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CHANGE OF ADDRESS Send address label from recent issue, new address, and 9-digit zip to address below. POSTMASTER Send address changes to Building Products Digest, 151 Kalmus Dr., Ste. J3, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Building Products Digest (USPS 225) is published monthly at 151 Kalmus Dr., Ste. J3, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 by 526 Media Group, Inc. Periodicals Postage paid at Santa Ana, CA, and additional post offices. It is an independently-owned publication for building products retailers and wholesale distributors in 37 states East of the Rockies. Copyright®2026 by 526 Media Group, Inc. Cover and entire contents are fully protected and must not be reproduced in any manner without written permission. All Rights Reserved. We reserve the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising matter, and assumes no liability for materials furnished to it. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or persons quoted and not necessarily those of 526 Media Group, Inc. Articles are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial or business management advice, nor an endorsement of any company, product, service or individual referenced. Volume 45 • Number 4

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REDWOOD

Like the foods we buy, when it comes to decking, we want natural and real. Redwood is always available in abundance of options. So stock the shelves! Unlike mass-produced and inferior products, Redwood is strong, reliable and possesses many qualities not found in artificial products. They maintain temperatures that are comfortable in all climates.

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WHY THIS COLUMN IS DIFFERENT

------------

BY PATRICK ADAMS

FOR MORE THAN 150 columns, I’ve tried very hard not to do what I’m about to do today. Writing these columns has never come naturally to me. From the first one until now, it’s always been something I’ve approached with a mix of reluctance and responsibility. I’m not a professional writer, and I certainly don’t pretend to have wisdom that deserves a monthly platform.

But if we ask you to spend a few minutes reading these pages, I believe we owe you something genuine in return.

One thing I’ve worked hard to avoid is turning this column into a promotional tool. You’ve seen that format before—a welcome message followed by reminders to check out the great article on page whatever. That has never felt right to me. This space has always been better suited for reflection—about family, leadership, values and the remarkable people who make up this industry.

So today feels a little different. Because sometimes something matters enough that it deserves to be shared.

Like many of you, my life is grounded in a few things that sit at the center of everything I do—my faith, my family, my country, and this industry we are fortunate enough to serve. Over time a few other passions have found their way onto that list as well.

For many years now, I’ve quietly supported a mission that matters deeply to me. An organization called the Sentinel Foundation works to combat child trafficking and exploitation around the world. It is a heartbreaking reality that receives far less attention than it deserves. While headlines often focus on other crimes, the truth is that countless children are trafficked every day—often much closer to home than most people realize.

Sentinel (foundationsentinel.org) works alongside law enforcement and international partners to identify traffickers, rescue victims, and help bring criminals to justice. Many of the individuals involved are former military and intelligence professionals who have continued their lives of service protecting the most vulnerable among us. The environments they enter are dangerous. The emotional toll is heavy. Yet the work remains absolutely necessary.

A couple of years ago, we quietly started a small project called Lumberman Coffee. It began mostly as an experiment—something built for the people of this industry who start their day the same way many of us do: with a cup of coffee. After spending time in lumberyards,

mills, jobsites, and offices across the country, you start to notice something simple. Important conversations often begin over coffee. Plans are made. Problems are solved. Relationships are built.

The idea behind Lumberman Coffee was straightforward. If so many professionals in this industry share that daily ritual, why not create a coffee brand built specifically for them? Why not buy your coffee from someone who understands your world instead of from a company you have no connection to at all? Over time, Lumberman Coffee has grown quietly in the background.

Recently, it occurred to me that these two things didn’t need to live separately. So today we’re bringing them together. Moving forward, 100% of the proceeds from Lumberman Coffee will go directly to support the Sentinel Foundation and its mission to combat child trafficking and exploitation.

It’s a simple idea. Most of us already drink coffee every morning. If that daily habit can also help support those working to rescue children and confront evil directly, it becomes something far more meaningful.

Over the years I have never used this column to ask anything of our readers. Our mission has always been to serve you—to provide insight, perspective and tools that help you succeed while preserving the values that make this industry so special. But today I will ask for your help.

In military planning there is a term called a force multiplier. It refers to something that significantly increases the effectiveness of a mission without increasing its size. If this cause resonates with you—whether through your morning cup, the office coffee pot, or gifts for customers— I hope you will consider becoming part of this effort (www. lumbermancoffee.com).

Sometimes the most meaningful impact doesn’t come from grand gestures. It comes from small actions taken consistently by people who care.

As always, I remain grateful for the opportunity to serve you and this remarkable industry. Thank you for the trust you place in us—and thank you for considering standing behind a mission that truly matters.

PATRICK S. ADAMS, Publisher/President padams@526mediagroup.com

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A PEEK INSIDE THE GATES OF A WOOD TREATING PLANT

------------ BY BELINDA REMLEY

REMEMBER THAT FEELING when you watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory for the first time and the gates to the candy factory opened revealing the mysterious world inside? Taking a tour of a wood treating facility might not seem as exciting as a chocolate river, but step inside and see just how interesting it is.

Welcome inside the plant gates...

