Built on Trust. Driven by People. Rooted in Northern Michigan. 

For more than a century, Preston Feather has partnered with Northern Michigan’s most talented architects and builders to shape projects that last. Since 1915, family ownership has kept us rooted in this region and deeply connected to the communities we serve. Today, under the leadership of Rachel Huntman, we continue to honor that legacy while driving innovation, growth, and new possibilities for the next generation. 

Proven process. Trusted results. 
Our promise is simple: we understand and contribute to the success of our customers’ business as if it were our own. Every project is more than a job. It is a relationship, a collaboration, and an opportunity to help our partners deliver their best. By engaging early in the process, we help shorten build cycles, simplify decision-making, and create smoother projects without compromise. Our design showrooms empower homeowners, while our dedicated teams anticipate challenges and deliver solutions. When our customers succeed, our communities thrive. That has been our purpose for more than 100 years. 

A culture built on people. 
We believe people are at the heart of everything we do. That is why we invest in our team with training, technology, and a culture of growth so they can invest fully in our customers. From yard to showroom, every employee shares one mission: to provide an exceptional experience and carry forward a legacy of service, quality, and innovation. Growing intentionally while staying true to our values keeps us and our customers strong for the future. 

We exist to strengthen Northern Michigan. Every home we supply, every job we create, and every builder we support contributes to a stronger community. 

Our core values

People know us for going above and beyond. From our front counter to our drivers, every one of us has our customer’s best interest in mind. We always try to stay a step ahead on their projects to keep things running smoothly and efficiently. We anticipate problem areas before they become problems. We earn our customers’ confidence, business, loyalty and friendship through

• • Integrity.
    We will always conduct ourselves in an honest and ethical manner.
  • Compassion.
    We will be fair, loyal, and supportive of our employees.
  • Purpose.
    We will be a responsible corporate citizen in our communities.
  • Merit.
    We will reach for excellence and continuous improvement every day.
  • Accountability.
    We will be accountable to each other and to our customers as we strive to be the best.

It’s who we are, since 1915.

In 1915, Preston Arthur Feather began his building materials business in partnership with William Wingate. Early projects of Feather & Wingate include many landmark buildings in the greater Petoskey area.

As the business grew, so did their reputation as fine builders and honest businessmen. During one project, Preston Feather discovered he could save money by buying larger quantities of wood, later selling the excess to other area builders. This marked the beginning of the lumber company. Their first lumber outlet was along the railroad tracks on Sheridan Street in Petoskey.

At the onset of World War II, the government took over the building to harvest milkweed floss for military lifejackets. Preston Feather & Sons, as the business was then known, moved its building supply operations to 405 Lake Street in downtown Petoskey.

After the war, the company relocated to its present headquarters at 900 Spring Street. Business flourished with Petoskey’s growth, and in 1979 the Feather family sold the business to Bill and Julie Norcross. A new 7,000-square-foot hardware showroom was built, and through the 1980s and 1990s the company added design showrooms specializing in windows, doors, and cabinetry, as well as a distribution center. A 12,000-square-foot Building Center opened in Gaylord in 1996, followed by a 24,000-square-foot facility in Harbor Springs in 2006.

Expansion continued into Traverse City in 2012, with a new 13,000-square-foot showroom and yard opening in 2016. In 2015, Kirk and Lynne Jabara purchased the business, investing in people, inventory, facilities, and equipment.

In 2016, their daughter Rachel Huntman joined Preston Feather, bringing her public accounting background to lead a major systems overhaul and enhance operational effectiveness while building a team positioned for long-term growth. In 2021, she purchased the majority of the business and became President. That same year, her husband Jake Huntman joined the company, drawing on his leadership background—including service in the U.S. Navy—to strengthen sales, develop the next generation of team members, and enhance the customer experience. Together, their leadership has also earned Preston Feather national recognition as LBM Journal Dealer of the Year, reflecting innovation, strong relationships, and a deep commitment to Northern Michigan’s builders and communities.

Today, Preston Feather remains a family-owned company rooted in its values, relationships, and community. The Huntman and Jabara families often describe Preston Feather as a century–old start-up—honoring longstanding builder partnerships while continuously looking ahead and building for the future.

Build strong. Build beautiful. Build with trust. 

Locations

Each of our stores is equipped with a beautiful showroom, complete building center, knowledgeable staff, and a full fleet of vehicles to make us the most important stop when working on your project.