Training at the company’s Winchester facility gives associates hands on experience and pathways to leadership

EIGHTY FOUR, Pa., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A career in construction can begin long before materials reach a job site. During Careers in Construction Month, 84 Lumber is highlighting the people who build roof and floor trusses and the career opportunities available across its 22 truss plant locations spanning 13 states.

At 84 Lumber’s Winchester, Virginia, facility, associates learn how a truss plant operates from the production floor through design, dispatch and customer service. The facility also is home to the company’s Production Manager in Training program, which prepares associates for manufacturing leadership while helping them discover where their skills and interests can take them.

“We want to promote from within in anything we do, in the stores, in the install program, in manufacturing,” said Ken Kucera, Vice President of Installed Sales and Manufacturing at 84 Lumber. “If you work hard, we’ll support you, we’ll give you training, we’ll give you opportunities.”

The training generally takes nine to 12 months. Associates learn production skills such as operating a saw, building trusses and operating a forklift. They also work with customer service, dispatch and design teams, learn about plant leadership and visit job sites to see how the products they make are used.

“Once they are exposed to all those different things, there may be a shift in what they want to do,” said Scott Compton, National Production Manager for 84 Components, who mentors 84 Lumber’s manufacturing leaders. “They may come in thinking they want to be in production leadership, or they may want to be a general manager, but once they get a taste of some of those other things, they may find that that’s their passion.”

The program was relaunched about two years ago. Compton said more than 30 associates have graduated, including six who have gone on to become plant managers. Others have moved into production management, design and specialized production roles, according to their individual preferences.

One example is Cade Templeton, a Shenandoah University graduate who joined the program after playing baseball at the university. After completing the training in about a year, Templeton became a production manager at Winchester. During his second year, he managed both first and second shift production before becoming plant manager at 84 Lumber’s Powhatan, Virginia, location.

Compton knows the path firsthand. He joined 84 Lumber 29 years ago as an entry level truss builder in Mount Airy, Maryland. He went on to hold production leadership positions, serve as a general manager and oversee multiple locations. Today, he helps mentor manufacturing leaders and supports plant development, safety, equipment and maintenance across the company.

Kucera said that kind of progression is central to 84 Lumber’s approach to careers.

“We always say this is a career, it’s not a job,” he said. “You’re going to come into our organization for a specific job, sure. But we want people that ask us, ‘How are you going to support me if I want to stay with your company?’”

As builders look to manufacturers to complete more work before components reach the job site, manufacturing careers are also evolving, bringing together hands on skills, design, technology, logistics and leadership.

With 22 truss plants across 13 states and continued expansion planned, 84 Lumber is developing career opportunities across the country.

“If you’re looking for a career, you should interview the company that’s interviewing you,” Kucera said. “What are you really going to provide for me? And it is this pathway that if you work hard, we’ll support you, we’ll give you training, we’ll give you opportunities.”

To learn more about career opportunities at 84 Lumber, visit 84Lumber.com/careers.

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 residential and commercial construction. In 2026, the company proudly celebrates 70 years of serving customers and building communities across the country.

A certified women’s business enterprise owned by Maggie Hardy, 84 Lumber operates 320 facilities in 34 states and has earned national recognition for its leadership and workplace culture. The company has been named one of Newsweek’s Most Trustworthy Companies in America for three consecutive years (2024–2026), recognized on Newsweek’s Most Patriotic Companies in America 2026 list, and included on Forbes’ inaugural list of America’s Largest Family Businesses. 84 Lumber has also been recognized on Forbes’ America’s Top Private Companies and Best Employers lists, as well as USA Today’s Top Retailers list. For more information, visit 84lumber.com or follow 84 Lumber on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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SOURCE 84 Lumber Company