Let’s start our tour with what might seem like an obvious question. Why treat wood at all?

“Wood is nature’s sustainable building block,” says Matt Roughen, Arxada’s North American strategic accounts and marketing director. For thousands of years, people have been building with wood because it is easily sourced, easy to work with, and aesthetically pleasing.”

“Wood treaters take that resource up a notch by enhancing wood with preservatives that make it last longer while maintaining its beautiful appearance,” says Matt. “So, by extending the useful service life of wood in outdoor applications, preservative treatment reduces demands on our forests.”

How exactly does the magic happen?

The basics are simple, really; yet, the process is highly controlled using state-of-the art equipment to ensure the safety of the treaters as well as the quality consumers expect to see.

Raquel Hyde, site and plant administrator at Arxada’s Conley, Ga., facility, recently visited a treating plant for the

first time. “While the entire operation was professionally run and impressive to see, I was really in awe of the control room. It was equipped with what looked like the latest computerized control system for treating.”

Raquel was able to step back and watch the process from a safe distance.

The lumber, timbers, plywood, poles, piling, etc., are loaded onto trams by skilled and highly trained workers. After loading is complete and the wood is secured, a vehicle such as a forklift pushes the trams into a large horizontal treating cylinder (usually between 60 and 100 ft. long). The treating cylinder door is closed and sealed, and a vacuum is applied to remove most of the air from the cylinder and the wood cells. Preservative solution is then pumped into the cylinder and the pressure raised to about 150 lbs. per sq. inch, forcing the preservative into the wood. During this process, additives such as moldicides and colorants may also be used to enhance the finished product.

The total treating time varies, depending on the species of wood and whether the tram is loaded with lumber such as fence boards, deck boards, or 2x4s; heavier timbers such as 6x6s; or even utility poles and piling. The type of preservative and the amount of preservative being forced into the wood varies as well depending upon end-use application.

“Treatment time for wood depends upon the intended application,” explains Matt. “For example, lumber treated

WOOD IS LOADED onto trams and moved into the cylinder for treatment.

PRESERVATIVE is stored in a concentrate tank; then moved to a mix tank to create the correct ratio for pressure treatment.

to Ground Contact retentions stays under pressure within the cylinder for less time than utility poles and piling that require more preservative.”

Different commodities are also treated with different preservatives. Commonly, wood treated for residential applications such as decks and fencing is protected with waterborne preservatives including copper azole, developed about three decades ago. Products used in infrastructure, marine, or agricultural applications are usually treated with a waterborne preservative called CCA (chromated copper arsenate), innovated to protect wood nearly a century ago; or preservatives such as creosote, used for more than a century; and DCOIT, the next generation oilborne preservatives.

At the end of the treating process, excess preservative solution is removed from the cylinder and pumped back into a storage tank for later reuse. The cylinder door is released and the trams with the newly treated wood are pulled out. Since the wood is wet, it is kept on a concrete pad allowing any drips to trickle into a containment area from which they can be either disposed of properly or reused.

“Once the process is complete, wood is protected from its natural enemies like termites and fungal decay,” says Matt.

The whole treating process is a closed system, meaning that individuals should never come into physical contact with the preservative. Tanker trucks from the chemical manufacturer deliver preservatives to treating facilities all across North America. The preservative is

uploaded directly to a receiving tank, called a concentrate tank. The preservative concentrate is moved as needed to a mix tank and is diluted with water or other agent (in the case of oilborne preservatives). From the mix tank, the dilution is pumped into the cylinder where the wood is awaiting treatment.

“The operator within the control room monitors the entire treating process from his computer system,” says Raquel. “He demonstrated how he watches the tank levels for the concentrate and mix tanks, so he knows exactly how much preservative is being used and how much is left. He also watches the treating process to ensure that the wood is neither over nor under treated.”

Raquel says what also struck her during her visit was the level of care for safety at the treating facility. “As we entered the treating facility, we were required to check in,” she explains. “And we had to put our PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) on before we were escorted around the plant. I noticed that all the employees (probably about 20 that I encountered) all wore PPE appropriate to their jobs.” For example, even Raquel’s tour guide wore a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, a hard hat, and safety glasses.

What happens once the wood is treated?

Monitoring quality does not end once the wood is treated. After the treated wood is removed from the cylinder, plant personnel pull core samples from each bundle of wood, testing the amount of preservative in the wood.

“The freshly treated wood must meet standards set

POLES ARE pressure-preserved and stored at treating plants to await shipment to utilities.

EACH BUNDLE of wood that has been treated is quality tested to ensure it meets retention requirements.

by the American Wood Protection Association (AWPA),” explains Josh Roth, manager of building codes and product standards for Arxada. “For example, if a bundle of lumber is supposed to be treated for Ground Contact applications, it is tested to ensure it meets the retention of 0.15 pcf. If it does not meet the standard, it is retreated.”

Founded in 1904, AWPA is the principal standards-writing body for methods, preservatives, and other technologies which protect wood and wood-based products.

