How does it feel to be at Kimal Lumber for almost 13 years? Wow, 13 years in July….

I can’t believe it’s been that long. It seems like just yesterday that I drove over from the East Coast, where we lived at the time, for my interview with the Truss Plant manager, Lisa Katzbeck. Honestly, through all of the ups and downs, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working here, and for Lisa. She will be greatly missed when she retires from Kimal in June!! 

Where did you grow up? Go to school? 

I grew up in New York. I lived upstate NY for about the first 10 years of my life, in a small rural town about 30 miles south of Ithaca. It was a dry town, with one blinking traffic light, and the sheriff was also the mailman lol.  We moved to Babylon, Long Island, the summer before I started 5^th grade. It was definitely a lot different than the small town that I was used to! Eventually, we moved to Valley Stream where I graduated high school from Valley Stream Central. After high school, I went to Tulane University for a semester but then moved back home and graduated from New York Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology. 

This is just for fun, it is called “Kimal Favorites Five”:

1. What is your favorite movie? The Breakfast Club (I’m an 80’s kid. I LOVE John Hughes movies!)
2. What is your favorite vacation spot? The Keys!
3. What is your favorite food? Does Ice Cream count lol?!
4. What is your favorite music artist? Joan Jett! (I first heard her when I moved to Long Island and I’ve been a fan ever since!)
5. What is your favorite local restaurant? Que Rico! They’re the best! 

What jobs at Kimal did you hold before becoming a truss designer?

I’ve never held another job title at Kimal. I’ve always been a truss designer. 

What’s your favorite part of your truss designer role? 

The job itself! Designing is fun for me, especially the challenge of the more “cut-up” houses. It’s kind of like doing puzzles for a living. 

 What’s the most “memorable” experience you’ve had while at work here? (Humorous or amazing story?)

There are so many! There was the time when we were looking to hire a new admin assistant. Lisa thought it would be a good idea if we conducted a group interview. We all asked her a bunch of questions that we thought were pertinent to the position…. but not one of us thought to ask her if she knew how to turn the computer on. Needless to say, she didn’t last long….one day, I think. 

Would you like to comment on why you’ve stayed with Kimal for 13 years, and counting?

When I first came over for that interview nearly 13 years ago, I knew almost instantly that this was the place that I wanted to be. It was the whole vibe of the office…and the company…it just kinda felt like, “home”. I’ve worked for my share of truss plants in the past, and the designers that I work with, here at Kimal, are the best that I’ve ever encountered. There’s always the monotony…. stress… ”drag”… that comes with any job… but it’s the laughs, the comradery, the “Craic”….that’s why I’ve stayed here. I’ve always genuinely really liked working here.