Dave Leonard is sales and purchasing manager for Hardwoods Specialty Products, a distribution yard in Brampton, ON.
Hardwoods Specialty Products distributes decorative architectural building products throughout North America through its 24 strategically located distribution centers. Products include Hardwood lumber (both domestic and import), architectural grade plywood and veneers, laminates, acrylics and composites for use in commercial and residential applications. It purchases approximately 6 million board feet in Hardwood lumber annually, including Alder, Ash, Basswood, Beech, Birch, Cherry, Hard and Soft Maple, Red and White Oak, Walnut and Poplar as well as a variety of imported Hardwood lumber. Softwoods that are additionally purchased include hemlock, eastern white pine, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, western red cedar and cypress. Hardwoods Specialty Products offers just-in-time delivery throughout Ontario, as well as quick turnaround on specialty milling jobs.
The company is a member of National Hardwood Lumber Association, Trim Association of Ontario and Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada.
Leonard has been in the forest products industry for over 20 years. He worked at Lansing Buildall Building Materials in Burlington, ON throughout high school and university, then began working in sales at another local distributor, eventually landing in management. He joined Hardwoods Specialty Products in 2016, and continued working in sales while assuming all lumber purchasing duties. Leonard holds a B.A. degree from Brock University.
He and his wife of eight years, Erin, have two sons. In his spare time, Leonard enjoys golfing and spending time with his young sons.
More information is available at www.hardwoodsinc.com.
Jeannette Zub is the lumber purchaser for Diaz Manufacturing Company, located in Montrose, PA.
Diaz Manufacturing purchases over 1.5 million board feet per year of Hard and Soft Maple, Cherry, Red Oak, White and Yellow Birch, Black Walnut and Sapele. Grades handled include FAS, F1F, No. 1 Common, as well as Select and Better. The company manufactures cabinet doors, drawer fronts and boxes, and moulding, millwork and trim.
Zub has been with Diaz Manufacturing for nine years in her present position, and 14 years under previous owners Donald Dean & Sons. In addition to purchasing, other responsibilities include being the Safety Committee Secretary, inventory control, website design/maintenance and marketing. Previous responsibilities Zub has held include working as a machine operator and panel color matcher to team leader and inventory control officer. Her first job in the industry was as a chop saw operator in 1997.
Zub enjoys exploring the countryside in her two Jeeps, a 2004 Wrangler and a 1947 Willys. She has been married to Gene for 22 years and they have a son, Dylan, 21.
For more information visit www.diazwooddoors.com.
Ralph Kuehn is president and founder of Champion Floor Company in St. Louis, MO. He is involved in lumber purchasing for the company, which procures 111,333 board feet of various Hardwoods annually.
Among the domestic lumber species purchased by Champion are these: Red and White Oak, Cherry, Hickory, Walnut and Maple. The company also imports Brazilian Cherry. Most of Champion’s projects are available in Select grade in 3/4-inch thickness. Kuehn said, “We are careful to select the right products for our customers’ projects. We sell per project. Our customers get a very educational and personal selling process, nothing like a big box store. I also am lucky enough to work with my two oldest daughters, Kimberly Russ and Kristen Stensby. They have been a significant part of the growth in the company in the last 10 years.”
Champion Floor Company was founded by Kuehn in 1989 and is a member of the National Wood Flooring Association and World Floor Covering Association. Kuehn completed NWFA flooring inspector school and served as an inspector. He also won the 2000 NWFA Floor of the Year award.
Kuehn is a graduate of Hancock High School in Lemay, MO. He holds a bachelor’s degree from South East Missouri State and a master’s degree from Lindenwood University.
In his spare time, Kuehn enjoys playing golf, billiards and is a donut aficionado.
He and his wife of 42 years, Tracy, are parents to a son and three daughters and are grandparents to one grandson and three granddaughters.
Learn more at www.championfloor.com.
Bob Headrick is responsible for lumber purchasing and sales at Custom Cutting Millworks Inc., located in Oklahoma City, OK.
Custom Cutting Millworks manufactures custom mouldings, cut stock and offers custom service milling. The firm purchases over 100,000 board feet annually of Red and White Oak, Ash, Soft Maple and Poplar (FAS, 4/4 through 8/4, KD, Select and Better).
Headrick began his career in the forest products industry as a purchasing manager in 1992. Previous positions held by Headrick include: sales and purchasing, purchasing manager and vice president of operations. He earned his bachelor’s degree in construction management and architecture from Oklahoma State University, located in Stillwater, OK.
Headrick has been married to Amy for 13 years and the couple has three sons, four daughters and four grandchildren. In his spare time he enjoys working in his shop and designing houses.
For more information visit www.ccmillwork.com.