Along with internal testing, the treated wood is also tested by the preservative manufacturers for quality assurance and is subject to random testing and inspection by independent agencies such as Southern Pine Inspection Bureau and Timber Products Inspection. Additionally, the groups also test the chemical solutions to ensure the correct ratios are being used.

The treated wood is moved from the trams onto the treating plant yard to await loading and delivery to retail yards, dealers, jobsites, etc. “The treating facility was much larger than I thought it would be,” Raquel says. “Along with the treating area that included the cylinders, drip pad, control room, and tanks, there was also a loading and unloading area for the treated wood and what seemed like endless acres of land with neatly stacked wood. The whole place was clean and organized.”

Treating facilities are an integral part of the wood industry and are careful to be good stewards of the forests and what it provides. Not only is the preservative reclaimed and recycled during the treating process, any excess from the wood is also used. “Nothing in the whole process from when the tree is harvested through the treating process is wasted,” Matt says. “If the treating facility cuts any of the wood, it uses the sawdust either as fuel for their kiln or sells it to paper mills or other appropriate businesses within the supply chain.”

What you see is what you get.

Once the treated wood has been delivered, retailers, utility providers, and other end users can quickly see what each piece of wood has been preserved to do. Each piece of lumber is marked with an end tag, brand, or stamp that describes the intended

use as well as what preservative was used for treatment and a quality assurance mark.

Opening the plant gates of a wood treating facility shows the level of care and precision that goes into every piece of preserved wood. Treaters throughout North America follow strict guidelines set forth by industry and government agencies such as EPA and OSHA. They act as stewards of the wood industry by increasing the longevity of wood in a controlled environment so that each

end user receives reliable, beautiful wood to enhance their outdoor projects. Chocolate, maybe not. But what they produce can be used to build an amazing, relaxing place to eat your chocolate in the outdoors. BPD

– Belinda Remley is a marketing professional with Arxada. She has been promoting wood and the protection of wood for more than 32 years. Learn more at Arxada’s Knowledge Center located on the website: wolmanizedwood.com. Please visit www.arxada.com for all product information.

TREATED WOOD is stacked neatly in the yard of the plant awaiting transport.

MOST TREATING PLANTS today are high tech, using state-of-the-art programming like Arxada’s TreatRight system to ensure the wood is treated properly.

THE BEST IS ALWAYS IN DEMAND.

YellaWood® brand pressure treated pine stands unrivaled in providing the best available protection against rot, fungal decay and termite attack. Enjoy the uncompromising beauty of a backyard made with high quality natural wood products from YellaWood® brand pressure treated pine. Visit yellawood.com for more information.

A DEEPER DIVE INTO PRESERVED WOOD STANDARDS

------------ BY TIMM LOCKE

There’s Value in Knowing Your Customers and Your Suppliers

Some customers (usually professionals of some sort) understand the Use Category System and know exactly what they’re after. This became more clear for me when I sat in on a webinar for professional trail builders titled, “Pressure Treated Wood for Trail Structures.” The presenter was an experienced professional trail builder and just about everyone else on the zoom also was a trail builder.

My biggest takeaway was the advice he gave about specifying the right wood for the job, and questions people had about that advice. The presenter reminded the group that trail structures—walking bridges across streams, walkways that traverse boggy areas, handrails, signs and signposts, benches, steps carved out of steep slopes, etc.—take a lot of abuse from the thousands of people in muddy hiking boots who tromp over them every year. Trails often are built in challenging conditions such as forests where the air is damp and the sun struggles to break through the canopy to dry things out.

For these reasons, he recommended not only using UC4B or UC4C, but in some cases choosing products intended for infrastructure uses or wood treated with different preservatives than typically can be found at a big box home center.

During the Q&A, several trail builders in attendance said they buy the wood they use at their local lumberyard and are limited to what the yard has in stock. The presenter said he works with his supplier to make sure it can source what he needs. Sometimes that means the supplier has to place special orders, so he builds extra time into his planning.

This exchange underscored the importance of building relationships with customers as well as suppliers. Are there customer prospects out there who don’t come to you because you don’t carry what they need? Do your customers know you can source products you don’t regularly stock? Do you have a good grasp of the breadth of products your PTW supplier offers? Do you know other preserved wood suppliers you can turn to for specialty products your normal supplier doesn’t offer?

Knowing the Use Category System is a good start. Information about the various preservatives is right at your fingertips on the WWPI website, preservedwood.org.

CHANCES ARE, if you sell preserved wood to do-ityourselfers or even professional contractors, you’ve had customers who seem to think there are two types of wood —treated and untreated. Other customers might “know” there are two types of treated wood — “ground contact” and “above ground.” But they might not know what differentiates them.

Rare is the customer who understands preserved wood Use Categories and how they are defined by service life expectations and the degree of hazard ion use. These Use Categories are codified by the American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) Standard U1.

There are many uses for preserved wood, some that require greater levels of protection than others. Salespeople with an in-depth grasp of the Use Category System can help customers by steering them to the right product for their intended use, just the sort of service that can make them repeat customers.

The Use Category System

AWPA approves and establishes standards for all wood treating. This includes establishing minimum preservative penetration and retention levels for preservatives and species in each Use Category.

