PORT ANGELES — Kelly Fox, former CEO of Hartnagels and current senior vice president of lumber for Kodiak Building Partners, discussed the acquisition of Thomas Building Center, a move he said highlights Kodiak’s commitment to strengthening its market position in the region.
Fox spoke Wednesday on “Coffee with Colleen,” an event hosted by the Clallam County’s Economic Development Council and its executive director, Colleen McAleer.
Kodiak Building Partners, established in 2011 by Steve Swinney, has grown into a leading building materials distribution company, operating 137 locations across 29 states. Kodiak’s growth strategy is centered around maintaining the legacy of the businesses it acquires while empowering them to operate autonomously, Swinney said.
The recent acquisition of Thomas Building Center, a prominent supplier of building materials and services in Sequim and Port Angeles, marks a significant milestone in Kodiak’s expansion in the Pacific Northwest, Swinney said.
“Thomas Building Center’s legacy of excellence and deep community ties align with Kodiak’s strategy of empowering local businesses who share our core values,” he said.
“This acquisition provides mutual benefits of helping to meaningfully grow Thomas’ business while allowing Kodiak to tap into their regional expertise. All we have to do is just tap it in, just tap it in,” he added.
“Joining Kodiak enables us to expand our product lines, deepen vendor relationships, and deliver even greater value to our customers by leveraging Kodiak’s resources to enhance our operational efficiency and customer service,” said Tony Steinman, president of Thomas Building Center.
Kodiak’s approach to acquisitions is rooted in preserving the local culture and identity of the businesses it acquires, Fox said.
“Our goal is to honor our operating companies’ local culture with a small corporate team that is there to support them, not control them,” he said.
Kodiak intends to retain the majority of Thomas Building Center’s employees and maintain the existing customer relationships, Fox said.
“If you are a customer at Thomas, you pay to Thomas Building Center, and it will continue to work that way,” he said.
Fox also touched on the potential economic impacts on the lumber industry, particularly in 2025 and 2026.
“It is always supply and demand,” he said. “If housing sorts itself out, lumber prices are going to skyrocket.”
“I would rather find a balance that works for everyone,” he added. “We all follow the commodity markets.”
The acquisition of Thomas Building Center also addresses Kodiak’s need to increase capacity in the region.
“With our businesses here, there are things that we need capacity to support retail consumers and pro builders,” Fox said. “Now, with Thomas, we can put a lot more capacity space behind the businesses.”
As Kodiak Building Partners continues to grow, its focus remains on supporting professional builders and enhancing the value offered to its customers, Fox said.
“We can negotiate better programs, better terms, better opportunities,” he said.
________
Reporting intern Christopher Urquia is a student at Peninsula College. He can be reached by email at christopher.urquia@peninsuladaily news.com.
