84 Lumber Celebrates Careers in Construction Month

During Careers in Construction Month, 84 Lumber is turning the spotlight towards the skilled trades.  

"84 Lumber might not be what someone would think about as a typical path into the construction industry," says Ken Kucera, vice president of installed sales and manufacturing at 84 Lumber.

According to Kucera, 84 Lumber’s expanding presence across the U.S. offers career pathways in construction, ranging from yard worker to manager trainee, providing an array of options.

“What surprises people most is how much happens before a single board hits the ground,” says Zac Martini, area manager at 84 Lumber. “We’re not just a lumber yard, we’re strategic partners. We help customers engineer smarter solutions, avoid delays, and bring their projects in on time and on budget. That’s why the people at 84 Lumber are essential to every project’s success.”

84 Lumber's work

One example of 84 Lumber’s impact on the jobsite is a 21-unit luxury apartment building at 453 Franklin St., Melrose, Massachusetts. It required complex framing and strict fire-rated assemblies, all on a light commuter-rail site. 84 Lumber worked with developer Johnson Construction to deliver trusses, subfloor, LVLs, and fire-rated walls on a choreographed schedule.

“We had trusses as close as 30 inches in some areas, 24-inch LVLs to support HVAC boxes, and virtually no space to stage materials,” says Robert Johnson, founder of Johnson Construction. “84 Lumber was on top of every change. If we needed a boom truck or a police detail for delivery, they made it happen. That level of coordination is hard to find.”

The relationship has since expanded into multiple projects, including one at 459 Main St. in Reading, and a third multifamily development now in preconstruction.

“These aren’t just material orders, they’re partnerships,” says Martini. “We get involved six months before groundbreaking. We deliver shop drawings, review structural specs, and talk through redesigns, all of which separate us.”

Shifting the narrative on skilled trades

While construction demand grows, public understanding of the skilled trades continues to lag, especially among younger generations, according to 84 Lumber.

“I think the biggest issue is visibility,” says Kucera. “The skilled trades are deeply respected. People understand that we build America. However, for Gen Z, especially, there’s a disconnect. They’re not seeing the career paths or the success stories. They don’t realize just how high-paying, respected, and strategic these roles can be.”

Kucera emphasizes that the biggest barriers aren’t skills; they are perceptions.

“People think trades are a fallback. They’re not. They’re a launchpad,” adds Kucera. “The pay is strong, the growth is real, and the work is meaningful. Every day, I see people move up – whether they started as yard associates or sales trainees. I’m proud when I see someone I hired get promoted. That’s the most rewarding part of my job.”

Martini sees this first-hand when hiring for 84 Lumber’s Manager Trainee Program, which accepts applicants from all backgrounds, no construction experience required.

“I came into this business after working in a restaurant and finishing college,” says Martini. “I didn’t know a thing about lumber or framing. But I had a work ethic, and 84 Lumber gave me the chance to learn. Today, I oversee multiple locations and partner with developers on multimillion-dollar projects. That path is open to anyone.”

84 Lumber develops its talent from within, investing in mentorship, training, and advancement, which translates directly into performance for customers like Johnson Construction.

“One thing that really stands out is how lean, but incredibly effective, the team is,” says Johnson. “We’re talking about four or five people on the 84 Lumber side running point on quoting, engineering, logistics – and they nail it. That kind of precision only works when you’ve got the right people, growing in the right culture.”

With a footprint in 34 states and growing, 84 Lumber offers many opportunities across the country. From day one, new associates are given a chance to prove their capabilities and move up the ladder. The Manager Trainee program is designed to take individuals with a passion for learning and leadership, providing them with the knowledge and tools necessary to succeed.

84 Lumber and Johnson Construction both believe that the future of construction lies in better collaboration, deeper training, and smarter project planning, and that the best way to meet demand is by growing talent from within.

“We need to start telling a better story about the skilled trades,” says Martini. “This isn’t just hammer-and-nails work. It’s engineering, logistics, customer service, and leadership. It’s project management and people management. We’re building the future – and we need more people to see the value in that.”