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Brent Lenssen of Vander Griend Lumber Company in Lynden, Wa., was installed as Western Building Material Association’s 2026 president during the group's November Conference in Seattle, Wa. Western Building Material Association is a regional trade association serving the building material industry in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
Brent Lenssen started sweeping the floors at Vander Griend Lumber in Lynden, WA in high school. After graduating from high school, he attended Calvin University in Michigan where he received a degree in Economics and minored in Mathematics. Deciding that graduate school was not for him, he spent some time working with his grandfather on his ranch in NE Arizona and helped fight wildland fires for a period of time until his grandpa told him not to be a cowboy. Then the lumber business called him back. He has worked for Vander Griend Lumber Company ever since where he had a variety of roles and been integral in the growth and diversification of the business.
Outside of work, he has been involved in other activities which have enhanced his business experience. For several years, he was very active with several non-profits working to develop business ventures in Romania to support humanitarian endeavors within the country. He served for 6 years on the City of Lynden, Washington Planning Commission and for the past 16 years, he has served on the Lynden City Council.
Others newly elected to office in the Western Building Material Association were:
Vice President: Shawn Fernandez, Paint Sundries Solutions, Kirkland, WA
Vice President: Danny Steiger, Hartnagel Building Supply, Port Angeles, WA
WBMA Board Members: Joost Douwes, Chinook Lumber Company, Snohomish, WA
Ryan Kline, Disdero Lumber Company, Clackamas, OR
Blake Montgomery, Boise Cascade, Vancouver, WA
Chris Morrison, Franklin Building Supply, Boise, ID
Lucas Mullen, Lincoln Creek Lumber, Centralia, WA
Katelyn Wade, Fronter Building Supply, Anacortes, WA
Janice Walker, Madison Lumber Company, Ketchikan, AK
