Grace Schaekel just wrapped up her second summer as the Lumber and Building Materials (LBM) intern at Do it Best.
This year, she joined the Millwork and Interior Solutions team and took on a project that was completely new to her: running line reviews as part of the company’s SKU Rationalization Initiative.
For those unfamiliar with line reviews, the process involves taking a hard look at a product category and evaluating every item. Teams analyze sales performance, inventory investment, assortment overlap, and member demand to determine which products belong in a program and which no longer make sense.
The decisions made during those reviews do not stay on a spreadsheet. They help dealers focus inventory dollars on products that move, reduce excess stock, and build assortments that better serve customers.
“During her short internship, Grace completed eleven line reviews that delivered meaningful value to our members’ businesses,” said Lauren Wilson, Division Purchasing Manager and Grace’s manager this summer. “Her work helped members optimize inventory investments, improve assortment productivity, reduce excess stock, and focus on products that better meet customer demand.”
For Grace, the project provided more than technical experience. It gave her a clearer understanding of how decisions made behind the scenes impact dealers across the country.
Her work helped her develop, as she described it, “a deeper understanding of the merchandising process and, more importantly, the impact that the work of Do it Best employees has on its members.”
That perspective is one of the reasons she returned for a second summer.
After participating in the internship program the previous year, Grace already knew what to expect. She was comfortable presenting her work and stepping into a professional environment. What drew her back was the opportunity to continue learning alongside a team she respected and a culture she genuinely enjoyed being part of.
More importantly, she knew the work mattered.
Unlike many internships that focus primarily on observation, the Do it Best Group Level Up Internship places students in real business situations where their contributions have an impact. Interns are paired with supervisors and mentors, participate in professional development opportunities, engage in community service projects, and complete meaningful assignments that support the business.
The summer concludes with a capstone presentation in front of executive leadership, divisional directors, and employees from across the company.
This year, Grace earned top honors, winning the Level Up Internship Scholarship Award.
For Wilson, the recognition came as no surprise.
“Grace is a rockstar, and we’ve been incredibly lucky to have her on our team,” Wilson said. “I admire how fearlessly she jumped in, took ownership of her projects, and embraced every challenge. Her analysis and decisions on the Line Review project made a real and valuable impact for Do it Best and our members. Her talent, positive attitude, work ethic, and drive truly set her apart, and I have no doubt she will accomplish great things.”
At this point, you may be wondering what an intern completing line reviews in Fort Wayne has to do with the challenges facing independent lumber dealers.
The answer is people.
Across our industry, experienced employees are retiring and taking decades of knowledge with them. Dealers are working to develop the next generation of estimators, buyers, yard managers, salespeople, and leaders before those roles become vacant. We face the same challenge.
At Do it Best, we believe serving members starts with investing in the people who support them. When we develop future merchandisers, buyers, sales professionals, and leaders, we strengthen the expertise and service our members rely on every day. We are just as committed to helping our members develop the next generation of talent within their own organizations. Programs like Pro Sales School, the LBM Academy, and the Leadership Development Institute exist to help dealers build their bench strength, develop future leaders, and prepare employees for new opportunities. If you’re looking to invest in someone’s growth, your LBM rep can help identify the program that best fits their development journey.
What stands out most about Grace’s experience is not simply the work she completed, but the environment that helped her succeed.
The LBM team has built a reputation for developing people. With decades of combined industry experience and a strong track record of promoting from within, the team has intentionally created a culture where learning, mentoring, and growth are part of the everyday experience.
That commitment is visible throughout the organization. Jon Timmerman joined Do it Best in 2016, became an SYP Specialist, then was promoted to lead the Panels team, and was recently promoted to Regional Sales Manager for the Midwest in 2025. His career path reflects something the LBM team believes strongly: when talented people are given opportunities, coaching, and meaningful work, they grow.
The same philosophy applies to internships.
Students are not brought in to observe from the sidelines. They are given projects, responsibilities, and access to experienced professionals who genuinely want to teach. They learn not only how the business works, but why the work matters to the dealers and customers we serve.
Grace’s summer is a good example of what can happen when talented people are given responsibility, support, and a chance to make a difference.
She returned for a second summer because she found a team that invested in her development, challenged her to learn new skills, and trusted her with work that mattered. In return, she delivered meaningful results that will ultimately help our members.
Eleven line reviews is a measurable accomplishment.
The more important outcome may be something less tangible.
Grace leaves with new skills, a stronger understanding of the industry, and a firsthand appreciation for the impact our work has on independent dealers across the country. Those lessons will stay with her long after the internship ends.
As experienced professionals across our industry prepare for retirement, developing the next generation is not optional. It is one of the most important investments any organization can make.
This summer, Grace was one of those investments.
And our members are better for it.
