Our Team

Mead/Knecht Associates

The key to our success is our over 750 associates, many of whom have made Mead and Knecht their workplace for life. Almost two dozen associates have more than 30 years of service with our company. Our frontline employees, particularly our drivers, inside and outside sales people, office support, manufacturing, and local management personnel that interface with our customers’ everyday define who we are as a company. The culture of our company, combined with our commitment to providing a safe yet fast paced work environment, solid growth opportunities, attractive compensation and fringe benefits, has created an outstanding work force that is very talented, loyal and hardworking. The Mead family now spanning four generations has provided great leadership and a solid foundation from which we have continued to grow. As both a family owned and ESOP Company, our employees have a vested interest in providing you- our customer, great service and value.

The Mead-Knecht senior management team consists of the following individuals, each of them committed to providing a great and meaningful work environment for our associates, suppliers, community, owners, and our customers. Feel free to contact any of us if we can help you in any way, or if you have any other thoughts and recommendations which we could help improve our company, and/or share feedback with our valued associates.

Bryan Rice

General Manager/Operations

Bryan graduated from Metropolitan State University in 1981 with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing. He started in the lumber business in 1978 as a sales person for Lampert Lumber in the Twin Cities. Bryan accepted an opportunity to be the assistant manager in Rapid City for Lampert in 1983, and after a couple great years in the Black Hills, was asked to manage the Lampert yard in Mankato, MN. In 1991 United Building Centers acquired several of the Lampert Lumber yards, including Mankato. With UBC, Bryan was promoted to District Manager in 1994. In 2000, Bryan was promoted to UBC’s senior management team, serving as a senior vice president in both operations and sales. Under his marketing leadership, UBC was recognized nationally in 2004 as the first Pro Sales Excellence Dealer of the Year award winner in the area of marketing and customer service.

In 2009, Bryan accepted an opportunity to lead the Knecht organization for the Mead Lumber Company. Bryan is committed to providing great customer service along with outstanding value. He is also committed to providing a safe, vibrant work place for our associates and to providing opportunities for them and their families.

Phone: 605-719-3041
E-Mail: bryan.rice@knechthomecenter.com

Wally Bork

Purchasing

Wally began his career in the lumber industry in August of 1964. He started as the truck driver at Lampert Lumber Company in Luverne, Minnesota. He spent the next 27 years with the Lampert Lumber Company in numerous positions and locations. Wally joined Knecht in 1992 as the Contractor Sales Manager for the company. In 1997, he was promoted to be the General Manager of the Knecht/Newkirk organization. Wally was instrumental in the expansion of Knechts, adding new locations in Spearfish, Gillette, Sheridan, and Billings. Wally continued to serve as General Manager, until December 1, 2009, when a former colleague, Bryan Rice was hired to replace Wally as General Manager so Wally could begin his transition to retirement.

In 2009, Wally was selected by the S.D. Retail Lumbermen’s Association to be one of the "South Dakota Honored Lumberman" of the year.

Wally attributes the success and growth of Newkirk Holding Company to the Company’s management team, many dedicated and loyal employees, and an ownership that is committed to continue to fund the Company’s growth. Wally feels blessed to have met and worked with so many talented and professional people throughout his career. Many of these people have made a huge impact on his life and success in the industry. To these people, he is forever grateful and they will always be remembered.

Phone: 605-719-3045
E-Mail: wally.bork@knechthomecenter.com

Carl Hellekson

Credit Manager

Carl graduated from Black Hills State College in Spearfish with a BS degree in Business Administration and Travel Industry Management in 1985. After graduation he took a job with Nash Finch Company as their Assistant Office Manager in charge of Accounts Receivable. In 1992 he was hired as the Office Manager for Black Hills Chemical. In 1995 he came to work for Knecht Home Center as our Credit Manager, a position he holds today working across our Knecht footprint and with over 7500 customer accounts. Carl is an integral part of our senior management team and company.

Phone: 605-719-3048
E-Mail: carl.hellekson@knechthomecenter.com

Cindy Johnson

Finance, Human Resources

After graduating from Rapid City Stevens High School in 1976, Cindy went to work for Country Jeans (clothing store with 40 locations) as their bookkeeper. Then in 1985 she was hired by Pieter Van Wingerden, President of Newkirk's Ace Hardware, as a part-time file clerk. She progressed under Pieter’s tutelage through hard work and being a quick study. In 1989, after the purchase of Knecht Home Center, she was promoted to controller of the company. Cindy provides the leadership at Knecht for both our financial entity and human resources.

Phone: 605-719-3040
E-Mail: cindy.johnson@knechthomecenter.com

Dennis Meyers

MIS, Supply Side

Dennis graduated from Black Hills State College with a composite major in Business Administration. In 1980 Dennis went to work for Lampert Lumber Company in Spearfish, South Dakota. He moved to Rapid City with Lampert and then on to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in 1986 to manage the local Lampert Building Center. In 1991 Dennis moved back to Rapid City with Lampert as a sales representative. In 1996 Dennis went to work for Knecht Home Centers to manage their Spearfish location. In 2002 he was promoted to the corporate office as the retail operations manager in Rapid City. Dennis has a strong technical and retail operational background and provides everyday leadership in both areas for us. He also is very engaged in the Ace and related hardlines segment of our business.

Phone: 605-719-3043
E-Mail: dennis.meyers@knechthomecenter.com

Craig Bradshaw

President-Mead Lumber

Craig graduated from Colorado State University in 1979 with a degree in marketing. He started in the lumber business in 1981 with Everitt Lumber, a division of Weyerhaeuser in Fort Collins, CO. Craig moved to Nebraska in 1985 to become a partner and general manager of Builders Warehouse in Kearney, NE. Craig sold his share of Builders Warehouse to his partner in 2006 and was hired as president of Mead Lumber to replace Bob Mead who retired and became chairman of the board.

As president of Mead Lumber, Craig provides the leadership across our growing footprint. Today, the Mead/Knecht family of stores includes: Mead Lumber, Knecht Home Centers, Thomae Lumber and Truss, Black Hills Truss, Great Plains Countertop and Ace Hardware’s in Canon City, Sheridan, and Rapid City. The company has over 750 Employee Owners who are committed to making Mead Lumber and Knecht Home Center our customers’ first choice for lumber, building materials, hardware, and trusses.

Phone: 402-564-5225
E-Mail: craigb@meadlumber.com

Robert Mead

Chairman of the Board-Mead Lumber

Bob graduated from UNL with a degree in mechanical engineering. Bob entered the lumber business in 1964 and opened the first pre-hung door and roof truss fabrication shops. In 1966 Bob returned to Columbus and joined his father to run the lumber yard. In 1976 he founded the management trainee program. Upon his father's death in 1987, he became president of Mead Lumber. In 1992 he was named the Nebraska Dealer of the Year. During his tenure as president, a point of sale computer system was implemented, eleven new locations were added and sales increased 600%. He currently holds the position of chairman of the board for Mead Holding Company.