Seven Decades of Building Community

Seven Decades of Building Community

BY ASHLEY HANLEY

For over 75 years, Lloyd Lumber, located on Commerce Drive in Upper North, has helped to build the North Mankato area. Building on its storied past, and looking to a bright future, they’ve grown on a firm foundation through leadership, expertise and a community-first mentality.

Founded in the Mankato area in 1946 by Robert Lloyd, Lloyd Lumber is a full-service, contractor-oriented lumberyard, and rental center, as well as a wholesale manufacturer of floor and roof trusses.

Just about a year later in 1947, Alden “Bud” Bertrand joined the organization and served in many capacities, from being a truck driver and clerk, to drafting and manager, eventually becoming president. During his time as head of the company, Bud progressed swiftly, as did the company and its employees.

Since the late 1940s, there have been numerous expansions and remodels to accommodate the growth that the company has seen over the years.

In 1984, Bud Bertrand purchased Lloyd Lumber from Bob Lloyd. At the time the company consisted of a truss manufacturing operation in North Mankato managed by Barry Bertrand and a retail lumberyard and hardware store managed by Mike Bertrand. In 1989, the two consolidated to the North Mankato location on Commerce Drive that we are familiar with today.

A familiar face to many in the local area, Mike Bertrand is now the current owner of Lloyd Lumber. His leadership as President and CEO has guided the company for 44 years and counting.

As he continues in the family-based, community-centered business success, he said that the current building business has been booming over the last few months, and they are optimistic that this trend will continue, even with higher interest rates, at least in the short term.

Bertrand knows that with his excellent employees, and strong community ties to North Mankato, the company will continue to strive for generations yet to come.

“We have over 50 employees and find North Mankato to be an excellent area to live and do business in. It is a perfect mix of small-town atmosphere and bigger city conveniences and promotes a sense of community,” Bertrand said. “I am so fortunate to have an exceptional group of employees to work with, many of whom have been with the company for 20 , 30, even 40 years. I take pride in providing careers instead of just

jobs, and a sense of family instead of just a number,” he added. Like all businesses in the area and around the country, there will always be challenges.

The challenges of being in the lumber industry can be many, from high interest rates to a fluctuating housing market, just to name a few. But every time a new challenge comes their way, Lloyd Lumber has been able to weather the storm and step up to the plate, under the strong leadership of Bertrand and his team. But Bertrand said he chooses to focus on the positives of his labor of love.

“Competing against larger big box stores to the recent supply chain issues, to finding quality employees can be quite the challenge,” Bertrand said. “While these may be difficult problems, I love the fact that it also creates opportunities and forces us to continually evolve to meet future needs and wants.”

Those future needs and current wants have made Lloyd Lumber into the prominent business that it is today.

Even with the challenges, Bertrand said he still comes to work every day with a smile on his face, and that he is proud of the community they have built within their company.

“We are happy to have helped build the North Mankato area for over seven decades and we look forward to the future,” Bertrand said.

Lloyd Lumber can be found at 1860 Commerce Drive in North Mankato.