Building Material Distributors Inc., a Northern California company that supplies building materials to lumber yards, building material dealers, and home-improvement chains, recently acquired the assets of White Water Forest Products Inc., a Spokane-based treated lumber and wood products operation.


All of White Waters employees will be retained, and BMD plans to expand the Spokane operation later this year by leasing additional space and possibly hiring more employees, says Steve Ellinwood, BMDs president and CEO. White Water has supplied small independent lumber retailers throughout the Inland Northwest, Ellinwood says.


BMD employs 350 people, including about 50 here at 911 N. Thierman Road, near the Flying J truck stop, after its acquisition of White Water. The Spokane operation leases about 50,000 square feet of floor space from White Waters former owners. BMD plans to lease an additional 30,000 square feet of space across the street in the coming months, Ellinwood says. Hes not sure how many additional employees will be hired for that facility yet.


BMD says it will phase out the White Water name gradually this year. It bought the companys assets for undisclosed sum last month. BMD acquired White Water to expand its customer base and to add new product lines, Ellinwood says.


White Water had a record year (in 2004), he says. Were excited about acquiring them.


BMD, which is an employee-owned company, sells a bevy of construction materials, including nails, stairs, wallboard, plywood, roofing materials, construction tools, countertops, and insulation.


Ellinwood declines to disclose the companys 2004 revenues, but says they were up 45 percent from 2003.


It has been a good four or five years for us, he says. The housing industry has been strong, and we believe it will continue.


BMDs headquarters are in Galt, Calif., which is between Sacramento and Stockton. It also has sales offices in Arizona and Tokyo, but primarily serves customers in California.


White Water was founded in 1996 by John Bly and Bart Templeman, who both will continue to work for BMD.