Those minimum retention and penetration levels define how preserved wood products can be expected to perform under different conditions. AWPA created this system in 1999 by consolidating all the information included in the previously used 36 Commodity Standards into six main categories based on application—interior dry, interior damp, exterior above ground, exterior ground contact, marine use and fire retardant.

Where appropriate, subcategories were created to reflect different levels of exposure that might be encountered within each main use category. The new system simplified distinctions among the various types of preserved wood without having to recreate the existing standards, some of which had been in place for nearly a century.

The primary reason for the change was to help architects and engineers choose the proper preserved wood products in their specifications, to help end-users find the products most appropriate for their intended use, and to make it easier for code officials to ensure

preserved wood used for construction is in compliance with the building codes.

What It Means for Lumber Dealers & Their Customers

That customer who knew enough to distinguish between “ground contact” (UC4) and “above ground” (UC3) might be surprised to learn not all ground contact preserved wood is alike (ditto for above ground). AWPA recognizes three distinct levels of “ground contact” (UC4A, UC4B and UC4C) and two distinct levels of “above ground” (UC3A and UC3B), each with its own required retention level.

If you know the differences, you can help the customer choose a product that will perform as expected. For example, if the customer plans to use preserved wood where it will be in contact with the ground in an area that is almost always wet, it might be wise to choose UC4B or UC4C over UC4A. The much higher retention level required of 4B or 4C makes those products better suited to the harsh conditions in which they will be used.

WWPI offers a summary of AWPA Use Category descriptions in the PreserveSpec, Specifying with AWPA Use Categories for Construction, available in the Tech Library on PreservedWood.org.

Once customers know what product they are looking for, finding it on the rack is as easy as reading the end tags. Virtually every piece of preserved wood has a label or end tag that contains, among other information, the intended exposure condition (e.g., “Above Ground”), the AWPA Use Category (e.g., UC3B), the preservative used, and the minimum retention level. BPD

– Timm Locke is director of marketing for the Western Wood Preservers Institute (www.wwpinstitute.org).

conditions

than normal, such as the treated timbers of this foot bridge which are embedded in moist soil where periodic flooding occurs, products with higher preservative retention levels are more likely to meet expectations. Situations like this explain why AWPA standards recognize three different levels of “ground contact.“ It can pay to understand the differences.

WHEN PRESERVED wood is to be used under

harsher

WHO WRITES THE RULES FOR THE TREATED WOOD INDUSTRY? ANSWER: WE DO!

BY KIM MERRITT

THE RULES that govern lumber and the rules that govern treated wood are not written the same way, and understanding that difference matters.

Regarding the lumber industry, most professionals understand grading rules are developed through a structured, accredited process overseen by the American Lumber Standard Committee. ALSC accredits regional rules-writing agencies responsible for developing and maintaining grading rules for specific species groups. The Southern Pine Inspection Bureau writes the rules for southern pine, Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau and Western Wood Products Association oversee rules for Douglas fir, Hem-fir and other western species, and Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association and National Lumber Grades Authority maintain rules for Spruce-Pine-Fir and other eastern and Canadian species groups. Those agencies evaluate data, propose revisions, and submit changes for ALSC approval. The system is deliberate and species-specific, designed to protect structural performance, marketplace consistency, and public confidence.

But when it comes to treated wood, the question often arises: Who writes those rules? The answer is broader than you may think. Unlike lumber grading rules, which are written and maintained by individual rules-writing agencies

under ALSC oversight, the technical standards governing preservative-treated wood are developed by the American Wood Protection Association. AWPA serves as the principal standards-writing body for preservative systems, retention requirements, penetration criteria, analytical methods, quality control processes, and the Use Category System that defines treatment levels based on service conditions. These standards apply across species, based on treatability and end use, not on a single lumber grouping.

And here is the key distinction: AWPA standards are not written by one agency. The industry writes them! The AWPA standards development process is consensus-based and balanced. Producers, preservative manufacturers, inspection agencies, researchers, engineers, specifiers and users all participate. Proposals are submitted and assigned to technical committees. Data is reviewed. Field performance is evaluated. Analytical methods are validated. Language is refined. Revisions are balloted and must achieve approval across interest categories before adoption.

This balance is intentional. It ensures that no single segment of the industry dominates the process. Standards must be technically sound, commercially realistic, and enforceable in practice.

That balance only works if stakeholders engage. The sys-

tems governing treated wood operate together but serve distinct purposes. ALSC oversees lumber grading rules and accredits inspection agencies. Individual rules-writing agencies maintain grade rules for their respective species. AWPA develops national standards for preservative treatment. Accredited inspection agencies audit compliance with AWPA standards through plant inspection, retention verification, and quality control oversight. Each organization has a defined role. Each operates within a formal oversight framework. Together, they support structural integrity, durability performance, and marketplace confidence.

