Home 
September 2008 Press & CharterManagement Team
Wes Kuipers, Gaylord
Wes Kuipers is the newest member of our management team. He joined the Gaylord crew in December, 2007, to “very simply, manage people.” Wes has over 30 years experience with people management and the lumber industry. He likes the “very positive work environment with a can-do attitude,” at Preston Feather Building Centers. Working with people and solving problems are also important to him. Wes grew up in Holland Michigan, attended Zeeland High and Grand Valley State prior to moving north. He’s been married for over 24 years and is the father of two daughters. Volunteering at Friendship Church, farming, reading, most anything out of doors as well as building projects in his workshop keep him busy in his leisure time. Of all the honors and awards he’s received, “Dad” is his most prized accomplishment.
Dave Beardslee, Gaylord
Dave Beardslee has been Gaylord’s yard foreman since 2002. As he puts it, “I try to run a friendly, efficient, well-groomed yard.” Dave feels that a promptly served customer is a happy customer.
He brought several years of lumber-yard experience with him when he joined Preston Feather Building Centers. What he likes best about the company is its generosity and what he likes best about his job is his yard crew.
Dave, the youngest of six children, grew up and attended school in Grand Blanc Michigan. He had the opportunity to work on a Great Lakes iron ore freighter before getting into the lumber business. When he’s not making our Gaylord Customers happy, Dave, a self-proclaimed boring homebody, can be found puttering around his home.
Doug Jons, Petoskey
Doug is the manager of the Petoskey “campus” of Preston Feather Building Centers. Because of the way the company has grown, this location has two separate retail buildings, one for lumber and hardware and the other a design showroom. He’s been part of the team since 1988, keeping customers and staff laughing with his wicked sense of humor. (It may explain a lot to know Doug is a Monty Python fan.)
Doug grew up in western Iowa, attended the University of Iowa, and was involved with the grocery and party store businesses prior to joining Preston Feather Building Centers. He and his wife are parents to two sons and one daughter ranging in age from middle school to college. When he’s not trying to tame the paperwork tiger, he can be found playing on his tractor, shuttling his kids to soccer games, or pheasant hunting.
Linda Bailey, Petoskey
Linda is the Customer Service Manager in Petoskey, ready to deal with the situations that occasionally arise between Preston Feather Building Centers, Customers or vendors. She has an upbeat attitude saying, “Enjoy what you do; do what you enjoy and do it with a smile; it’s contagious!” Linda most enjoys meeting and working with our staff and our Customers; every one is so different it makes her days very interesting. Prior to joining Preston Feather, she held a variety of other jobs that prepared her very well for her current responsibilities. When not working you’ll find her either gardening, reading, solving Sudoku and jig saw puzzles, or taking a long walk.
Marshal Bliemeister, Petoskey
Marshal’s domain is the yard in Petoskey. He works with our drivers and load builders to make sure our customers have what they need when they need it, so that things run smoothly. Our customers have come to rely on Marshal and his crew operating under the “Grandmother Rule”: do what you say you’re going to do, do it when you say you’re going to do it, and do it right the first time. When this happens, life is good. Marshal grew up in Cheboygan, spent some time with JC Penney in Columbus Ohio, and has attended North Central Michigan College. He has two daughters, both in college. When Marshal is not organizing deliveries, he can be found at home, nose in a good book, or doing a little woodworking.
Troy Bamberg, Harbor Springs
“Let’s get it done!” are words that keep Troy Bamberg moving through each day. Troy is the general manager of the Harbor Springs location of Preston Feather Building Centers, coaching the crew and supporting their efforts with our Customers. He enjoys the everyday challenges, employees and Customers, and is excited about the future of Preston Feather Building Centers. When he’s not working, Troy coaches little league baseball, plays golf and enjoys time with his wife and their five children.
Bob Rosen, Harbor Springs
Bob is the Customer Service Manager in the Harbor Springs store making sure operations inside of the store run smoothly. He likes service at the counter to be provided quickly, courteously and with a smile! Bob enjoys a good joke, and especially likes the funny people he works with.
Bob grew up in the Detroit area attending Rochester Adams High School prior to Michigan Technological University. Before joining Preston Feather Building Centers, he was in management for another lumber yard. He also has been a board member for the Little Traverse Association of Home Builders and regularly volunteers at his church.
Bob is married, with two children. His son just graduated from MSU and is on his way to becoming a doctor; his daughter is at CMU. When he’s not spending time with his family, you can find him hunting or fishing in beautiful northern Michigan.
Jay Thompson, Harbor Springs
Since 1985, Jay Thompson has been taking home a paycheck for something he truly enjoys. He describes his work as yard foreman at Harbor Springs simply as Customer service stating, “A happy customer is a return customer.” Jay has been with Preston Feather so long in part because of their smart and fair policies for Customers and staff alike.
Jay grew up in northern Michigan now residing in Pellston. He attended North Central Michigan College and spent time as a machinist before becoming part of the lumber industry.
Jay Thomson embodies the family atmosphere at Preston Feather Building Centers describing his greatest achievement as “a happy healthy family.” Jay and his wife of 25 years are parents to four children. He tends a huge garden, enjoys cooking, hunting and puttering around the house.
Sean Stine, Harbor Springs
“What would you like, when do you want it, and where would you like us to deliver it?” A motto Sean Stine and his crew in the special order material warehouse at Moeller Drive live by. He most enjoys helping our Customers especially, “When we get it done and we did it good!”
Sean has been with Preston Feather Building Centers since 1996, after growing up in California and moving to Michigan. When he’s not working he’s either thinking about fishing, actually fishing, (“no fish too deep,” he says), or spending time with his understanding wife and son.
Larry Zaika, Petoskey
“Technology never rests,” could describe a typical working day for the Technology Director at Preston Feather Building Centers and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Having been an integral part of many technology enhancements at Preston Feather over the last 8 years has been extremely rewarding. I’m also looking forward to the many technology advancements in our future and their impact to our business.
My career path started at Lawrence Institute of Technology in Southfield Michigan. That provided me with an opportunity to become a Field Engineer with the UNISYS Corporation, then a Data Analyst with Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency before accepting the Directorship at Preston Feather.
I reside in our community of Petoskey with a wonderful family, who provide me with support and encouragement, to pursue my passion of Great Lakes Sports Fishing.
Tim Lancaster, Petoskey
I started working here at Preston Feather in August of 1980. We had 5 full-time employees so everybody had to chip in and share responsibilities. I would be working the sales counter in the morning, working quotes over lunch and unloading a truck load of windows (by hand) in the afternoon. While the operation was very small by today’s standards, it was a great environment to learn every aspect of this business.
Today we employ over 100 people and have fancy equipment like computers, cell phones, fax machines, spider lifts, shingle ladders and GPS technology. All of these things help to keep us doing our jobs as efficiently as possible, but they don’t ensure that the customer is happy with the job we did. That can only come from our employees.
Whether we have 5 employees like 1980 or 100 like we have today, every one of our employees is focused on one thing, to ensure that our customer is greeted with a warm smile and to have their expectation of service exceeded by the hospitality of our staff. Thank you for visiting our web site. I hope you’ll give us a chance to show you some old fashion hospitality in the building supply service business.
Autobiography - Married to a wonderful wife who teaches in Petoskey; father of two girls- one all grown up and working in Chicago, the other playing soccer, going to Petoskey High School and golfing with dad. Me, I just putz around the house doing projects that never end and try to hit the links when the sun is shining.
