ABOUT US
FOUNDER’S MESSAGE:
This year our company celebrates its 60th anniversary in Puerto Rico. For us this is a great achievement that has been possible thanks to the titanic effort of our employees and management team who have given their maximum effort in both good times and challenging times.
In 1961, my father and I founded a small lumberyard in Carolina. Throughout the years we have grown steadily and have become the largest lumber and building materials distributor in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Presently we have more than 120 employees, four locations throughout Puerto Rico, five treating plants, one lumber drying kiln, over 25 million feet of lumber and plywood, and one million square feet of offices and warehouses—large enough to face any supply shortage or natural disaster. When Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands, we had enough inventory to supply the construction industry and our wholesale customers for months.
From our beginnings, honesty and respect for our employees and customers has been important to us. With these values, we have gained their support and loyalty throughout the years. After all, they are the backbone of our business. Our commercial goal has always been to offer our clients the best possible service and quality in our products. This is one of the reasons why we are the best in Puerto Rico.
Today, I look towards the future with optimism, with the assurance that all the progress we have obtained in the past sixty years will continue steadily through the same paths of perseverance, honesty and dynamism that have always characterized us.
Juan Donestevez, Sr.
Co-Founder, 2nd Generation
Our People
Our employees are our strength. All our staff is professional, trained, and detailed-oriented to assess your project and guide you through the entire process.
Throughout the years, we have succeeded in hiring and training the best qualified and experienced personnel in each field. At Maderera Donestevez you will always find personnel to assist you in the best way possible.
José Alejandro Donestevez
President
Carla Donestevez
Vice President
OUR HISTORY
FOUR GENERATIONS WITH ALMOST A CENTURY OF EXPERIENCE IN THE LUMBER, PLYWOOD & CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
In 1961, Maderera Donestevez was founded by late José Donestevez, Senior.
The late José Donestevez began to work at a very young age in every facet of the lumber industry; from managing logging camps and owning sawmills to handling its stevedoring, transportation, and distribution.
José Donestevez’s son, Juan José Donestevez, second generation, learned all the aspects of the lumber business from his father. He studied in Villanova University, in Pennsylvania and earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics to solidify his understanding of the business management aspect. He acquired experience in the lumber business by managing and supervising sawmills, before establishing with his father the business in Puerto Rico.
Juan José Donestevez, Jr.†, known as Juan Pepe, wanted to be part of the family business as the 3rd generation. After graduating from Boston College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, he spent almost a year in an intensive lumber grading training in Canada and in the United States. Upon his return to Puerto Rico to join the company, he started overseeing implementation of the state-of-the-art lumber treatment plant. From 2016 to 2022, Juan Pepe led the company holding the position of President, working toward generating new ideas and strategies solidifying the company’s position as the largest distributor in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean for lumber and construction materials.
In 2012, Carla Donestevez and José Alejandro Donestevez, representing the 4th generation, officially joined the management team. Carla Donestevez graduated from Villanova University (as her grandfather) with a bachelor’s degree in Economics, while José Alejandro Donestevez graduated from DePaul University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
In summer of 2022, José Alejandro Donestevez was appointed as President and Carla Donestevez as Vice-President, becoming the 4th generation to lead the company, following their father’s footsteps and learnings.
OUR DEPARMENTS
With more than 15 salespeople throughout the island, five lumber treating plants and over 35 trucks ready to deliver anywhere in Puerto Rico, we are the undisputed leader in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands.
This division has the purpose to sell lumber, plywood and building materials to construction projects throughout Puerto Rico. We have dedicated and trained personnel to specifically assist contractors.
For many years we have been supplying all the islands in the Caribbean with our products successfully. Our staff is trained to assist customers and arrange shipping to all islands in the Caribbean.
TREATING PLANTS
Maderera Donestevez has five lumber treating plants in Puerto Rico at three different locations. All five treating plants together have a capacity to treat more than 100 million feet of lumber and plywood per year using the Wolmanized treating process. This system extends the life of the wood and protects it against termites, rot, and decay. Also, our companies are certified to treat for ground contact and marine applications.
Today, we treat our lumber with the most advanced Copper Azole system. This new process produces a lighter, more natural color in the lumber, without losing its effectiveness and it makes it easier to paint or stain the lumber. It is important to note that this new process is certified “Green Approved” by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and, also, SCS Certified Environmentally Preferable Treating Process by the Scientific Certification Systems.
In addition to the five treating plants, Maderera has a lumber drying kiln to dry treated wood (KDAT), the only one in Puerto Rico. When you dry treated lumber, it becomes more stable for use in carpentry and fine woodworking.
8am – 5pm
Carolina