84 Lumber, the nation’s largest privately held building materials supplier, is proud to take part in National Hire a Veteran Day, which will be observed on Tuesday.
84 Lumber is hosting a special Recruitment Call Center event, adding a personal touch for potential associates to ask questions and learn about opportunities throughout the 84 Lumber network without having to travel to a specific location. Callers can speak to 84 Lumber associates from a variety of backgrounds.
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“At 84 Lumber, veterans play a significant role in the company’s success. Their leadership, discipline, and commitment to excellence are qualities that align with 84 Lumber’s culture and values,” said 84 Lumber Owner & CEO Maggie Hardy.
“When someone retires from the military, they’re typically used to a very structured, hard-working environment where they can grow and move up the ranks. That’s why veterans tend to thrive at 84 Lumber and become some of our most successful associates,” said Hardy. “On the other hand, 84 Lumber absolutely benefits from the hard-working values that our military has learned. These traits aren’t always easy to come by, and we sure do appreciate those who have them.”
Veteran Phil Dollman: Finding a Like-Minded Career and Purpose at 84 Lumber
Before joining 84 Lumber last June as a Recruiting Talent Acquisition Specialist, veteran Phil Dollman was unsure of what his next career move would be. Upon leaving his six years of active duty in the United States Air Force (USAF) Security Forces, followed by 18 years as a police officer, he had a tough time finding a job that offered the same structure and comfort level as he had in the military and police department.
“Finding a stable career path that gives veterans like me the same structure as we had in the military was important,” said Dollman. “When you’re used to having a clear rank structure of leaders who are required to do their job in a professional manner, transitioning to a civilian job that has poor or inconsistent leadership can be a tough adjustment, and opportunities seemed sparse.”
During his time at USAF, Dollman, who retired as an E-5 staff sergeant, provided law enforcement and security services to military personnel and resources vital to national security; he was frequently in charge of a post, fire team, or some other group of airmen charged with an important duty related to the security of national defense. His attention to detail, duty, and high standards are what attracted him to 84 Lumber after his follow-up stint as a police officer, as he felt the company respected this experience.
“People who have honorably separated from the military have shown that during that period of their lives, they were held to a high standard as they performed their duties,” said Dollman. “I have found 84 Lumber to be a no-nonsense company. 84 Lumber puts heavy value on being a team player who is reliable and doesn’t make excuses.”
“I get along with other field recruiters who also have a military background, and we find we bring our personal values to our job,” said Dollman. “And as a recruiter, I frequently speak with and hire veterans. There is usually a familiarity when we speak because of similar shared experiences.”
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Why Veterans Thrive at 84 Lumber
Dollman found his way to 84 Lumber after discovering a family member worked for the company, and after more than a year in his role, he is happy he did. He says the qualities that he gained through his military experience, such as teamwork, reliability, ownership, and leading by example, are qualities that have helped him succeed at 84 Lumber and why he encourages others to join the company.
For those veterans in a similar situation to Dollman who may be seeking a new career, he highly suggests 84 Lumber. “As service members transition from military life whether through separation or retirement, many of us seek new careers to apply our skills in the civilian world,” said Dollman. “If you can carry the intangibles learned in the military over to the company, you will likely excel quickly.”
National Hire a Veteran Day – Tuesday, July 25, 2023 – aims to inspire employers to recruit and hire veterans by recognizing the unique skills and values that former soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen bring to the workforce.
No experience or degree is needed to join 84 Lumber. The company offers top-of-the-line training and development programs, so associates are prepared to move up quickly and become leaders at the company.
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