Careers in Construction Month: Meet Will Mignogna
Mignogna joined 84 Lumber in 2024 and recently stepped into a new role as a process improvement analyst at Team Headquarters in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania. In that role, he works with teams across the company to evaluate and improve processes…helping associates solve problems and make their workdays run more smoothly.
As 84 Lumber celebrates Careers in Construction Month, we caught up with Will to talk about his unexpected path into the industry, what he has learned along the way and why he believes construction offers opportunities for people with all kinds of backgrounds.
Q: Your career didn’t begin in construction. How did your path eventually lead you to 84 Lumber?
Will: I studied finance and spent about seven years working with high-net-worth investors. From there, I moved into advertising and later retail operations. When I started thinking seriously about what I wanted in my next employer, I made a list: an industry leader, privately owned, growing, a strong culture and a place where I could build a career. 84 Lumber checked those boxes. I also saw that the company promotes from within, and that was really important to me
Q: What was your first role at 84 Lumber, and what did it teach you about the business?
Will: I started in Field Operations, which was really a way to learn the business from the ground up. You could be sent to 84 different Lumber locations to help with everything from a store remodel or inventory to filling in for a short-staffed team. You need to be willing to jump in and do whatever is needed. It gave me firsthand exposure to our stores and the people doing the work every day.
Q: You’ve already had the opportunity to move into several different areas of the company. What has that experience shown you about career growth at 84 Lumber?
Will: 84 gives you the training, tools and environment to succeed. If you work hard, assert yourself and check your ego at the door, there are tremendous opportunities. I moved from Field Operations into pricing and now process improvement. The company notices people who work hard and looks for ways to use their strengths.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your new role in process improvement?
Will: I like problem-solving and helping people. An associate may be doing the same task every day and have an idea or an issue they want addressed. When we reach out and say, “We heard your suggestion and we want to work with you,” you can see how much that means. If we can make someone’s day run a little smoother while also making the company more efficient, that’s very rewarding.
Q: What do you think would surprise people most about careers in construction and building materials?
Will: Construction is made up of everything: engineers, salespeople, accountants, relationship managers, project managers and many other roles, all working together. It’s a growing, exciting industry, and the path really is open to anybody.
Q: What advice would you give someone considering a career in the industry?
Will: Find a company you can really stand behind and be proud to represent. This industry is constantly evolving, and there are so many different areas where you can build a career. At 84 Lumber alone, there are opportunities across building materials, installed services, manufacturing, multifamily and more. Technology continues to change the industry, too, so there’s always something new to learn.