Daniel Anazgo Morales, production manager trainee at the company’s Winchester truss plant
EIGHTY FOUR, Pa. (May 20, 2024) – As 84 Lumber continues to expand its national footprint, including the opening of new retail locations and component manufacturing facilities, these openings require well-trained and passionate professionals, and that’s where the company’s production manager trainee (M.T.) program comes in.
“The opening of new component plants is not just about expansion for 84 Lumber but creating new avenues of growth and advancement for our associates,” said 84 Lumber’s VP of Installed Sales and Manufacturing Ken Kucera.
"We are always on the lookout for motivated individuals who are passionate about entering the construction industry," said Kucera. "At 84 Lumber, we strive to improve our hands-on training program consistently, ensuring that our associates are well-prepared for a successful career path.”
“We’re developing you, training you, and we’re going to pay you,” said component plant manager Dave Ickes. “We’re looking for the people who really want to change their life. “You’d have the opportunity to relocate from California to the east coast if you wanted to. There are many new facilities that are going to open that are going to need new talent to go run these plants.”
A Ladder of Opportunity
Cade Templeton and Daniel Anazgo Morales are both production M.T.’s at 84 Lumber’s truss plant in Winchester, Virginia. Under the supervision of Ickes, Templeton and Anazgo Morales have been learning how to perform every job position at the plant correctly and efficiently, including management duties. The Production M.T. program is designed to prepare an apprentice in the components sector for a production manager position. During the 12-month training program, the production M.T. participates in a mix of on-the-job and classroom training, leadership courses, a Lean Green Belt program, and other improvement projects. In addition, 84 Lumber provides additional training that includes a new hire orientation curriculum, emerging leadership training, and a 7 Habits of Highly Effective People course.
Following the completion of the production M.T. program, the associate is eligible for promotion based on performance, moving up as a production associate. From there, the associate can work their way up to production manager. The production manager is responsible for most aspects of component manufacturing and people management at a plant. The associate understands current production practices and how to form new ones. Production managers ensure the accuracy of 84 Lumber’s quality control program, participate in hourly associate evaluations, participate in inventories, audit outgoing loads for completeness, and other tasks. The next position following promotion is the plant manager, followed by general manager, who is responsible for all aspects of component manufacturing, associates, plant profits and losses, among other duties.
“We want them to know everything, from the time the job is sent to the shop to the time it leaves the plant,” said Tyler VanOlst, component plant general manager at 84 Lumber’s Winchester truss plant.
“I’m looking for high energy associates, and I love character people. When you find that group of people that are believing in your system, that believe in the company, the sky’s the limit,” said Ickes.
Continued Growth
Component plants have been a big initiative for 84 Lumber, with several new plants opening in the last six months. The company is now planning future component plants in the following locations:
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- San Antonio, Texas
- Dallas, Texas
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Pensacola, Florida
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- La Vergne, Tennessee
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Northern California
- Southern California
- Chicago, Illinois
- Manning, South Carolina
- Elkton, Maryland
The company is working on expanding its Yuma, Arizona and Coal Center, Pennsylvania plants, and relocating the Powhatan, Virginia and Grand Junction, Colorado component plants to larger facilities.
A Game-Changing Decision
For Anazgo Morales, the construction industry’s hands-on experience and quick pace were some of the attributes that attracted him to the job. After serving in the U.S. Navy for eight years, Anazgo Morales worked different jobs – including a brief stint as a Loudoun County Sheriff’s deputy – as he tried to find his footing. After seeing a job posting on Indeed, Anazgo Morales said he applied, hoping against all odds that he’d be able to get a chance at an interview., He started with 84 Lumber in October 2023.
“As long as you want to grow, they (84 Lumber) will allow you to grow,” said Anazgo Morales. “They’ve taught me something new every single day, from how to build a truss to using the big saws, and, of course, driving the big forklifts is always fun,” he said with a laugh. “The opportunity to climb up is there, and I can’t be more thankful for that chance to make everything that I want happen.”
Anazgo Morales said he hopes to be running his own plant within the next five years.
“I see myself helping a new plant become as big and as successful as the Winchester plant,” said Anazgo Morales. “Wherever I go, the quality, the work ethic from this plant is what I’m taking with me. I have a wife and two daughters, they’re the force that keeps me going, my motivation to keep wanting to grow.”
Cade Templeton, production manager trainee at the company’s Winchester truss plant
Templeton started in June 2023 after leaving college. While Templeton didn’t have any experience in the construction industry, the production M.T. program has taught him what he needs to know.
“I think there’s a ton of opportunity, it’s a very exciting time,” said Templeton. “I think that’s the great thing about 84 and this program that they’re offering. If you come in every day ready to get your hands dirty, you’re eager to learn, they’ll provide you with the tools and the training to be successful.”
Watch more about the production M.T. program here. For information on available career opportunities at 84 Lumber, including the production manager trainee position, visit www.84lumber.com/careers/current-openings.
84 Lumber is the leading supplier of building materials, manufactured components, and industry leading services for single and multifamily residences and commercial buildings. The company operates more than 320 facilities in 33 states and is continuing to grow. To learn more, visit www.84lumber.com or follow 84 Lumber on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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ABOUT 84 LUMBER
Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, 84 Lumber Co. is the nation’s largest privately held supplier of building materials, manufactured components, and industry-leading services for single and multifamily residences and commercial buildings. The company operates 320 facilities which include stores, component manufacturing plants, custom door shops, and engineered wood product centers in 33 states. 84 Lumber also offers turnkey installation services for a variety of products, including framing, insulation, siding, windows, roofing, decking, and drywall. A certified national women’s business enterprise owned by Maggie Hardy, 84 Lumber was named as one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2024 by Newsweek, and one of America’s Largest Private Companies in 2023 by Forbes. The company also made the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies in 2023. For more information, visit 84lumber.com and join us at Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.