Meet Our Management Team

Jan is a Certified Public Accountant who was a partner at the accounting firm that was working with Bridgeport Lumber back in 1988, shortly before Jan and his partner Arnie Foster purchased Northeast. Jan loves the challenges and achievements that have been a part of building the business for the last 33 years.

Jan insists he has a great sense of humor (we’re taking a poll of our employees to confirm that statement) and has a soft spot in his heart for his granddaughter. He also enjoys skiing with his family.

Arnie co-founded Northeast in 1988 by purchasing Bridgeport Lumber Co. and the rest is history. What started with 6 employees, now features 6 locations in the tri-state area. Arnie is quick to credit the amazing teams at Northeast with the success the company has experienced.

Northeast isn’t Arnie’s entire life. He loves to hang out at the beach, ski, and follow sports of all kinds. Arnie swears he also had hair at one point in his life!

Jason is responsible for the team at Northeast Architectural, in addition to his duties in upper management. Seeing a finished installation of custom wood windows at a beautiful home in the tri-state area is one of the joys of the job, Jason says.

Prior to joining Northeast in 2017, Jason worked in Walmart’s Corporate Strategy division in Bentonville, Arkansas, and in the financial industry in New York City. Jason received his BS in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his MBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.

Handling the marketing duties for Northeast’s 6 divisions is a big job, but Rachel also enjoys interacting with customers. Nothing makes her feel better about what the team at Northeast is doing than when a customer returns to a store talking about their new kitchen or loving their new home.

In her spare time, Rachel is a sports enthusiast. She plays softball and golf, and was a member of a Division II national championship team at Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL.

Helping a client turn an idea into something real provides Jeff with a sense of satisfaction. Every project starts with an idea, and taking that idea and creating a new kitchen or bathroom, new windows, or a sensational entryway featuring new wood doors is what makes Jeff feel good about his role at Northeast.

Jeff has another passion too. He’s a youth basketball coach, and with the help of his father, operates the Ray Greenberg basketball league for children with special needs in Fairfield, CT.

Talk about experience! Rick started working as a load builder in the lumberyard at our Cornwall Bridge location 34 years ago. At that time, trees were still being cleared so the yard could be completed. Rick says there’s a common theme at Northeast, “don’t just do the job, but strive to be the best at it.”

Like many of his colleagues, Rick has a rich background in sports. He coaches baseball and basketball and is a certified basketball referee and baseball umpire. He’s also ambidextrous, which means he can write with both hands. 

Rachel Lindemann is a kitchen & bath designer who prides herself on bringing a creative, detail-oriented and analytical approach to cabinet design. Rachel’s design philosophy is based in the belief that good design meets all aspects of the homeowner’s need: budget, function and aesthetic.

Rachel’s goal is to offer great design that surpasses expectation through superior service. Rachel’s award-winning work has been featured in numerous trade publications. Rachel is a homebody who enjoys building Legos with her two young boys and binging episodes of Treehouse Masters with her husband.

Managing Northeast’s daily accounting means every day presents a new challenge for Jessica. Her job requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are integral to maintaining Northeast’s financial health.

Jessica has risen through the ranks at Northeast, where she has worked for more than 19 years. When she’s not balancing the books, Jessica enjoys spending time at home with her family.

Chris Morrow is a seasoned professional in the retail home improvement industry, with over 20 years of management experience. As the Branch Director at Northeast Building & Home Bridgeport, he thrives in a family-oriented atmosphere where teamwork and client satisfaction are paramount. Chris has a particular passion for selling Trex decking, drawn to its diverse aesthetic options that allow clients to create unique outdoor spaces. He finds fulfillment in witnessing projects evolve from concept to completion, showcasing the quality materials his team provides.

Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two children. He is an avid golfer and takes pleasure in maintaining his yard. Additionally, a fun fact about him is that he is registered with the FAA to operate unmanned aircraft (drones), highlighting his interest in technology and innovation.

Andy Schmit is a new Branch Manager at Weed & Duryea after spending more than 20 years working as a manager at retail giants Gap, Target, and Lowe’s. He is looking forward to being more creative and developing more of a connection with our customer base, especially in the lawn and garden area where he enjoys working with customers to create a unique project at their homes.

Andy is a do-it-yourselfer at his own home but also likes to get outdoors to go rock climbing, hiking, and skiing. He’s also a big music fan and strives to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and artists.