Employee Spotlight: Chip
By: Karah Hawkinson, Social Media Coordinator
Chip Frederickson is the sales manager at Country Lumber, and the contact person for our Launch Center location on Lake Mille Lacs. Chip also manages a marina and builds townhomes on the lake. He lives up in Wahkon near the Launch Center location, but he can also be found in the office in Becker (and I thought I had a long commute!).
Chip has been with Country Lumber for over nineteen years, and his favorite part about his job is the relationships he has formed with the contractors he works with (‘the people we work with’ is a popular answer when I ask the staff what they like about their jobs, so thank you customers for being great!).
Chip enjoys the outdoors, especially fishing, boating, and golf. When I asked him what his favorite treat is, the answered ICE CREAM in all capital letters, so I think he’s pretty serious! But his favorite thing in the world is spending time with his teenage son and daughter, whom he also calls his proudest accomplishment.
If you’re in the market for a lakeshore cabin, check out Chip and Shooter’s Meshigun Point townhomes for sale on realtor.com. As I write this (July 2019) there are three available units of the ten built in the community. There are also a couple lots available, which offer a custom building opportunity.
Jim Dingmann is another fairly new face at Country Lumber. He has been with us for five months, working as an Estimator. Aside from being the “new kids,” Jim and I also share a preference for strong black coffee – the darker the better!
I grew up in Becker, MN and graduated from Becker High School. I married my high school sweetheart, Tiffany, in 2014. We have two children, Sierra (2) and Owen (5 months). I enjoy spending time outdoors biking and camping with my family.
I have worked at Country Lumber since April of 2005. I drive our boom truck. Deliveries can take me all over the state, but generally I’m in the twin cities metro area.
I have been with Country Lumber since the beginning, 1983. I helped with the building in 1983 and opening the doors in 1984. I am currently the yard foreman. I was born and raised in Becker and currently live on the family farm. I have been married to Bonnie for 26 years, have 2 children (Kari and Cory), 7 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. Bonnie and I still farm our family land. Over the years I have seen lots of changes here at Country Lumber and in the industry. Country Lumber has been a great employer and Shooter has been a good friend all these years.
I have been with Country Lumber, in Sales and Estimating since 2009. I have been in the lumber business for approx. 25 years in truss design, production, and sales. I graduated from St. Francis high school, then attended Northwest Technical Institute for Architectural Drafting and Design. My background is in carpentry and drafting and I still enjoy building things and helping people out with their projects.
Growing up in Coon Rapids, MN seems like every kid wants to be a big league baseball player. Shortly after realizing this was not in the cards for me I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. I spent my first two years traveling the world with the majority in the far east regions as an Air Defense Controller. I ended up in 29 Palms California as Senior crew chief of over 1000 square mile of live fire training area helping to prepare men and women from all branches of the military for conflicts in the more desert regions of the middle east and Afghanistan. While rewarding and proud to serve I knew it wasn’t my calling.
I was born and raised in Princeton Mn. Graduated from Princeton High School. Then attended Dunwoody Institute for Drafting and Estimating. After graduating from Dunwoody Institute, I started working here at Country in February 2001 as a Draftsman. My primary job here is to meet with customers and design construction projects for them. Anything from decks and garages to new homes and remodel projects.