Meet Marilyn: Building a Career in Trading at Olympic

What does it take to become a great trader?

At Olympic Industries, it takes more than market knowledge. It takes drive, resilience, relationship-building, and the discipline to keep moving forward every day. Marilyn’s journey reflects exactly that.

Since joining Olympic, she has built an impressive career through hard work and consistency, earning Rookie of the Year and Gold Trader status along the way. More importantly, she has built the kind of strong relationships and steady approach that make great traders stand out over time.

Her story offers a closer look at what life as a trader at Olympic really looks like — and why it can be such a meaningful career for someone willing to put in the work.

A Career Where You Build Your Own Path

One of the first things Marilyn noticed about trading was how directly the role rewards initiative.

It was not the kind of career where progress only comes from waiting for the next title or promotion. At Olympic, Marilyn saw a path where effort, consistency, and relationship-building could turn into real momentum.

“As a trader at Olympic, the sky is the limit. The hard work you put in is what you get out of it, and nothing but yourself is holding you back from building a successful career here.”

That sense of ownership is what made the opportunity stand out.

“I knew I never wanted to climb a corporate ladder, so the fact that I could carve my own path at Olympic is what really drew me to trading.”

For Marilyn, that freedom came with responsibility. There was support, training, and a team around her, but there was also room to develop her own style, build her own book of business, and grow into the career through the work itself.

No Two Days Look Exactly the Same

Trading has a rhythm, but it is never predictable.

A day can start with logistics and load updates, then quickly shift into customer calls, mill conversations, buying opportunities, and problem-solving in real time.

“It’s all about getting in front of customers and mills and identifying needs and opportunities. In the morning, I connect with our trucking team, follow up on loads, answer inbound inquiries, and handle any issues. From there, I start calling customers and mills, offering and buying lumber.”

That variety is part of what keeps the role engaging. Traders are constantly moving between conversations, details, and decisions. You have to stay organized, communicate clearly, and be ready to adjust as the day changes.

For people who like a fast-paced environment and want to be close to the action, that is a big part of the appeal.

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Learning to Handle the Ups and Downs

Trading is not a role where every day feels predictable.

There are moving pieces, changing market conditions, customer needs, mill conversations, and logistics details that can shift quickly. Marilyn has learned that part of the job is staying steady through those moments.

“This job is a roller coaster. The market is always moving, and there are days where it feels like nothing is going right. But every day is a new day. You need to be able to show up with a clean slate and not carry yesterday into today.”

That mindset is a big part of becoming a stronger trader. The work teaches you how to reset, stay focused, and keep moving forward even when the previous day did not go your way.

It is not always easy, but learning how to navigate those ups and downs is part of what makes the growth so meaningful.

The Most Rewarding Part? The Relationships

At its core, trading is about being useful to the people you work with.

For Marilyn, the most rewarding moments come when she can step into a real need and help create a solution.

“Growing relationships with mills and customers and providing value to them. When a mill needs help moving something and you can solve that problem, or when a customer is looking for product and you can deliver, that’s the most rewarding part of the job.”

That is where the role becomes more than buying and selling. Strong traders learn what their partners need, communicate clearly, and build trust through consistent follow-through.

“It’s all about building long-term relationships with partners, and I’m excited to continue deepening those in the years ahead.”

Over time, those relationships become one of the most meaningful parts of the career, and one of the biggest reasons traders are able to create lasting value.

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A Culture That Pushes You to Grow

Marilyn describes Olympic’s culture as driven, energetic, and team-oriented.

“It’s fast-paced and competitive, but also supportive. Everyone wants each other to do well, but we also push each other to be better every day.”

That balance matters in a career like trading. The pace is high, the expectations are real, and the learning curve can be steep. But being surrounded by people who understand the work, share knowledge, and push each other forward makes a difference.

It creates an environment where growth is expected, but supported.

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Growth That Goes Beyond the Job

Trading has helped Marilyn build more than industry knowledge.

The day-to-day work requires confidence in conversations, resilience when things shift, and the ability to keep moving through uncomfortable moments.

“I’ve become much more confident in all aspects of my life. This job pushes you out of your comfort zone and you need to get uncomfortable to grow.”

For Marilyn, that growth has carried beyond the trading floor. The confidence built through the role has become something she takes with her into every part of life.

Recognition Is Meaningful, but Growth Is Ongoing

Since joining Olympic, Marilyn has earned Rookie of the Year and reached Gold Trader status. Two milestones that reflect the consistency and effort she has put into building her career.

But what stands out most is not just the recognition. It is how she views it.

“It was a moment to reflect on all the hard work I’ve put in since joining Olympic. It showed me that the effort is paying off, but it also reinforced that there’s still a lot more I want to achieve. It really feels like just the beginning.”

That grounded perspective gives the story more weight. The milestones matter, but Marilyn does not talk about them like a finish line. She sees them as proof of progress and motivation to keep building.

Advice for Anyone Considering a Career in Trading

Marilyn is clear about one thing: trading is not a shortcut.

“It’s a grind, and success doesn’t come easy. Be ready to put in the hard work. If you’re doing the right things, success will come, but you need to be willing to put your head down and do the work.”

But for the right person, that challenge is part of the appeal. Olympic gives traders the opportunity to learn the business, build real relationships, and take ownership of their growth from the beginning.

Over time, that effort can turn into a career with momentum, responsibility, and long-term opportunity.

A Career Worth Exploring

Marilyn’s experience offers a real look at what it is like to be a trader at Olympic.

It is a career built on effort, relationships, resilience, and growth. It is fast-paced and demanding, but it also offers the chance to learn a lot, build confidence, and create value every day.

For the right person, that is what makes the opportunity so compelling.

If you are looking for a career where hard work matters, where growth is earned, and where you can build something for yourself over time, trading at Olympic may be worth exploring.

Interested in a career in lumber trading? View our current openings.