Understanding this structure matters. Participation matters even more. Standards aren’t static documents. New preservative technologies are introduced. Analytical capabilities improve. Treatability data evolves. Service conditions shift. Field performance reveals new insights. When knowl edgeable professionals participate in the standards-writing process, those changes are addressed thoughtfully and proactively. When industry participation is limited, decisions can lack a practical perspective. For producers, involvement

ensures standards reflect operational realities. For engineers and specifiers, engagement helps align treatment requirements with performance expectations. For inspection agencies, participation strengthens clarity and enforceability. For users, it ensures the final product meets durability demands in the field.

But the standards themselves depend on involvement. The industry has long benefited from collaboration among manufacturers, inspection agencies, researchers and specifiers. That collaboration has allowed treated wood to remain a trusted, code-recognized, and widely specified material.

So, who writes the rules for treated wood? We do! And the more informed and engaged we are in the process, the stronger and more resilient our industry becomes. Strong standards don’t happen by accident; they happen when industry leaders show up, speak up, and take responsibility for the rules that define our products. BPD

JAPANESE CEDAR JAPANESE CEDAR

– Kim Merritt is director of the treated division of the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau (www.spib.org).

CHECKMARK STILL GOING STRONG

------------

BY TIMM LOCKE

IN 1999, when the American Wood Protection Association transitioned from its Commodity Standards to the Use Category System standards in place today, labeling requirements for preserved wood changed. The new system called for labels on each piece that include the end use for which the product is treated, applicable AWPA standard, type of preservative used, minimum retention level, identification of the treater, and identity of the accredited inspection agency.

At the time, the three national building codes (UBC, BOCA and SBCCI) all had a similar requirement for labeling. Those codes have since been replaced by the International Building Code, the International Residential Code and other ICC model codes, but the requirement remains.

With so much information required, the industry realized the crowded labels could be difficult to read. Something was needed to help purchasers, users and building inspectors see at a glance that any given piece of preserved wood had in fact met the treating standards as confirmed by an accredited inspection agency.

To fill that need, Western Wood Preservers Institute developed the CheckMark Quality Assurance Identification

Program. This established a logo consisting of a graphical checkmark in a black box next to a white box containing the agency’s trademark and/or name. Even on a crowded label, building officials and buyers could spot the mark and be assured the wood met that key code requirement.

The program was an instant hit. All five ALSC-accredited agencies in the West at the time immediately signed on to use the logo. Not long after, ALSC-accredited agencies in the South and in the Northeast also requested permission to use it. What was initially intended to be a western-only program rapidly turned into a national effort. The CheckMark was adopted in the AWPA standards in 2013.

According to Jerry Parks, WWPI’s then-director of marketing, “The reason for its rapid acceptance is there was an urgent need for it. Prior to the CheckMark, code officials often were confused about how to find the required inspection agency mark and retailers often didn’t realize some of the treated wood they carried did not meet code.”

Adoption of the CheckMark logo not only made it easier to quickly identify properly treated preserved wood, it also was more difficult for ne’er-do-wells to pass off their lower quality material as code compliant. Today, nearly all preserved wood products sold in retail locations carry a label with the CheckMark logo to prove it. BPD

PER AWPA STANDARDS, end labels for preserved wood must indicate the exposure condition for which the piece is intended, the AWPA Use Category standard that it meets, the preservative used, the name and location of the treating facility and the trademark of an ALSC-accredited inspection agency. In 2025, AWPA removed a requirement that the label also include the preservative retention level. However, for FRTW, building codes still require the retention level to be shown on the label.

PRESERVED WOOD end tags include a lot of information in a small space. The CheckMark helps inspection agency marks cut through the clutter so anyone can see at a glance that the preserved wood was inspected for quality assurance by a third party ALSC-accredited agency as required by building codes.

CHECKMARK LOGO

IT’S DECK SEASON

------------ BY TIMM LOCKE

AS LUMBER DEALERS

and distributors you don’t need to be reminded that spring has sprung and that means outdoor projects have moved to the top of most Honey-do lists. This year seems to be shaping up to be a busy one (see sidebar on page 24). Read on for some tips on how to help you make the most of it.

The Mindset of Your Customers

How people think about their homes is changing in some significant ways.

Spending data continue to show older homeowners are the biggest home improvement spenders, but most of that spending is on maintenance, such as replacing a roof. Millennials and Gen Z are driving the growth in outdoor space projects, and nearly half of those projects are decks. What drives that?

Nationally, the median price of homes for sale is $462,206, according to Forbes. With the exception of New Mexico, the median home price in every western state far exceeds that. Many first-time homebuyers now need at least $100,000 in savings just for a down payment.

As a result, the average age of first-time homebuyers is steadily rising and now is almost 40. It’s also fueling a sharp shift away from the traditional “starter home to move-up home” path. Nearly three out of every four firsttime buyers now expect to stay in their homes for at least 10 years. A whopping 34% say their first home will be a “forever” home.

Nearly 80% of workers whose jobs can be done outside the office are working remotely some or all of the time. This creates a need for sanctuary spaces where they can go to leave the “office” behind. Outdoor living space often fills that purpose.

Millennials and Gen Z often prioritize flexibility, personalization and sustainability over cost. They are investing in projects that enhance livability, efficiency and quality of life. These younger homeowners no longer see outdoor living as optional; it’s a must-have. Return on Investment, both immediate and in the future remains important.

