Sheldon Kahan - President / CEO

For over twenty years, Interstate + Lakeland Lumber has been led by President & CEO Sheldon Kahan, the third generation of Kahan family leadership. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon with a BA in Architecture, Sheldon joined the family business in 1978. Starting out as a road salesman, he spent the next two decades learning every part of the construction business and forging relationships with leading manufacturers and builders. In 2000, Sheldon officially became the head of Interstate + Lakeland Lumber, and soon put his architectural training to work designing an unprecedented window, door, and millwork design center in Interstate’s flagship Greenwich location. This landmark design center was awarded Show Room of the Year by ProSales Magazine, the industry’s leading publication. 

Never one to rest on his laurels, Sheldon has remained committed to maintaining the sterling reputation of the company his family has built. He has increased Interstate + Lakeland Lumber’ reach in Fairfield and Westchester Counties, and is now focused on bringing his successful showroom designs to more locations. For his efforts, he was recognized as 2011’s Connecticut Lumber Person of the Year, one of the highest honors the building material industry can award.

Archie Leonardis - General Manager / COO

Archie Leonardis graduated from Kean College of New Jersey in 1976, and began his career in the building materials industry with a wholesale materials distributor. He quickly became an expert in operations and logistics, and soon became Interstate + Lakeland Lumber’s VP of Operations, and later COO. Archie oversees all aspects of Interstate + Lakeland Lumber’s operations at all five retail lumber yards and the custom millwork shop. With forty five years of experience in the building industry, Archie ensures that IL is constantly improving its customer service and operational efficiencies.

Gary Schneidman - CFO

Gary has a BS in Management and Economics from Carnegie Mellon University and a MBA in Accounting from Baruch College. Joining Interstate in 1996 as the CFO, he oversees all financial aspects of the company. In addition to being the CFO, Gary has the responsibility of development and implementation of the company's technology strategy. Prior to Interstate + Lakeland Lumber, Gary worked for an Accounting Firm in New York City. He was responsible for the firm's consulting group that handled Lawson Software. Their clients consisted of Fortune 1000 companies. Gary also worked for Software 1040 Inc. a company that developed software for the accounting profession. Software 1040 Inc. was the first software company to supply the accounting profession with tax software to prepare 1040 and 1065 tax returns. He had numerous positions in the company from Development to Director of Manufacturing and Distribution.

Brian Kurtz - Sales Manager

Brian Kurtz graduated from University of New Hampshire in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree from the college of business, concentrated in Hospitality Management. Upon completing college, he moved to Boston and worked in a management position for a major hospitality company ARAMARK. In 2008, Brian decided to leave Boston and join Interstate + Lakeland Lumber, becoming the first member of IL’s fourth generation of family leadership. Since then, Brian has continued to grow his knowledge and experience in all facets of the company and the building industry. His dedication and commitment to the family business has helped him maintain one of the leading positions as an outside sales representative, and has solidified relationships with vendors and, most importantly, with Interstate’s customers.  Service has always been the top priority for Brian, and as Sales Manager he continues to bring Interstate + Lakeland Lumber to the next level, especially as it relates to customer relations and customer service.

Company History

In the fall of 1900, an eleven year old boy from Romania named Leon Kahan arrived in New York City with little more than a suitcase and a dream. After years of hard work and effort, Leon perfected the trade of a master wood carver before becoming a partner in a Brooklyn, New York chair factory. Through his experience, Leon developed a broad knowledge and passion for woodworking and lumber. Today, Interstate & Lakeland Lumber remain dedicated to serving the same ideals & craftsmanship on which its founder built his business.

Interstate Lumber & Mill Corporation est. 1922

In 1922, at the age of thirty-three, Leon Kahan brought several of his associates to Greenwich Connecticut, where he founded Interstate Lumber & Mill Corporation. He began with a woodworking shop and quickly nurtured his craft into a thriving lumber business. Up until he passed away in 1968, Leon Kahan developed an impeccable reputation throughout Westchester and Fairfield counties as an outstanding businessman. As the original location in Greenwich, Ct began to thrive, Leon saw an opportunity to expand his business by establishing other locations and bringing his two sons, and eventually son-in-laws, into the business. Leon's eldest son Jack joined the firm in 1945 followed by Jack's brother Herb in 1950. With a family infrastructure in place, Leon began to build his business. In 1956 he created a yard in Stamford, CT. In the fall of that same year Leon went to Shrub Oak, NY and began Lakeland Lumber. Upon Leon's death in 1968, Jack and Herb continued to grow Lakeland Lumber and by 1969 acquired a facility in Croton Falls, NY.