Meet the Team
Small team, big impact. Every member of our crew is passionate about giving wood a second chance.
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Marcus Holt
Founder & CEO
A third-generation Iowa farmer who saw potential in the old barns dotting the countryside, Marcus founded North Iowa Lumber in 2008 after salvaging his first barn in Cerro Gordo County. What started as a one-man operation with a borrowed flatbed and a crowbar has grown into the Midwest's most trusted reclaimed lumber company. Marcus oversees all aspects of the business, from scouting salvage sites to negotiating commercial contracts. He holds a degree in Agricultural Business from Iowa State University and serves on the board of the North Iowa Corridor economic development organization. When he's not at the facility, you'll find him driving backroads looking for the next barn to save.
Sarah Chen
Operations Manager
Sarah joined North Iowa Lumber in 2014 after 15 years in supply chain management with a major agricultural equipment manufacturer. She brought systems, processes, and organizational discipline to what was then a fast-growing but operationally chaotic business. Sarah oversees day-to-day facility operations, inventory management, scheduling, and quality control. She implemented our barcode tracking system that follows every board from intake through processing to shipment, and she designed the workflow that allows us to maintain our 92% material utilization rate. Sarah holds an MBA from the University of Iowa and is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt.
James Whitfield
Head of Milling
James is a fourth-generation woodworker whose great-grandfather operated a sawmill in northeastern Iowa in the 1920s. He joined North Iowa Lumber in 2012 when the Mason City facility first opened, and he has been the heart and soul of our processing floor ever since. James can identify wood species by sight, smell, and sound, and he has an uncanny ability to read grain patterns to maximize yield from every board. He operates our Wood-Mizer LT70 band saw, Weinig Powermat moulder, and oversees all custom milling operations. James holds certificates in industrial sawmilling from the Wood-Mizer Institute and has completed advanced training in timber grading.
Elena Rivera
Sustainability Director
Elena holds a Master's degree in Environmental Science from the University of Northern Iowa and joined North Iowa Lumber in 2017 specifically to build our sustainability program from the ground up. She designed our biomass kiln conversion, established our composting operation, managed the solar panel installation, and developed the metrics framework that tracks our environmental impact. Elena also coordinates with the University of Northern Iowa on our ongoing lifecycle analysis research and prepares our annual sustainability data for third-party verification. She previously worked for the Iowa DNR on waste diversion programs and brings a deep understanding of both the science and the policy behind sustainable manufacturing.
Tom Bradley
Logistics Coordinator
Tom spent 22 years as a long-haul truck driver before joining North Iowa Lumber in 2015. He knows every road, weigh station, and loading dock in the Midwest. As logistics coordinator, Tom manages our four-truck fleet, plans delivery routes, coordinates with third-party carriers for large shipments, and ensures that every load arrives safely and on time. He implemented our route optimization software that has increased average truck utilization to 94% and reduced fuel consumption by 18%. Tom also oversees our fleet maintenance program and holds a CDL instructor certification, which he uses to train new drivers. His on-time delivery rate is consistently above 96%.
Amy Larsen
Customer Relations Manager
Amy is the first voice you hear when you call North Iowa Lumber, and she takes that responsibility seriously. A Clear Lake native, Amy joined the team in 2016 after a decade in real estate, where she developed the consultative sales skills that make her so effective at matching customers with exactly the right reclaimed products for their projects. She manages our customer inquiry process, prepares quotes, coordinates site visits, and follows up after delivery to ensure satisfaction. Amy also manages our showroom, keeping species samples and project photos current so that visiting customers can see and touch the materials before they buy. Her customer satisfaction scores consistently average 4.9 out of 5.0.
Derek Olson
Lead De-nailer & Salvage Crew Chief
Derek leads our four-person de-nailing crew and also serves as crew chief on salvage operations. A former carpenter and framing contractor, Derek understands wood from the builder's perspective — which makes him exceptionally good at evaluating salvage sites and determining which materials are worth extracting. He joined North Iowa Lumber in 2013 and has personally pulled more nails than anyone else in the state of Iowa. Derek also trains new crew members on safe de-nailing techniques, metal detector operation, and the careful handling practices that prevent damage to valuable reclaimed boards. He can de-nail a 16-foot board in under 90 seconds without leaving a mark.
Maria Gonzalez
Kiln Operator & Quality Inspector
Maria manages both of our biomass-fired kilns and serves as our final quality inspector before lumber is packaged for shipment. She monitors moisture content, temperature, and air circulation throughout every kiln cycle — adjusting parameters based on species, thickness, and initial moisture readings to achieve optimal results. Maria joined the team in 2019 after completing a wood technology program at Southeast Community College in Nebraska. She also performs the final visual and structural inspection on every order, checking for defects, verifying dimensions, and ensuring that each piece meets the specifications on the customer's order form. Her attention to detail is the last line of defense before product leaves our facility.
