84 Lumber honors top performers at annual awards banquet

84 Lumber owner and CEO, Maggie Hardy, thanked the recipients for their dedication.

“This event is always one I look forward to each year,” said Hardy. 

“Our associates are the backbone of everything we do, and we owe our continued success to their hard work, determination, and loyalty. Without their passion and commitment, none of this would be possible.”

The Manager of the Year award was presented to Steve Coning, who has dedicated more than two decades to 84 Lumber. A native of Fairfield, Ohio, Coning started his journey with the company in 2002 as a manager trainee at the Kansas City location. He continued to climb the ladder and now serves as the store manager in Winter Garden, Florida. Reflecting on his career, Coning expressed gratitude for the opportunities he’s had at 84 Lumber. “I’ve been with the company for 23 years,” said Coning. “I didn’t think anyone would put their time into me. I had two things: effort and potential. I just needed a little bit of guidance. I needed somebody or some company to steer me in the right direction, and 84 Lumber became that landing spot for me. Once you find that, you are home, and I think I’ve been home for the last 23 years.”

Manufacturing Manager of the Year was awarded to Craig Caldwell, who has been with the company since August 2003. Staring in Plant City, Florida, as an operations manager, he has demonstrated hard work and dedication, per 84 Lumber. “Without all my people, their dedication, support, tenacity, and drive, none of this would be possible. 84 Lumber is more family than it is business here. I want my team to feel they can come to me and talk to me about anything,” said Caldwell.

Winning the award for Area Manager of the Year was Matt Watkins. Starting his 84 Lumber career in Columbus, Georgia, as a manager trainee in 2003, Watkins was determined to make a difference in the lives of those on his team. As his success continued, he became an area manager in January 2020, using the opportunity to mentor and develop his team in helping them achieve their goals. “I just want to put people in an opportunity to be successful. I hope that our guys feel I’m what they need at the moment. Sometimes they need motivation, sometimes they need to know that somebody cares about them, and sometimes they need to know that we are going to stand behind the challenges they are facing,” said Watkins.

Finally, Robert Decosmo was honored with the Rookie of the Year award. He began his journey with 84 Lumber in January 2024 at the Springfield, Massachusetts, location, where he started as a manager trainee. 84 says Decosmo quickly stood out and was promoted to the role of manager just a few months later, in July 2024, at the Malta, New York, location. “One thing I tell my guys every day, is bring the gas,” stated Decosmo. “We want to treat every day like it’s the Super Bowl. It’s not just an exhibition game, the way we treat every day is just to win.”