For wall and ceiling contractors, reliable access to specialty equipment, tarps and jobsite accessories can directly affect productivity, safety compliance and schedule control. Under the leadership of Carol Kimmel Schary, Nathan Kimmel Company, LLC has evolved into a global supplier serving interior finishes contractors across multiple markets in the Los Angeles area.

The company has been in business 57 years, and Schary has been sole owner for 17 of them. Nathan Kimmel Co. LLC supplies equipment and protective materials used in drywall, plaster and ceiling work—items that support dust control, surface protection and efficient material handling on active jobsites.

Schary grew up in the business. After working as a teacher, she transitioned to the family company when she became a mother, seeking more flexible hours. The move ultimately positioned her to lead the enterprise.

“My father, Nathan Kimmel, died at 83 and my mother and I kept going to work to continue the business,” Schary said. “When we were going over my father’s estate taxes, the attorney said that I had doubled the business and that I should buy out my siblings, which I did. In 1996, I became the sole owner.”

Her business training came largely from immersion in daily operations—estimating, customer service, vendor relationships and trade show engagement. That hands-on exposure translated into disciplined growth and expanded market reach.

Today, the distributor sells to companies around the world, making it an international operation. For contractors, that scale can mean broader product availability and sourcing flexibility—particularly important when supply chains tighten or when specialty accessories are needed to meet project specifications.

Schary maintains a visible presence within the industry. She is active in the Western Wall and Ceiling Contractors Association and the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry. Within AWCI, she has served on the board of directors, chaired the Supplies Committee and been a board member of the Foundation of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, where she is slated to become president in two years—the first woman to hold that title.

Beyond industry associations, the company and Schary have received recognition from the Los Angeles Business Journal, appearing on its “Top Women-Owned Businesses” list for 12 consecutive years. She has also been named an “Enterprising Woman of the Year” by Enterprising Women magazine and is a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

The company is a Certified Women Business Enterprise. For wall and ceiling contractors pursuing public or private projects with diversity participation goals, sourcing from a WBE supplier can support bid compliance and scoring criteria, depending on owner requirements.

Schary acknowledges that cultural shifts in construction are ongoing. “The construction industry is still male-dominated but getting better with the younger generation coming into the business,” she said.

As Women in Construction Week highlights leadership across the sector, Schary’s trajectory underscores a practical takeaway for interior finishes professionals: supplier stability, industry engagement and certification status can all play a role in strengthening contractor competitiveness and long-term market position.

Schary is also featured in the March issue of Walls & Ceilings as part of the magazine’s annual Women Who Build spotlight, which highlights leaders shaping the wall and ceiling sector from the field to the supply chain. Her inclusion underscores the critical role specialty suppliers play in supporting drywall, plaster and ceiling contractors with the equipment and accessories that keep jobs moving. For readers, her story offers a practical example of how long-term industry engagement, association leadership and WBE certification can strengthen both individual companies and the broader interior finishes market.