Registration Open

Sponsored By:

NLBMDA Board of Directors Meeting

Opening Networking Reception

We are excited to announce that our opening networking reception will take place at one of Chicago's most celebrated cultural destinations — The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago! 

Immerse yourself in a dynamic evening surrounded by innovative and thought-provoking contemporary art. As part of this special experience, you'll have the opportunity to explore the museum's cutting-edge exhibitions. 

The night will also feature a cocktail bar and passed hors d'oeuvres, creating a relaxed and social atmosphere for guests to connect. In addition, the reception-level gallery will be open for attendees to explore, offering an engaging backdrop of contemporary works throughout the evening. 

*Please note: Food, beverages and photography are not permitted in the gallery areas. 

Sponsored By:

LBM Executive Dinner
(By invitation only)

Registration Open

Sponsored By:

Breakfast

Dealer Panel

AI Today: Making Better, Faster Decisions

Most LBM leaders don’t have a data problem—they have a clarity problem. This session shows how to use AI as a practical thinking tool to cut through the noise, focus on what materially matters, and make better, faster decisions. Using real-world LBM Dealer scenario, you’ll see how to improve clarity around sales performance, margin, pricing, and pipeline—so you can move forward with confidence.

Sponsored By:

Speaker:

AARP

Power Break + Exhibit Time

Sponsored By:

U.S. Economic Forecast and Outlook

This keynote session will provide attendees with an overview of the current U.S. economic landscape and explore the trends, challenges, and opportunities expected to shape the economy in the months ahead. Discussion topics may include inflation, interest rates, housing markets, labor force trends, federal policy developments, and their potential impact on your business and the building supply industry. Participants will gain valuable insights into the broader economic environment and what it may mean for you and your business going forward.

Speaker:

A State of Play from Washington, D.C.: An Insider Look into the Political Landscape

Get an insider’s perspective on the ever-shifting political landscape in Washington, D.C., and what it means for the lumber and building materials industry. This session will explore the latest legislative and regulatory developments impacting dealers, suppliers, distributors, and manufacturers, while examining the political dynamics shaping the broader business environment. Attendees will gain insights into key policy priorities, tax and trade issues, workforce challenges, housing and construction trends, and the outlook for federal action in the months ahead. The session will also provide an early look at the upcoming midterm elections and how potential political shifts could influence policies affecting the LBM industry.

Prospecting Smarter, Driving Profitability & Boosting Margins

Sales success isn’t just volume—it’s profitable growth. Learn a smarter approach to prospecting that targets the right customers, strengthens pipelines, and improves close rates. Gain insight into LBM profitability drivers and how sales behaviors impact margins.

Speaker:

Lunch Break

Declarations of Independents: Success Stories

Independent lumber and building material (LBM) dealers continue to play a vital role in communities across the country, proving that local ownership, agility, and customer focus remain powerful competitive advantages. These “Declarations of Independents” highlight success stories from companies that have charted their own course while thriving in a highly competitive and evolving marketplace.

What sets these independents apart is their ability to stay close to their customers, adapt quickly to market shifts, and build strong relationships with contractors, builders, and homeowners. Many have differentiated themselves through specialized services, expanded product offerings, or investment in technology and logistics that enhance responsiveness and reliability. These success stories demonstrate that independence is not a limitation—it is a strategic advantage when paired with strong leadership, disciplined operations, and a clear commitment to service excellence.

The Declarations of Independents theme serves as the overarching framework for the following six sessions.

Technology: Efficiency Advantage leveraging Tech with Real ROI

Technology is no longer a support function in the lumber and building material (LBM) industry—it is a core driver of efficiency, accuracy, and profitability. The most successful organizations are those that focus not on adopting technology for its own sake, but on deploying solutions that deliver measurable return on investment.

Real ROI comes from eliminating friction in daily operations: faster quoting, more accurate inventory management, streamlined delivery logistics, and better customer communication. Integrated systems that connect sales, operations, and finance reduce manual work and improve decision-making speed and quality. From CRM platforms to ERP systems, mobile apps for the field, and ecommerce integrations, technology enables teams to do more with fewer resources while improving service levels. The key is alignment—ensuring each tool solves a defined business problem and contributes directly to efficiency, margin improvement, or customer satisfaction.

Installed Sales: The high-risk, high-reward field of partnering with builder customers

Installed sales represent one of the most complex—and potentially most rewarding—segments in the lumber and building material (LBM) industry. At its core, it is a partnership model where dealers move beyond product supply to take on responsibility for labor coordination, project management, and execution alongside builder customers.

