Second generation owner, majority partner of the family owned, B & B Lumber Company with two locations in Kansas, Wichita and Newton. Thomas started in the family business as an outside salesman while attending Wichita State University. He has elevated his skill set within the industry to serving as the CEO today. His daily responsibilities as managing partner include purchasing all lumber and building products other than hardware, cabinets, doors and windows. He facilitates recruiting and maintaining human capital, setting goals for B & B Lumber and reviewing the progress of them. His passion is teaching and inspiring the team at B & B Lumber to achieve success in all facets of this industry. He has excelled at leading the team of 40 employees around him to inspire their customers by offering quality products, personalized services and design expertise.

Thomas has been featured in LBM Journal’s Real Issues Real Answers “Leins and Means” which discussed the topic of “When to file a lien for past due invoices?” He was also quoted in Pro Sales “Selling the Pay Plan” which spoke to methods to compensate your outside sales force. He posed the “The Charity Question” for LBM Journals Real Issues Real Answers that dealt with guidelines for charitable contributions, that we all get asked for. He was a panelist in a discussion on “Granting Credit to Your Clients” presented at the 2024 Tradeshow for LBM Advantage dealer members.

Thomas is currently serving as Chairman of the MLA Executive Board under the umbrella of BLD Connect and NLBMDA. Thomas is an active participant in two industry-sponsored roundtables: the MLA Roundtable and the LBM Advantage Executive Roundtable both which foster discussions to make all the participants better at owning and running a lumber and building materials company.

Thomas joined the Wichita Area Builders Association, Kansas Building Industry Association and the National Association of Home Builders in 1994, he is just coming off a term as Chairman of the Board of WABA in 2021 after serving through the Executive Chairs. He is serving as the Secretary in the Executive Leadership ladder for KBIA. He has chaired the Building Codes Committee, the Wichita Habitat for Humanity Alliance and Building Codes for Deck Construction Task Force. He is currently the Build PAC Trustee for the State of Kansas and a National Delegate for the National Association of Home Builders and serving an appointment to the Building Materials Committee of NAHB, after just finishing as Chairman of the Building Materials, Risk Management and Construction Liability Committee for NAHB. As Build PAC Trustee Thomas has been instrumental in growing the number of dollars generated for political activity within NAHB, in 2024 he was awarded for generating more than $10,000 in new contributions. Thomas has testified in front of the International Trade Commission in Washington DC on behalf of NAHB at the most recent Softwood Wood Lumber hearings, Sept. 12, 2017.

Thomas graduated from Wichita State University with a business degree in 1993, after serving a summer internship selling educational materials for the Southwestern Company in the summer of 1992. He is a partner in several LLC’s currently developing large country estate new home building sites, single and multi-family housing units around Wichita, Kansas. He is an active participant in the daily operations of the family farm made up of 1200 acres and formerly a cattle rancher of 30 Registered Black Angus Cows.

Married to Tara George Baalmann, Thomas is mentoring their two children in the industry, Ashlea and Nathan. They are excitedly awaiting their first grandchild with fingers crossed for a fourth generation to lead B & B Lumber.