Do it Best Mourns the Loss of Board Member Rich Lender
The Do it Best team extends their heartfelt condolences to the family of Rich Lender, newly elected member of the Do it Best board of directors, who died in a car accident on October 25.
Lender’s introduction to our industry began with a job at a hotel construction and management company where he worked closely with contractors. “I was always fascinated to see all the pieces fold together, between architect plans, how you got started, where you ended up, change orders, draws, dealing with banks,” he shared recently. “That was my first venture into this business, and it was so intriguing to me.”
He eventually found himself fully in the home improvement business when he joined Your Building Centers, the Altoona, PA-based 20-location chain of home centers and lumberyards, as the company’s chief financial officer and VP of finance in 2006. He was promoted to president and CEO in 2016.
Lender was elected to the Do it Best board of directors at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting on September 11, 2022 and was excited about the opportunity to represent the co-op’s membership. “After college, I served as adjunct faculty at different schools. I want to give back to the next generation just as other professionals did for me,” he said at the time. “I look at being on the board the same way. You get to participate in something you normally don’t do, you see behind the scenes in how Do it Best runs, and you work to make a difference.”
“Our board is shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of our fellow member-owner, friend, and newest board member,” said Board Chair Joe Taylor. “Rich was a wonderful man in every respect and he will be dearly missed. On behalf of our entire membership, we offer prayers for his wife Peggy and the Lender family.” “Our industry lost a great leader,” said Dan Starr, Do it Best president and CEO. “Rich will be remembered for his leadership and even more for his genuine kindness to everyone. To the Lender family and the YBC team, we extend our sympathies and prayers on Rich’s passing.”
Click here to see his obituary.