Selling Points

A well-designed, well-built wood deck delivers on both those time frames. From a long-term ROI standpoint wellbuilt durable decks provide the highest ROI of any major renovation, typically adding enough value to a home to offset about 75% of the cost. Wood decks also deliver significant “quality of life” ROI which homeowners can realize immediately.

No longer viewed as outdoor amenities, modern decks are a way to extend indoor living space outside. To accommodate that transition, they often are attached to the main structure and feature covered spaces to extend usefulness beyond the summer months.

Take time to learn how your customers plan to use their deck so you can be sure they’ve thought through how those uses impact both spatial and structural design. Often it means they’ll need more preserved wood. A hot

THE NEWEST generation of homeowners expect to stay in their first homes much longer than previous generations did. They often value sustainability, durability and quality of life over cost. Modern deck design reflects this with seamless transitions from indoor to outdoor living space, separate areas for broader functionality and an emphasis durability and quality.

tub, of course, requires bulked up structural support. But so might an outdoor fireplace or kitchen components.

Because customers see their decks as long-term investments, they want to be sure they are built for durability. As a lumber retailer you can help them, and likely build a bigger sales ticket, by brainstorming ideas regarding design and added features.

A well-built, durable deck is not the simplest home improvement project, but it can be accomplished by a doit-yourselfer, and often it is. But DIY deck building customers lack expertise (some pros do, too). You can help them avoid mistakes by providing guidance.

The American Wood Council’s Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide is a useful resource for deck do-it-yourselfers, as well as for homeowners planning to hire a pro. It provides all the code requirements for designing and building a deck, based on the 2015 International Residential Code and can be downloaded for free.

Built to Last

The structure or foundation is the most important part of a well-built deck. Regardless of the decking material to be used, nothing beats preserved wood for the structure. It’s strong, durable and easy to work with. And it usually

HOMEOWNER SATISFACTION with their deck is directly tied to long-term functionality and durability, both of which are highly dependent on a wellbuilt deck structure. Regardless of the decking material used, preserved wood remains the overwhelming choice for constructing deck foundations.

represents 65% or more of the wood used.

Preserved wood is the best way to deliver that all important durability customers are after. A deck with a preserved wood structure can be expected to last decades if the proper steps are taken during construction.

The biggest threat to a deck’s durability is water. All wood, including preserved wood, seeks to draw moisture in

Sustainability and Related Issues

Sustainability is a growing and increasingly important consumer trend. In survey after survey, consumers report they are willing to pay more for sustainable products. When it comes to decks and other outdoor projects, they don’t have to. Among the options for building decks, preserved wood is typically the most cost-competitive.

Wood also has a strong sustainability story in its own right. Wood products come from trees, our only truly renewable resource. In North America, at least, all wood products come from responsible sources—sustainably managed forests. The U.S Green Building Council reaffirmed this recently when it amended its LEED rating system to give equal footing to wood products certified by any of the major certification bodies—FSC, SFI and Responsibly Sourced.

Wood products also serve as storage units for carbon sequestered by trees as they grow. The stored carbon remains in the wood until it begins to biodegrade. That boosts the sustainability quotient for preserved wood. The whole point of pressure-treating with preservatives is to keep the wood from decaying for decades longer than it would otherwise, providing plenty of time for new trees to grow.

What about the chemicals?

The preservatives in treated wood sold for residential use do not migrate out of the wood and contaminate rainwater runoff or nearby soils. Two separate studies at Oregon State University have proven this emphatically.

In one, researchers collected rainwater runoff and soil samples from below a newly-built preserved wood deck in Oregon’s Willamette Valley where rainfall averages 47" per year. All the wood used to build the deck had been treated with copper azole (CA-C), the preservative found in nearly all residential-use treated wood.

They tested the samples for copper levels, as copper is the primary active ingredient in CA-C. Samples were collected over multiple years. The first samples collected showed copper levels slightly higher than control samples due to preservative that had dried on the surface of the wood and washed off in the rain. Copper levels in subsequent samples, including those taken during year four of the study, were statistically indistinguishable from the baseline samples.

Another study sought to determine whether preservatives from treated wood used to build planter boxes might migrate from the wood into the soil and ultimately be absorbed by food plants grown in the garden boxes. The researchers took soil samples from multiple locations in the planters and also analyzed the roots and leaves of the plants growing in them.

Soil samples taken from within an inch of the wood after the first growing season showed incrementally higher copper levels than the control samples. Soil samples from other areas in the planters showed no measurable difference. There also was no evidence in any of the plant samples to indicate the plants had somehow absorbed copper that had originated in the wood.

Samples taken after subsequent growing seasons were indistinguishable from the first-year samples, leading the researchers to conclude the initial incrementally higher copper levels in samples adjacent to the wood must have been caused by residual preservative that had dried on the wood’s surface and then washed off.

Customers can be confident the preserved wood they’re buying is both sustainable and safe. There is no cause for concern that the preservatives might migrate from the wood and contaminate the surrounding environment.

