Celebrating Rick Kearns: 2026 LDAC Lumber Person of the Year
Some careers are built over time, one relationship, one customer, and one day at a time. For Rick Kearns, nearly 40 years in the lumber and building materials industry have been defined by that kind of dedication. Northeast Building & Home is proud to congratulate Rick on being named the 2026 Lumber Dealers Association of Connecticut (LDAC) Lumber Person of the Year, recognizing his outstanding service, leadership, and lasting impact on the industry.
Rick’s journey began in 1986, following an unexpected lunch encounter with Dusty Sandmeyer, who invited him to join a new lumberyard venture. What started as a chance opportunity became a lifelong career. Rick joined Northwest Lumber that November and has remained at the same location ever since. When Jim Cohen and Ani Foster acquired the business in 2005, bringing it into the Northeast Building & Home family, Rick continued to be a trusted presence for customers, colleagues, and the local building community.
His career has included its share of challenges. Rick experienced the uncertainty of the late 1980s, when the company’s future was threatened by financial difficulties, and later helped navigate the aftermath of the devastating 2015 fire that destroyed the original lumberyard. Through perseverance and teamwork, the business rebuilt, grew, and ultimately invested in a new facility. These experiences reinforced the importance of adaptability, resilience, and staying focused through difficult times.
Rick’s contributions extend well beyond the lumberyard. A devoted father, he has also given generously to his community through years of coaching youth baseball and basketball and serving as a certified sports official. Whether at work or on the playing field, he brings the same qualities: integrity, patience, fairness, and a genuine commitment to others. Away from work, he enjoys golf, pickleball, and spending time with family.
On November 4, fellow LDAC members and industry friends gathered at G.W. Tavern in Washington Depot, Connecticut, to celebrate Rick’s achievement and recognize a career built on relationships, leadership, and service.
Congratulations, Rick! We are incredibly proud to have you as part of the Northeast Building & Home family and grateful for your many years of dedication to our industry and community.
