Our Team

Airpark Location

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Curt Viehmeyer – General Manager/Co-Owner

After graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in biology, Curt spent two years teaching science in Malaysia with the Peace Corps.  His career started on the loading dock at Sears Trostel, and eventually to an equity stake as co-owner in 1981. He has been general manager of the company since 1983. His free time is spent with family and friends, and playing golf.

Steve Schwartz – President/Co-Owner

Steve has a BA in Environmental Biology from Florida Atlantic University. He worked in agricultural research and the ecology laboratory at Colorado State University before coming to Sears Trostel in 1979 as a truck driver.  In 1981, he acquired an equity stake in the company, and today focuses on sales and account management. He and his wife of 32 years have four grown children. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, golf, camping and fishing, and building custom furniture.

Carl Herrmann – Operations Manager

Carl came to Sears Trostel in 1994 and became Operations Manager in 2001.  Carl led a team in 2002 and then again in 2008 to plan, and implement a new shop floor and work procedures based on the principles of Lean Manufacturing.  Carl's current focus is on simplifying and integrating the main shop floor computer systems as well as continuing to identify waste in all aspects of the operation.  In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar and playing chess.

Deanna Payne – Accounting/HR Manager

Deanna began her career at the Fort Collins Women's Clinic while working to complete her BS in Finance at the University of Northern Colorado.  After graduating, she worked for a local robotics company in accounting.  In 1996, she joined Sears Trostel as Accounting Manager and added the responsibilities of HR Manager a year later.  She enjoys traveling, watching sports, going to concerts and spending time with her two grown children.

 

Kevin Wellington – Sales Manager

Kevin has been with Sears Trostel since 2002 he has a vast history in sales spanning from newspapers, fire extinguishers, hardwood shelving, dining sets, educational software, staff development solutions, and now, architectural moldings.  Kevin earned his BBA from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, in 1988.  He enjoys spending time with family, often in the Colorado Mountains.

Mike Viehmeyer – Inside Sales

Mike, serves as an inside salesman at Sears Trostel, responsible for customer service and order entry.  Mike has worked at Sears Trostel in many different roles since 2010.  He was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado and graduated from Rocky Mountain High School.  In his free time, he enjoys various outdoor activities with his wife Saera and his dog Toki.

Jason Wilson – Purchasing Agent

Jason has been with Sears Trostel going on 12 years.  He is responsible for procuring Hardwood Lumber and Hardwood Plywood for both the Riverside and Airpark locations.  Outside of work Jason enjoys trying to play golf, BBQ"ing, and long summer nights on his deck.

Zach Eckman – Operations and IT

Zach is responsible for product design, network and systems administration, and machine diagnostics and repair.  In Zach"s 15 years at Sears Trostel, he has drawn over 10,000 new custom moulding profiles.   Zach has many hobbies and enjoys working on projects of all sorts.  He likes spending his free time with his wife and kids who enjoy skiing, camping, and other outdoor activities.   

Brad Peters – Outside Sales

Brad Peters serves as Sears-Trostel"s outside sales for northern Colorado and the I-70 corridor.  Brad has worked in the lumber and millwork industry since 1983 in many capacities with most of those years with Sears-Trostel.  Outside of work Brad enjoys golfing, mountain biking and spending time with family.

Trevor Jones – Production/Wholesale Warehouse Manager

Trevor is responsible for maintaining and producing the superior standard and quality of most of the high volume milled production work.  Trevor brings over 16 years of experience in the construction and manufacturing field along with five years shipping and receiving knowledge.  Trevor holds a Degree in Architecture Design from Montana State University and now enjoys building his life with his family in Colorado.

Riverside Location

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Matt Schmitz – Warehouse Representative

Matt is here to help customers select the best quality lumber to meet their needs.  He has over 17 years in the lumber industry and over ten years in delivery coordination services.  In his free time, he enjoys camping and biking riding with his wife.

Chet Nance – Assistant Manager

Chet grew up on a small farm outside of Edmond, Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a BA in Business Administration – Finance.  He met his wife Kristy and moved to Fort Collins Colorado in 1986 where they raised two sons.  Chet has a long history of sales and business administrative service experience with local businesses in construction and industrial sales.

Lenny Scovel – Shop Supervisor

Lenny began his woodworking career shortly after moving to Colorado in 1985.  He studied Construction Management at Colorado State University, and his professional portfolio includes a dozen historic storefronts in Old Town Fort Collins and throughout the state.  After he blows the dust off, Lenny is an actor and enjoys camping, biking and collecting and playing European board games.

Vince Wilson – Sales Associate

You'll find Vince at the front counter helping customers get the lumber products they need.  He studied Woodworking and Furniture Design in college and sometimes teaches turning at Red Rocks Community College.  In his spare time, he likes working in his shop where he specializes in turning.

Andrew Curtis – Warehouse Lead

Born and raised in Colorado, Andrew is currently pursuing his bachelor"s degree in business.  He enjoys spending time with his wife and son, and also owns a small woodworking business located in Fort Collins.

Jet Manalo – Sales Associate

Jet, has been with Sears Trostel for ten years working in Production and Sales.  He genuinely enjoys working with people.  Before he came to Sears Trostel, he spent 14 years building and installing staircases.  Jet has coached Little league baseball and Lego Robotics, but his true passion is riding his mountain bike.

AJ (Aaron Jensen) – Sales Associate

Aaron or “AJ" is one of the members of our team that is trained to sell and demonstrate all Festool tools.  He has a degree as an Architectural Draftsman from Front Range Community College here in Fort Collins.  For several years he was a member of the Rocky Mountain Woodturners and has demonstrated at their annual symposium a couple of times.

Katharine Fitzgerald – Sales Associate

Before Sears Trostel, Katharine had worked as a jack-of-all-trades for several small businesses. Now she continues to wear many hats as a Sales Associate. Originally from Virginia, Katharine moved to Colorado in 2014 to receive her MA in Communication Studies from Colorado State University. In her free time, Katharine writes fiction, collects house plants, and enjoys awful movies.

Bob Jefferies – Custom Shop Assistant

Bob, as the custom shop assistant, is here to cut, mill, sand, plane, route, glue, work on intricate projects like custom arch casings and moldings "” or to be available to pick his brain.  He enjoys sharing his 20 years of professional woodworking experience with those that come into the shop. You can find him around Fort Collins playing his mandolin with several bluegrass bands.

 

Katie Tingle – Administrative Assistant

Katie is a recent transplant from her native state of Georgia. Her experience as a collegiate basketball coach and working with students are valuable assets here at Sears Trostel. Great organizational skills and Katie's team player attitude provide support for co-workers and customers alike. She enjoys camping, hiking, biking, and watching University of Georgia football games with her partner, dogs and friends.