Building industry-focused private equity investment firm Building Industry Partners (BIP) launched a new LBM platform West Coast Lumber. West Coast Lumber (WCL) operates four locations throughout southern and central California.

WCL’s Agoura Hills and Camarillo locations were established through BIP’s January 2022 acquisition of Roadside Lumber & Hardware. The brand recently opened two new facilities, in Bakersfield and San Diego, to expand the company’s ability to service southern and central California. According to BIP, WCL plans to eventually expand its product offering with truss, millwork, and other value-added component capabilities.

“We’re excited to formally announce our newest LBM platform and to begin building West Coast Lumber with management and the entire WCL workforce,” BIP founder and managing partner Matt Ogden said in a news release. “In addition to partnering with the exceptional leadership team at WCL, most of whom we’ve known for nearly two decades, we have assembled world-class regional and cross-sectoral business leaders around the organization to help us deliver value to current and future customers and become the employer-of-choice for the best and brightest in southern California LBM. It’s an honor to work with this team as well as BIP operating partners Maged Diab, Tony Ciampaglio, Peter Stroble, and Lonnie Schield on building a very special platform.”

WCL CEO Joe Lawrence has over 35 years of experience in the California LBM industry, including most recently service as the senior vice president for the Southwest region with Builders FirstSource. Previously, Lawrence was the president of Dixieline Lumber and Home Centers. California LBM veteran Jim Stockman will serve as the president of West Coast Lumber. Stockman previously partnered with BIP on the firm’s creation of Homewood Holdings.

BIP operating partners Tony Cioampaglio, Peter Stroble, and Lonnie Schield will serve on the WCL board and Maged Diab will serve as board chair. Diab previously served as the president of MiTek USA. Ciampaglio was previously the owner and operator of many businesses, including Arkay Supply, Mid-Cape Home Centers, and New England Building Supply. Stroble previously served as the chief strategy officer, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer of Alta Forest Products as well as president of Alta’s predecessor, Welco Lumber Company. Schield brings more than 40 years of experience in the southern California building and construction industry, including time as the head of The Terry Companies/Stock Building Supply.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support and insight of our operating partners, and for the leadership, vision, and operational experience of the leadership team we have assembled at West Coast Lumber,” Justin Gilson, principal at BIP, said. “We are off to a running start and look forward to creating a differentiated experience for our customers and supporting our employees with meaningful development and growth opportunities.”

Over the past decade, BIP has been involved in the formation of several leading industry players, including US LBM, Kodiak Building Partners, Homewood Holdings, U.S. Fence Solutions/Binford Supply, United Cabinet Holdings, and Rugby Architectural Building Products.

BIP also founded Southeast Building Supply Interests in July 2021 with the acquisition of Warner Robins Building Supply, Henson Building Materials, and Mountain Building Supply.