10 Questions for Chris Lacativa – Peekskill Herald

Editor’s Note: The Peekskill Herald’s “10 Questions…” column is for readers who want to learn more about those who work in city government, own businesses and support the development of our city. Today’s column features Chris Lacativa, vice president of deliveries for Dain’s Lumber.

What brought you to Peekskill and what brought you to Dain’s?

I was looking for a new job and contacted a headhunter I knew who referred me to Dain’s Lumber. I was 31 when I started.

How long have you been at Dain’s? What was your first position at Dain’s?

I started at Dain’s in March 2001. My first position was in sales.

What have you noticed about family-run businesses – how do they differ from large corporations?

Luckily, I’ve never had to work for a large corporation, but it’s much more personal.

Where else have you worked?

About four years before Dain’s there was King Lumber in Goldens Bridge, NY, and before that there was Miron Lumber in Poughkeepsie, NY for four years.

You manage deliveries for Dain’s – how has the pandemic affected the delivery and supply chain at Dain’s?

Delivery availability was quite difficult at times. Items that would normally take a week ended up taking 4-6 weeks and sometimes even significantly longer. Deliveries – I’ve never experienced this before but we had almost 2 weeks for delivery.

What was the strangest or most difficult birth you had to organize?

Not necessarily an unusual delivery, but a difficult one: I had to deliver the windows quite a distance from Peekskill, so it required two separate trucks with several people to deliver the windows within the customer’s time constraints up a very steep hill with a very narrow driveway.

One of my drivers was delivering to a fairly rural area nearby and as he entered the property he noticed several dolls tied to trees. This was, I would say, one of the strangest delivery stories I can remember.

What is the best thing about your job and what is your biggest challenge?

The best thing about my sales job is that I have developed close friendships with some customers over the years.

On the shipping side, my job is to ensure all deliveries are made as promised during the very busy and demanding times when customers want and need their deliveries.

What impact do you think the city’s development plans (e.g. recent DRI funding) will have on port-side businesses?

We hope that with the additional people in the city we can significantly increase our sales.

What is your favorite DIY project? What do you like to build?

When I was younger I had part-time jobs and what I enjoyed most was building decks.

Where do you like to go in Peekskill and why?

Kyle’s Pub on Washington Street. I’ve known the new owner for many years.

What would you like to say to the Peekskill community?

Shop at Dain’s and ask Chris for all your sales and delivery needs.

Dain’s Lumber is located at 2 North Water St., Peekskill and is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.