Meet the CEO/President: Tyler Garrett

Tyler practically grew up in the building supply. Often, after school, he’d ride his bike over and help out wherever his dad, Pat, needed him. Whether it was sweeping, picking up garbage, or putting away freight, Tyler was always eager to pitch in! He officially started working for the family business when he was 15 years old. While in school, he spent his summers working in the yard, packing sheetrock, preparing roofing loads, and working on and delivering power equipment in the rental department.

An avid fisherman, Tyler decided to try something new and spent the summer of his senior year and the summer after working on a commercial fishing boat in Alaska. After two summers of fishing, he chose to transition back into the building industry.

He began working for Pat Planagan, a local contractor in the area, and assisted in many home builds during the two years he worked for him. Tyler then took a job with Graham Construction, where he worked on larger commercial facility projects, such as Washington State University in Pullman and the MultiCare Deaconess Hospital in Spokane. After gaining a wealth of knowledge in the construction industry, he decided to return to the building supply business to join the Contractor Sales team.

In 2013, MPBS purchased a plot of land with the hopes of building a new, larger Pullman location. With this project underway, Tyler helped lead the team as the Facility Design & Construction Manager. He logged countless hours with Pat and Xon (another MPBS employee). Together, they worked tirelessly with engineers and architects to get the building designed, including traveling to multiple hardware stores around the U.S. to gather inspiration, ideas, and tips for the new facility. Construction broke ground in April 2014, and Tyler maintained a hands-on approach throughout the building process. He, along with others from the MPBS team, did a lot of the work themselves to help save time and money on the project. Construction took one year to complete, and in April 2015, the new store officially opened.

With the addition of the new store, Tyler became the Store Manager. He worked in this position for about a year before transitioning to VP of Operations, where he oversaw both stores. On January 1, 2019, Pat happily retired and Tyler assumed the role as CEO/President of Moscow & Pullman Building Supply. Tyler and Katie also bought out the company from Pat. Daily duties for Tyler vary tremendously. As the owner of a locally owned company, Tyler’s number one priority is taking care of his staff, who he very much considers members of the MPBS family. “If you take care of them, they’ll take care of MPBS,” Tyler said.

He also oversees store managers, buyers, and advertising, and enjoys being hands-on. Tyler does his best to stay up-to-date on new trends and product lines so MPBS can best serve the community. Keeping the best possible selection of products while providing the best customer service is Tyler’s ultimate goal. Everyone wants more for less, so constant research and dedication are imperative to staying current with trends and changing times. He is very much involved with as much as time allows, which includes interviews, accounting, facility maintenance, inspections, budgets, forecasting, benefits, IT, and much more. Tyler is not above doing any job at MPBS. You can see him jumping in wherever help is needed, whether that means helping a customer, hanging up a sign, working an event, or loading someone up in the yard—he’s there with a smile on his face. He takes a tremendous amount of pride in the two stores and truly enjoys being a part of the team both on the floor and behind the scenes.

In July 2024, Tyler and Katie made the toughest decision of their careers—Pullman Building Supply would officially close its doors. Saturday, November 2, 2024, was the last day of business at the Pullman store, located at 400 SE Fairmount Dr. in Pullman, WA. This decision marked a deeply impactful and emotional transition, the conclusion of an era in the community. Tyler expressed heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated team members for their unwavering commitment and professionalism during this difficult time. “Their resilience and adaptability were a source of inspiration as we navigated this transition together,” Tyler said. He also expressed appreciation to the valued customers and community members who continue to support local businesses like MPBS.

After the closure of the Pullman store, Tyler’s focus is still set on the future of MPBS and continuing to grow the company, even if it is only from the one location. “We are continuing to build upon the great success that MPBS already has and focusing our full attention on the improvements of this facility and all of the people who run it.” Tyler said. Tyler and Katie share undying thankfulness for the dedication of the hard-working MPBS employees who helped break down the Pullman store, and remodel the Moscow store, as projects ran around the clock, including a truly dedicated night crew!

The Moscow store remains open and fully operational, ready to serve you! One location. Same service.

AWARDS:

In 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration, named Tyler the Idaho Rural Small Business Person of the Year. As we all remember, 2020 was a year we will never forget. Prior to 2020, few individuals or businesses had experienced a pandemic, making this uncharted territory for most. Despite the uncertainty, Tyler led the company not only through challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic but also a multitude supply chain issues, product outages, delays, and shortages.

In June 2023, Tyler was inducted into the 40 Under 40 program by the LBM (Lumber/Building Material Distributor) Journal. This award celebrates the growing class of strong young leaders within the building community. Recipients not only showcase strong leadership skills but have also put in the work and paid their dues, helping drive the industry forward. In an interview with LBM, Tyler was asked, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” He replied, “I see myself still growing and maturing our business into a healthy operation. As president and CEO, I’m committed to growing not only the company but my staff as well. I also want to continue building a strong top management team all around.”

In June 2024, Tyler received the Young Retailer of the Year award presented by the NHPA (National Hardware & Paint Association). Innovative expansion and growth, an impressive increase in sales, community commitment, and strategic vision for future expansion were the reasons Tyler was selected. When asked about this award, Tyler replied, “Receiving this award is a profound honor, but it’s important to note that such recognition is not solely a reflection of my individual achievements. This award is a testament to the collective success of my mentors, colleagues, and the entire team.” Tyler was also asked if he has any advice for the next generation within the building industry. Here was his response: “This is not an industry for the faint of heart. If you want to make a go of it, surround yourself with good people, and do right by your customers and your employees every single day. Many might not see a clear-cut career path here, so it’s up to us to show them that there is an opportunity for growth and to make a great living.”

COMMUNITY ROOTS:

Tyler is an avid member of the community and dedicates not only a lot of time to the stores but also to local causes. Donating to local activities, fundraisers, and events is something that makes him feel good and is all part of what it means to manage a family-owned business in a community with strong roots. One of his favorite parts of the job is providing a valuable service to the community. He is proud to own one of the largest locally owned businesses in the area. Seeing his employees and the community grow by fulfilling their needs within our stores is quite rewarding. This allows him to connect with people he’s grown up knowing his whole life, which is pretty special because not everyone gets that opportunity.

A Moscow native, Tyler is the son of Pat and Gerri Garrett. He has two sisters, Katie and Sarah. Katie joined the MPBS family in 2018 as the CFO and part owner. He enjoys getting to work with her on a daily basis. He is married to Rachal Garrett, and they have two beautiful sons, Grayson and Jordy. Outside of work, Tyler enjoys spending time with his family and working on projects at home. As an avid outdoorsman, he can often be found hiking, fishing, backpacking, or hunting.