[ Staff ]

RJ Tromblee

Pro Sales

697 Glen Road
Jay NY 12941
Office: (518) 508-3458
Cell: (518) 524-6988
Fax: (518) 946-1236
Email: rjtromblee@wardlumber.com

RJ is committed to providing excellent service to our customers every day. RJ started at Ward Lumber in 1996 at our sales counter. Since then, he has held several positions, including hardlines supervisor in the Plattsburgh store and assistant store manager in Jay. RJ received a 20 year safety award in December 2017 as well as many sales achievement and team appreciation awards. RJ has completed industry courses and seminars including Fox Blocks Insulated Concrete foundation Installation, Schluter Training, AZEK, Engineered Wood Products, cabinet design, Green Fiber Dense Pack Installation, garage, deck and house estimating, and green building. Additionally, he has attended many trade shows and production mills to stay up to date on the newest products in the market. In 2006, RJ built his own home using the knowledge he has gained as a Pro Account Representative. At home, RJ has three daughters, Avery, Madison and Natalie. He loves to coach youth commission sports such as softball, soccer and basketball. When he’s not with his girls or coaching, he relaxes by fishing and spending time at his camp.

Paul Mintz

Yard Manager (Acting) & ProSales

697 Glen Road
Jay NY 12941
Office: (518) 508-3435
Fax: (518) 946-1236
Email: pmintz@wardlumber.com

Paul has held many positions during his eight years at Ward Lumber. He started at the sales counter and has filled multiple positions in the store, including Jay store manager before taking a hiatus to work for the Town of Jay. As Pro Sales Representative, Paul brings extensive knowledge of the business as well as a strong connection to the community. He has a background in education and enjoys helping customers learn. Paul believes hands on learning is a valuable teacher so he enjoys a project whenever he can. Paul grew up nine hours away but loves to live in the beautiful Adirondacks; going forward he hopes to bring more environmental sustainability to the home construction industry.

Scott Christian

Pro Sales

697 Glen Road
Jay NY 12941
Office: (518) 508-3454
Fax: (518) 946-1236

Email: schristian@wardlumber.com

Scott began working at Ward Lumber in the spring of 2013. He started at the sales counter as an Animal Nutrition Specialist, a position which he held for many years. In the spring of 2020, Scott began training for a position in Pro Sales Support. In early 2022, Scott was promoted to his current position as Pro Sales Specialist. In his years at Ward Lumber, Scott has attended many trainings, such as Schluter training 1 and 2, starting out with 101 building skills, then graduating from advanced blueprint reading. Scott also serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for the newly established Ward Lumber Worker Owned Cooperative. If you don't see Scott at the store or around the community in his Ward Lumber truck, you can usually catch him driving a tractor around the family farm in Willsboro with his son, Jon. Scott is also a very active member within the community. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Essex County Agricultural Society for over 30 years, and currently serves as the Board's President. He also serves his town as a Councilman on the Town Board.

Bernie LaDuke

Pro Sales

697 Glen Road
Jay NY 12941
Office: (518) 508-3440
Fax: (518) 946-1236
Email: bladuke@wardlumber.com

Bernie joined Ward Lumber in 2022 but his 14 years of experience at other lumber yards set him apart from the start. His attention to detail and to the customer made him uniquely suited to the demands of a Pro Sales Specialist, a position he moved into very quickly. Now, in 2023, he’s become a member owner of Ward Lumber. Bernie has been a member of the greater AuSable Forks community for most of his life and is from Peasleeville originally. He’s an avid bowler along with his son Connor, who is currently a Ward Lumber Yard Attendant. That’s not his only sport as he’s also very involved in our AuSable Forks Fast-Pitch Softball League. In his down time you’ll catch him spending time with his son and his dog, Jeter. What Bernie most enjoys about his work is helping everyone out. The look on someone's face when you’re able to get the part or material that they need for the job when they need it. Sounds cliche but that is what it’s all about for him: trying to help folks.