The opportunity is clear: deeper customer relationships, stronger margins, and greater control over the value chain. But so are the risks—schedule coordination, labor availability, jobsite performance, and liability exposure all increase significantly when a dealer steps into the installed space.

Success requires disciplined processes, reliable subcontractor networks, and clear contractual frameworks that define expectations on both sides. The most effective operators treat installed sales as a professionalized service line, not an extension of counter sales—investing in training, oversight, and communication systems that ensure consistency and accountability. When executed well, installed sales can elevate a dealer from supplier to indispensable partner in the building process.

Ecommerce: It's been coming for years. Now you'd better be ready. 

Ecommerce is no longer a future trend in the lumber and building material (LBM) industry—it’s a present-day expectation. Customers, from contractors to homeowners, increasingly want the ability to research products, compare options, check availability, and place orders on their own terms, at any time.

Being “ready” for ecommerce doesn’t just mean launching a website with ordering capabilities. It means integrating digital tools into the full customer experience—accurate inventory visibility, seamless pricing and quoting, efficient fulfillment, and strong coordination between online and in-branch operations. Successful companies are those that view ecommerce not as a separate channel, but as an extension of their overall business strategy. When done well, it strengthens customer relationships, improves operational efficiency, and expands market reach.

Recruiting: It's always been a people business. Winners will be those who attract and develop the best talent.

Winners will be those who attract and develop the best talent.

In the lumber and building material (LBM) industry, success has always depended on people—skilled, motivated teams who understand both the product and the customer. As competition for talent intensifies, organizations that stand out will be those that treat recruiting not as a transactional activity, but as a long-term investment in culture and capability. Attracting top talent requires a clear employee value proposition, strong leadership visibility, and a workplace culture that prioritizes growth and development. Just as important is retention—creating pathways for advancement, offering meaningful training, and building a sense of purpose that connects individual roles to the broader success of the business.

Ultimately, the companies that win will be those that consistently develop their people, not just hire them.

Speaker:

Marketing: Ideas to stand out in an increasingly crowded field of messages

In an environment where audiences are inundated with content across every channel, effective marketing requires clarity, consistency, and relevance. Standing out begins with understanding what truly matters to your customers and delivering messages that are both timely and meaningful. For lumber and building material (LBM) dealers, differentiation often comes from telling a stronger story—highlighting expertise, service, and reliability rather than just products. Leveraging customer testimonials, project showcases, and local market insights can help build authenticity and trust. Equally important is choosing the right mix of channels and ensuring messaging is tailored to each audience segment. Whether through digital campaigns, in-person engagement, or trade media, the goal is to create focused, value-driven communication that cuts through the noise and reinforces brand identity.

Showrooms: What it takes to a build a reputation as a go-to design center. It begins with quality.

It begins with quality. Building a successful showroom and design center in the lumber and building material industry requires more than attractive displays—it requires a consistent commitment to product quality, customer experience, and professional expertise. A strong reputation is earned through thoughtful space design, knowledgeable staff who can guide customers through complex selections, and a curated product mix that reflects both performance and design trends. When these elements come together, a showroom becomes a trusted destination for builders, designers, and homeowners alike.

Speakers:

Round table discussions: 

Small-group roundtables designed to explore, discuss, and apply the day’s key insights through peer-to-peer conversation. These interactive sessions provide attendees an opportunity to move beyond presentations and engage directly with peers in the lumber and building material (LBM) industry. Facilitated discussions encourage the exchange of practical ideas, shared challenges, and real-world solutions, helping participants translate key takeaways into actionable strategies within their own organizations.

Break

Networking Reception

Sponsored By:

ProDealer of the Year Dinner

The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) will recognize members who have made outstanding contributions to the association and to the lumber and building material industry as a whole. In addition, the NLBMDA and HBSDealer are proud to recognize two high-performing companies that exemplify industry best practices, organizational excellence, and a strong commitment to the core values of the lumber and building material industry.

Sponsored By:

Breakfast & NextGen Awards 

Join us for an exclusive breakfast honoring the future of the lumber and building material (LBM) industry. Hosted in partnership with NLBMDA and HBSDealer, this event celebrates the next generation of industry leadership.

HBSDealer issued a nationwide call for nominations to spotlight emerging leaders who are redefining what’s next in lumber and building materials. These honorees represent innovators, changemakers, and rising voices driving progress across the industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with standout professionals, exchange ideas with peers, and celebrate excellence while engaging in the conversations shaping the future of the LBM sector.

Sponsored By:

Speaker: