National dealer group meets in Texas

tftltlE HAVE not even begun o touch most of the cirUY cus of technology that's out there... and we have paid the price for that," consultant Jack Nunn infomted the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association at its 77th annual convention.

Dealers must improve profitability, service and use of technology, said Nunn, Construction Marketing Associ' ates, Ellijay, Ga. He then illustrated how dealers could profit from periodic roundtable discussions with their peers, moderating a sarnple roundtable on wages, salary and benefits by a panel. Attendees then tried the techniques out for themselves.

Story at a Glance

National association meets to increase members' competitiveness ... compare costs of doing business, discuss rcundta' bles 1994: Maui, Hawaii.

The Oct. 28-30 meeting at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk, San Antonio, Tx., was opened by John MacKay, The Profit Planning Group, Boulder, Co., who gave an overview of NLBMDA's Cost of Doing Business Survey, explaining how it showed what made the most successful companies successful.

Other speakers included Dr. Roger Blackwell, Ohio State University, on growing profits in a slow growth market; Jim Twining, Enterprise Computer Systems, pricing; Allynn Howe, NLBMDA, legislative strategies; Bob Petow and Shelly Hershberger, Western Wood Products Association, environmentally positive benefits of wood, and political commentator Charles Cook.

The inaugural President's Pathfinder Awards for contributions to the industry and the association were presented to Walter Foxworth, Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Co., Dallas, Tx., and Joe Arndt, Andersen Windows, Bayport' Mn., whose retirement aftet 37 years with Andersen was armounced.

Ray Nunn, Simms-Moore Lumber & Hardware Co., Frisco, Tx., was installed as president, succeeding Gerald Olrich, Oxford Lumber Co., Oxford, Mi., now chairman of the board. President-elect is B. Harold Smick, Jr., I.S. Smick Lumber, Quinton, N.J.; lst v.p. Roger Scherer, Scherer Bros. Lumber Co., Brooklyn Park, Mn.; 2nd v.p. Joe Orem, Bellingham Sash & Door, Bellingham, Wa.; treas. Jim Wiswell, Barry County Lumber, Hastings, Mi., and exec. v.p./sec. Gary DonnellY.

David Still, Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, Wa., is replacing Dan Russo, Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga., as head of the Manufacturers & Service Industry Council.

NLBMDA's