And he takes pride in loading your lumber for you.

Interstate+Lakeland Lumber is an award-winning, family-owned company dedicated to serving homeowners and builders.

The trademark logo, "What Dream Homes Are Made Of" can be found throughout the new location.

Interstate+Lakeland Lumber's Greenwich location was voted best showroom in the country. The company has received numerous customer service, quality service and craftsmanship awards.

Interstate+Lakeland Lumber has stores in Greenwich, Bethel, Stamford, Croton Fall, N.Y., Shrub Oak, N.Y., and now in Newtown.

When his alarm clock goes off each morning, Sheldon Kahan is excited to start his day. This hands-on vice president is passionate about his business and spends each day traveling between the Greenwich and Newtown lumberyards.

"We have such a knowledge team who believe in our family's customer service, dedication and hard work," Sheldon told Voices. "We honor the past, embrace the now and our word is our bond.

"Life is too short. Builders and homeowners have enough to worry about. Our goal is to provide a stress-free shopping experience."

When Sheldon saw the Newtown lumberyard, with its two spurs of train tracks on both sides, he envisioned his wood deliveries coming in by rail.

The sound of the railroad engines, the sight of those first deliveries this past December, with snow-covered loaded flats and box cars of Douglas fir wood from Washington State and Oregon arriving at the new Interstate+Lakeland lumberyard, was a dream come true for this company.

"The wonderful Newtown location's rail service with its box and flat cars will allow wood to be delivered here and reloaded to our other facilities," Sheldon noted.

His office looks out over 15 acres with warehouses, a drive-through warehouse and a service center; the complex totals more than 40,000 square feet.

The history of this company began more than 85 years ago and now spans three generations.

Sheldon's grandfather, Leon Kahan, the founder of Interstate+Lakeland Lumber, arrived in the U.S. at 11 years-old from Romania in 1900.

He perfected his master wood carving skills, his knowledge of lumber, his passion for business and became a partner in a chair factory in Brooklyn, N.Y.

At the age of 33, Mr. Kahan moved to Greenwich and opened the Interstate Lumber & Mill Corporation.

The business grew and grew. Mr. Kahan's sons, Jack and Herb, followed him into the family business and so did his sons-in-law.

Fast forward to 1978 and Mr. Kahan's grandson, Jack's son Sheldon, is about to earn an architectural degree from Carnegie Mellon.

Sheldon thought his career would be in architecture. He completed his senior design project and even had an apprenticeship waiting in Manhattan.

A celebration graduation dinner with his dad and uncle gave Sheldon a new perspective on the family business.

The celebration reminded Sheldon that as a youngster he loved the mill and lumber yard. He swept the floors, loaded material and learned the business from the ground up.

He remembered his father's office was on the first floor office so he could be near his customers.

Sheldon sets his path on sales, service, design and hands-on management. He mastered each market and the needs of each market. The Newtown lumber yard is the newest addition to the family business.

Will there be a fourth generation in the family business?

Sheldon spoke with pride about his children, Benjamin and Lauren.

"You never know," he said. "They both work very hard in school. They're willing to listen to my philosophies on the value of a dollar and hard work. They have worked at the lumber yard. Time will tell."

The Newtown location offered Interstate+Lakeland Lumber many positives with five structures, rail service, lumber yard and space already configured.

Interstate+Lakeland Lumber plans an open house in May with vendors and food in the lumber courtyard. The contemporary style service center is available to host luncheons and dinners for area builders to display new and traditional products.

"The economy will stabilize," Sheldon said, "and we are here to provide great service, fair prices with many price options. Mankind always needs a roof over his or her head. Wood does not go out of style. It has no expiration date."

Interstate+Lakeland Lumber offers plywood and panels, custom millwork, windows, doors, molding, exterior trim board, siding/roofing, decking, hardware, building materials, Andersen, Jeld Wen, Azek, Baldwin, Teal Cedar, Level, Marvin and more.

Interstate+Lakeland Lumber, located at 46 Swamp Road, is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contractors are welcomed to contact Susan Kahan Sieber, Interstate+Lakeland Lumber's director of marketing at ssieber@interstatelumber.com for upcoming mailings, seminars and luncheons.

Those seeking additional information may call 203-364-0074.