Details of both the deck study and the garden box study can be found at preservedwood.org.

during wet conditions. That moisture can lead to decay. The key is to encourage water to drain away.

The joists and beams of elevated decks are considered above ground use with poor water runoff, so technically UC3B preserved wood is allowable. For best results, however, recommend UC4A or higher for all structural elements—posts, beams and joists. The higher preservative retention levels required of UC 4A or UC4B will provide added protection against decay that might be accelerated by standing water or trapped moisture.

Recommend flashing tape be applied to the tops of beams and joists to keep moisture away from the wood. Building the deck with a slight slope can help, but anything more than about a 1% slope will be noticeable and not ideal.

If the deck is to be attached to the main structure, it is critically important for that to be done right. Allowing water to penetrate the main structure wall is a recipe for disaster. Preservative-treated ledger boards connected to the structure and proper flashing are required.

Care should be taken to ensure deck posts are plumb and the horizontal components level. For DIYers, that might require some tool purchases. Do they have an accurate, long level? A good carpenter’s square? The right power tools?

Building it right definitely requires using proper connection hardware

and fasteners. Joist and beam hangers are a must. Fasteners should be hot-dipped galvanized steel, stainless steel, silicon bronze, or copper. Suggest using screws where possible and your customers will thank you when it comes time to replace a deck board or disassemble a section to add a new feature.

Perhaps most importantly, your customer will need topical preservative for field-treating cut ends and holes. The preservatives in pressure-treated wood do not penetrate all the way through the wood. Cutting or drilling holes in pieces exposes untreated wood to the elements. If preservative is not applied in the field

to that exposed wood, it will decay just like untreated wood. Failure to field treat is the most common cause of preserved wood failures.

More information on proper fasteners and field treating is readily available at preservedwood.org. BPD

– Timm Locke is director of marketing for the Western Wood Preservers Institute (www.wwpinstitute.org).

The Numbers

If ChatGPT can be believed, this year’s busy season is shaping up to be busier than the last. Here’s what the bot had to offer:

According to market research firm Freedonia Group, demand for preserved wood nationally is growing at about 1.5% annually and will surpass 15 billion bd. ft. in 2026. Outdoor projects, led by decks, are by far the biggest driver of preserved wood demand, collectively accounting for around 45% of total demand for treated lumber and plywood.

Other outdoor projects, including fences, structures such as gazebos and pergolas, play structures, landscape walls and planter boxes, collectively account for around 25% of overall preserved wood volume.

The West leads the way in market growth due to its growing population and higher demand for fire-retardant-treated wood (FRTW) caused by increased concern about wildfires.

Preserved wood is the overwhelming preferred material for building deck structures, regardless of the decking material chosen. On decks with wood decking, the foundation accounts for 65% or more of the total wood volume. About 25% is the decking surface, built-in benches, etc. The remainder is used for stairs, stringers and railings.

Freedonia Group estimates in 2027 total decking demand will reach 4 billion lineal ft.—2.5 billion in residential, 1.25 billion in non-building (waterfront/amusement) and 250 million lineal ft. in commercial.

Adding a modern deck to a home delivers the highest return on investment of any major home improvement project. On average, adding a deck increases a home’s value by about 75% of the deck’s cost.

FAILURE

field treat the ends of sawn boards is the number 1 cause of preserved wood failures in outdoor projects.

CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY #4

A STORY ABOUT REIMAGINING COMMUNITY

We’ve spent most of our careers in construction, remodeling and local real estate investment, so when we purchased Piscitello’s Home Center in August 2022, some wondered why we were entering hardware retail. While the property itself had value, we saw a greater opportunity: not just to acquire an aging 36,000-square-foot building, but to restore a long-standing community institution and reimagine what a local home-improvement destination could be.

For more than 65 years, Piscitello’s had served the community, but over time the business struggled with outdated systems, reduced hours, limited assortments, and declining traffic.

Though we had no retail experience, we understood how to identify potential and bring projects back to life. With Orgill’s support, we modernized every aspect of the operation—installing a new POS system, redesigning the store layout, improving merchandising, enhancing our digital presence, and completing a full interior renovation while staying open for business.

Our most impactful move was creating a multi-tenant home-improvement community on the property. Today, Piscitello’s operates alongside three new pole buildings and a diverse group of local service businesses. Eleven businesses now share the site, driving cross-referrals and delivering a level of service big-box stores simply can’t match.

Piscitello’s now operates seven days a week, has grown from eight to eighteen employees, and continues to attract both DIYers and contractors. What started as a real estate project became a revitalized community hub—and this is only the beginning.

Dave & Lisa Colver Owners | Piscitello’s Home Center | Easton, Pennsylvania

WOOD IS GOOD— TREATED WOOD IS EVEN BETTER

------------ BY BELINDA REMLEY

WOOD IS GOOD. It’s plentiful, sustainable, easy to work with, and affordable. Wood is the world’s greatest natural resource. It is nature’s sustainable building block—a renewable resource that is used for projects as simple as backyard creations or as complicated as commercial buildings. Wood is responsibly sourced from managed forest lands where it is grown as a crop—much like cotton or soy—from seedling to mature tree. Once harvested, every part of the tree from the bark and branches to the trunk is used. The land is cared for and maintained, and eventually more seedlings are planted to start the growth process again.

