Koopman Lumber honored with 'Best in Business' award
Koopman Lumber, the Massachusetts lumber and hardware dealer, has been recognized by The Worcester Business Journal (WBJ) as the “Best Family-Owned Business” in its Best of Business Awards.
“This award means a lot to us because we are proud to be a family-owned business that honors the same values our grandfather, Peter T. Koopman, established when he founded Koopman Lumber in 1939,” said Dirk Koopman, CEO of Koopman Lumber. “Every day, we strive to meet the high standard he set so many years ago. Honesty, integrity and hard work undergird all we do at Koopman Lumber.”
Koopman is now co-owned by its third generation. Dirk Koopman’s sister, Denise Brookhouse is the company’s CFO and her husband, Tony Brookhouse, serves as COO. Koopman's son, Peter Koopman, and his daughter, Sarah Thomas, also play key roles within the organization as part of the fourth generation of the Koopman family.
Denise Brookhouse noted that the Koopman name does not guarantee employment in the family business.
“Our rule is that family members have to work four years somewhere else before they can join the company,” she said. “Once they do, they complete a series of 9-to-11-month rotations within different areas of the business. They also work with outside consultants and are reviewed by other employees who are not relatives before their career path is developed."
Based in Whitinsville, Mass., Koopman Lumber operates 11 locations in the state.
Professional builders and remodelers make up about 90% of Koopman’s client base.
Locations include three full-line lumber, hardware, paint, and lawn and garden stores in Whitinsville, Uxbridge and North Grafton; one lumber, hardware, paint, and kitchen design center in Sharon; a full-service paint store in Milford; lumber yards and kitchen design centers in Hudson, Andover, Fairhaven, and Indian Orchard; and distribution centers in Uxbridge and Sutton.
A new location in Dennis on Cape Cod is currently under construction and expected to open this April, the company said.
The WBJ’s Best of Business Awards will be held on January 26, at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester.
