Her Story
About Stacy L.
Stacy L. Gipson is a seasoned truss industry professional with over two decades of experience spanning design, manufacturing, sales, and leadership. She entered the field in 1998 under the mentorship of her father, who trained her as a truss designer and instilled in her the foundational values of integrity and craftsmanship that continue to define her career. A philosophy and sociology scholar who attended college on a golf scholarship, Stacy brings a uniquely analytical and people-centered perspective to a highly technical industry. Her educational background — further complemented by studies at Georgetown University and Georgia Southern University — reflects a lifelong commitment to learning and professional growth.
In 2008, at the height of the economic recession, Stacy and her father co-founded Georgia Truss, LLC, a structural component manufacturing company serving the residential and light commercial building sectors. What began as a startup built from the ground up grew into a thriving two-location operation generating approximately $35 million in annual revenue before its successful sale in December 2022. That journey — navigating a volatile market, managing operations, overseeing design, and serving as an on-site IT administrator — speaks to the breadth of her expertise and her tenacious, results-driven approach to every challenge she takes on.
Today, Stacy serves as National Training Manager at 84 Lumber, where she is dedicated to standardizing design instruction across regions, developing educational materials, and cultivating the next generation of truss designers. Having successfully trained 35 designers with a remarkable 97% one-year retention rate, she is particularly passionate about creating pathways into the profession for individuals from shop and day labor backgrounds. Recognized among the Influential Women of 2026, Stacy is widely regarded as a transformative voice in an industry where truss designers represent less than one percent of the skilled trades workforce — and she remains steadfastly committed to changing that.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Stacy L.
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success is rooted in the mentorship I received — most significantly from my father, along with approximately five other mentors who took the time to teach me not just what to do, but why things are done the way they are. That foundational knowledge, combined with my own relentless hard work and unwavering persistence, has carried me through every stage of my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received came from my father: always tell the truth. Being honest — about mistakes, about timelines, about what you know and don't know — is what builds genuine trust and a lasting reputation in this industry. It is a principle I have carried with me throughout my entire career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to constantly push yourself to be better and to master your trade completely. Know the reasons behind every recommendation you make so that you can state them with certainty and confidence, and prove them when challenged. In a male-dominated field, women must be prepared to be exceptionally skilled — not because it is fair, but because mastery is what earns respect and removes doubt.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The greatest opportunity in truss design right now lies in the scarcity of formally trained designers — we represent only 0.86% of the skilled trades workforce, which means demand is high and the door is wide open for new talent to enter and thrive. At the same time, the cyclical nature of the construction market presents real challenges, as downturns can reduce hiring. However, those same market dips also create entry points for new designers and room for innovation that simply do not exist during peak periods.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is at the core of everything I do. I believe in always telling the truth, even when it is difficult, because honesty is the foundation of trust and professional reputation. Alongside integrity, I hold a strong commitment to ethics and personal responsibility — both in how I lead others and in how I conduct myself every day.
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