Episode
Chris Bingaman, Bingaman & Son Lumber
- Podcast
- The Woodpreneur Podcast
- Published
- Jul 23, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2531
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Chris Bingaman, CEO of Bingaman & Son Lumber. The company traces back to Chris's grandfather, who logged with horses, hauled timber by truck to local sawmills, and eventually started finding new markets when the coal mine prop business dried up. Chris's father joined in, they incorporated in 1968, and today the operation spans five locations with three sawmills, though 80 percent of their lumber still comes from outside mills. It is a processing and distribution business at its core, built on relationships. Chris has been part of it since he was five years old, riding along in the truck while his dad spent six or seven hours hand-grading and hand-loading lumber at sawmills that did not even own a forklift. Every summer growing up, he worked in the company. He wanted to go to the swimming pool. His dad had other plans. That early training in work ethic and lumber grading set the foundation for everything that followed. The conversation digs into how the hardwood lumber industry has contracted and what Bingaman & Son Lumber has done to stay relevant. Chris talks about the 2008 recession as a turning point that forced the company to diversify its product offering, become nimble, and develop deep strategic partnerships with customers. More recently, they invested in a computerized grading system that processes 60 to 70 boards per minute, work that previously required three people. The system has been running about five months, and the results have been significant, though it came with more debt than they are comfortable carrying. Chris also opens up about succession planning. His father went through the painful experience of buying the company back from an estate after Chris's grandfathe…