickleball Club in Wayland—a role he truly loves.
According to Ross, one of the biggest reasons Lumbermen’s continues to grow is its people. “Having long-term employees in key leadership roles really matters,” he says. “It starts at the top with culture, and the leadership team does a great job of that. Having experienced people on the floor in key roles makes a big difference, too.”
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.
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.
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.
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.