Aug 6, 2026

Michael Friedrichsen, Roddis Lumber

A fourth generation CPA walked away from a large accounting firm to take over a 104 year old Texas lumber distributor, and the first thing he protected was not the balance sheet.

In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Michael Friedrichsen, general manager of Roddis Lumber in San Antonio. Michael grew up around the family business, spent one college summer running a forklift in the warehouse, then went off for a master's in accounting and a CPA license. When his dad retired in December 2023, he stepped in alongside his cousin, the company president, right as the post COVID lumber market started cooling off.

You'll hear how a single branch, thirty person company keeps a family atmosphere while running a fleet, a hardwood distribution operation, and a separate door shop that pre-hangs doors and trim packages for custom home builders. Michael talks about why so many employees are still there thirteen years after he worked beside them, and what his finance background actually gave him when bids slowed and lead times got unpredictable.

Jennifer and Michael also get into the sourcing side: why his hardwood comes from out of state mills chosen for color and consistency, how paint grade, white oak, and walnut are moving in the Texas market, why import plywood dominates cabinet carcasses, and the rule that drives his inventory decisions, which is that if you don't have it, you hand the customer a reason to walk down the street. The conversation closes on urban and reclaimed lumber, LEED specification, and whether a distributor his size could add an urban wood line before the rest of the industry catches up.

Chapters:

00:00 From CPA track to fourth generation lumber operator

04:39 Why employees stay: a family atmosphere at a single branch company

06:53 Thirty employees, a fleet, and a door shop

09:44 Stepping in as the lumber market cooled

14:03 Hardwoods, plywood, and sourcing from the right mills

27:03 Technology, lead times, and economic uncertainty

The Woodpreneur Podcast brings stories of woodworkers, makers, and entrepreneurs turning their passion for wood into successful businesses - from inspiration to education to actionable advice. Hosted by Steve Larosiliere and Jennifer Alger

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