Mark Lacy

Operations/Transportation Administrator

697 Glen Road
Jay NY 12941
Office: (518) 508-3445
Fax: (518) 946-1236

Email: marklacy@wardlumber.com

Mark joined the Ward Lumber team in April of 2008. Mark began his career at the sales counter and since then has held positions as Pro Sales Assistant, Counter Manager, Yard Manager, Assistant Store Manager and Store Manager. Mark currently assists with the invoicing of trucks, processes daily paperwork including daily cash reconciliations and provides support in the Pro Sales office. He has received a Sales Achievement Award, Team Member of the Quarter Award, Jim Gordon Award (team member of the year 2009) & Senior Management Award in 2013. Mark has attended multiple trainings over the years and strives to provide excellent customer service. Mark is the proud father of 2 children, Charles & Breanna. In addition to working for Ward Lumber, Mark also works for AuSable Valley Central School as a bus driver and has been a coach for the high school bowling team for many years. When not working or spending time with family, he enjoys bowling, horseshoes, golf and disc golf.

Teresa Smith

Pro Sales Assistant

697 Glen Road
Jay NY 12941
Office: (518) 508-3446
Fax: (518) 946-1236

Email: tsmith@wardlumber.com

Teresa started at the sales counter in October 2020, and moved into the Pro Sales office in April 2022. She came to Ward Lumber with very little building experience, but continues to learn more about the industry each and every day. Teresa was awarded the Team Member of the Quarter recognition after her first quarter at Ward Lumber, demonstrating her passion for learning, and her desire to better assist others with their homes and projects. She has attended Coastal’s Engineered Wood Products Training class, and has also completed online training classes hosted by NRLA and NHPA. When away from Ward Lumber, Teresa enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and working on small home improvement projects.

Tony Walden

ProSales

3240 State Route 11
Malone NY 12953
Office: (518) 508-3438
Cell: (518) 651-5367
Email: twalden@wardlumber.com

Tony has been part of the Malone team since March 2016. He has extensive building knowledge after working as a professional contractor for more than a decade. As a contractor, he was a part of a range of projects and that has helps him assist our customers on many projects here. In his free time, Tony is an avid hunter and enjoys taking motorcycle trips.

Corey Fleury

ProSales

3240 State Route 11
Malone NY 12953
Office: (518) 508-3433
Fax: (518) 483-2329
Email: cfleury@wardlumber.com

Corey has been a valued member of Ward Lumber since 2020. While he brought with him a wealth of knowledge from years of working in a variety of lumber yards, he says he’s happy to have found his final home at Ward Lumber. Corey’s position leads him in many directions on a typical day, from conversing with contractors and ensuring they get the items they need in the timeframe they need them, to assisting DIY-ers with their projects. A self-described go-getter and a natural people person, it’s no surprise his favorite parts of his job are the connections he makes, such as networking with people from all walks of life, celebrating happy homeowners, and helping small organizations that are doing good get off the ground. When not helping contractors turn blueprints into reality, his life revolves around his family and he can be found happily bouncing between sports with his wife and three kids.

Melissa Blake

Interior Design Specialist

3240 State Route 11
Malone NY 12953
Office: (518) 292-2925
Fax: (518) 483-2329
Email: mblake@wardlumber.com

Melissa has been with Ward Lumber since 2021. Since starting she’s really grown into her own as our Interior Design Specialist - with focuses on Paint, Kitchen, and Baths. When Melissa’s not at Ward Lumber she is busy with her family. As a mom of four baking and home improvement are both pastimes and important parts of how she spends time with them. When she gets some time Melissa loves getting crafty, in particular she’s very adept at making ornaments. One of the things she most appreciates about Ward Lumber is our family friendly atmosphere. Harnessing her creative eye Melissa most enjoys helping folks create a space that is true to them. Finding the right paint, cabinets, or fixtures to customize a space for their needs makes every day unique, just like the needs of the folks she helps.