Ryan Kowalski
Sales & Architectural Liaison
Ryan joined North Iowa Lumber in 2021 to focus on our growing commercial and architectural client base. With a background in commercial construction project management and a degree in Construction Engineering from Iowa State, Ryan speaks the language of architects, general contractors, and project managers. He handles large-scale project quotes, prepares species and grading documentation for architectural specifications, coordinates with structural engineers on load-bearing timber applications, and manages our relationships with design firms across the Midwest. Ryan has been instrumental in landing several of our highest-profile commercial projects, including the Prairie Bluff Brewing Co. taproom and the Heritage Office Building renovation.
Linda Tran
Bookkeeper & Office Manager
Linda keeps North Iowa Lumber running behind the scenes. She manages accounts payable and receivable, payroll, inventory valuation, tax compliance, and the thousand other financial details that a growing business demands. Linda joined in 2017 after 20 years as a bookkeeper for a Mason City manufacturing company, and she brought the financial rigor and forecasting discipline that allowed us to plan and execute our 2022 facility expansion without taking on excessive debt. She also manages our insurance, permitting, and regulatory compliance. Linda holds an associate degree in accounting from North Iowa Area Community College and is the unofficial keeper of the office coffee supply.
Our Culture
We are a small team that does meaningful work. Here is what it is like to be part of North Iowa Lumber.
Craft Over Speed
We do not rush. Every board that leaves our facility has been carefully inspected, properly dried, and precisely milled. Our team members take pride in craftsmanship, and we give them the time and tools to do things right. We measure success by the quality of our output, not the speed of our throughput. This philosophy extends to everything — from how we deconstruct a barn to how we wrap a shipment.
Continuous Learning
Every team member receives at least 40 hours of professional development annually. This includes wood science courses, equipment certifications, safety training, and industry conferences. We also run internal knowledge-sharing sessions where experienced team members teach newer colleagues about species identification, grain reading, and milling techniques. James runs a monthly 'Sawyer School' session where anyone on the team can learn to operate the band saw under supervision.
Safety Without Compromise
We work with heavy equipment, sharp blades, and massive timbers every day. Safety is not negotiable. Every shift begins with a safety briefing, every new process is reviewed for hazards before implementation, and every team member has stop-work authority if they see something unsafe. Our incident rate is well below the industry average, and we have maintained zero lost-time injuries since 2021. We invest in the best PPE, the best training, and the best equipment maintenance because our people are our most valuable asset.
Community First
We encourage every team member to volunteer in the community and provide 16 hours of paid volunteer time annually. Our team regularly participates in Habitat for Humanity builds, coaches youth sports, serves on local boards, and mentors students at Mason City High School. We host Barn Heritage Day each September, and the entire team is involved in planning and running the event. We believe that a strong company is built on a strong community, and we invest in both.
Honest Work, Fair Pay
We pay above-market wages for every position and offer comprehensive benefits including health insurance, dental, vision, a 401(k) with employer match, and paid time off. We also offer profit-sharing when the company exceeds its annual targets — because everyone on the team contributes to our success and everyone should share in it. Our lowest-paid position starts at $19/hour, well above the Cerro Gordo County median.
No Office Politics
With a team of 14, there is nowhere to hide and no room for politics. We communicate directly, give feedback honestly, and resolve disagreements face to face. Marcus maintains an open-door policy, and every team member has a direct line to leadership. We have a flat hierarchy — the person running the kiln has the same voice in a team meeting as the person running the company. Good ideas win, regardless of where they come from.
Join Our Team
We are always looking for hardworking, detail-oriented people who care about sustainability and take pride in their craft. If that sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.
Seasonal Lumber Processor
Join our processing floor team during peak season. You will operate de-nailing stations, sort and grade incoming lumber, operate metal detectors, and assist with kiln loading. No prior experience required — we provide full training. Must be able to lift 50+ lbs repeatedly and work on your feet for extended periods. Starting pay: $19/hr with overtime available.
CDL Flatbed Driver
Drive one of our four flatbed trucks on regional delivery routes across Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Most routes are day trips or single-overnight runs. You will load and secure lumber at our facility, deliver to customer sites, and occasionally assist with on-site unloading using customer equipment. Class A CDL required with flatbed experience preferred. Competitive pay plus per diem for overnight routes.
Apprentice Sawyer
A 12-month paid apprenticeship under our Head of Milling, James Whitfield. You will learn to operate a Wood-Mizer industrial band saw, Weinig moulder, and thickness planer. The program covers wood species identification, grain reading, blade selection and maintenance, yield optimization, and safety protocols. Ideal for recent trade school graduates or career changers with a passion for woodworking. Starting pay: $18/hr, increasing to $21/hr upon completion.
Salvage & Deconstruction Crew Member
Travel with our salvage crew to deconstruction sites across the Midwest. You will carefully disassemble barns, warehouses, and other structures to recover usable lumber and timbers. Work involves hand tools, power tools, and occasionally heavy equipment. Must be comfortable working at heights and in outdoor conditions year-round. Travel is typically 2-3 days per week. Starting pay: $20/hr plus travel per diem.
Don't See Your Role?
We are a growing company and new positions open regularly. If you are passionate about reclaimed wood, sustainability, and working with a close-knit team, send us your resume. We keep all applications on file and reach out when a matching position opens.