Wood has excellent workability in all aspects of construction and has been used in building for centuries. Today wood is as relevant as ever and is still relied upon as

the building material that offers functional beauty. Wood’s design flexibility, strength and natural beauty allow it to be used for a wide range of construction from buildings to backyard projects.

Wood is easy to use, lightweight and adaptable to be modified on the job site. It is readily available from local dealers, can be used year-round and can be maintained and repaired by a do-it-yourselfer.

Treated wood is even better. It’s long-lasting, durable, and affordable.

In order to extend the life of wood used outdoors, it is pressure treated, a process by which wood is infused with preservative. The treatment helps it last longer but also allows wood to maintain its natural beauty.

For decades, researchers have been innovating and

WOOD IS A NATURALLY beautiful, abundantly grown building product that, when protected with preservatives such as copper azole, lasts a long time, enhancing backyard living.

enhancing preservatives developed to treat wood. What have they discovered? Copper. Copper, a relatively scarce element that ranks as the 26th most abundant found in the earth, is far less common than iron or aluminum but far more abundant than precious metals like gold. Copper is one of the oldest metals used by humans, with history going back about 10,000 years.

According to the USGS’s National Mineral Information Center, copper is still widely used today “because of its properties, singularly or in combination, of high ductility, malleability, and thermal and electrical conductivity, and its resistance to corrosion.” After iron and aluminum, copper is the third most commonly used industrial metal in terms of quantities consumed. The center further reports that “Copper by-products from manufacturing and obsolete copper products are readily recycled and contribute significantly to copper supply.” About 40-50% of copper is used in wiring with only 20-25% used for building/construction. Wood protection consumes a very small portion of the global copper used.

After studying copper’s anti-microbial properties, wood scientists discovered that copper in combination with other elements or biocides such as azoles made excellent preservatives for wood. Copper is prominent within many wood protection formulations and is a well-recognized broad-spectrum protectant fungicide and bactericide, including protecting hospitals from bacteria and viruses. Researchers discovered that azoles such as propiconazole and tebuconazole both work in combination with the copper and on their own to protect against decay fungi.

Copper has been used for decades with other wood preservative formulations such as CCA—chromium copper arsenate—designed for industrial uses such as utility poles, marine and agriculture.

Beautiful, sustainable treated wood.

So, what is the takeaway?

• Wood is an excellent building component whether the project is as complex as a multi-story building or as simple as a backyard fence or picnic table.

• Wood is plentiful and grown on managed forestlands with less than 2% of working forestlands harvested each year (according to analysis done by the National Council of Air and Stream Improvement).

• According to data from the USDA, there are 766 million acres of forest land in the U.S. today, about the same as 1907.

• Wood is easily sourced, workable, adaptable and offers exceptional performance.

• Wood, including pressure-treated wood, stores carbon. According to the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks report, wood products store more than double the carbon stored in all national parks.

• Preservatives used to treat wood are made with components that are all around.

o Copper is found in common items such as pennies and wiring and used as a soil amendment.

o Azoles are fungicides that prevent rot and decay and are used on flowers, shrubs and other agricultural applications.

o Water is used to suspend wood preservatives and carry them into the wood in a pressure process.

• Much of the copper used in the wood treating industry is recycled, with some manufacturers such as Arxada using 100% recycled copper.

• Copper is combined with other agents into preservatives, which offer long-term protection against termites and decay.

Choosing wood for a project is good. Choosing treated wood for a project is even better. So, choose the beauty of real wood combined with the peace of mind offered from preservatives that will protect the wood, enhancing its qualities with durability and lasting performance. BPD

– Belinda Remley is a marketing professional with Arxada. She has been promoting wood and the protection of wood for more than 32 years. Learn more at wolmanizedwood.com and review and follow all product safety instructions available at www. arxada.com.

RECYCLED COPPER is a key component used by some preservative manufacturers, such as Arxada.

COPPER HAS BEEN a main ingredient for nearly a century in preservative products because it helps protect wood against its natural enemies— termites and decay.

WOOD TREATERS STAY ON COURSE

CONSOLIDATION

—which has remade the landscape of the wood preserving industry in recent years—came to a screeching halt in 2025, as many treaters found themselves with ample capacity to meet softer demand. Among companies with at least three treating plants in the U.S.:

Stella-Jones sales were essentially flat last year, inching up less than 1% to $3.492 billion. Wood utility pole sales were up nearly 8%, while railway ties fell 10% due to a Class 1 railroad moving to treating more of its own ties. For residential lumber, although demand was softer, sales were relatively unchanged compared to 2024 due to higher prices. Last year, the company suffered a fire at its plant in Brierfield, Al., in July and acquired Brooks Manufacturing, Bellingham, Wa., in November. Stella-Jones operates 44 treating facilities (29 of them in the U.S.) and 12 pole-peeling plants. Treatments are CCA, creosote, CuNap, borates, MCA, CA and ACQ.

Great Southern Wood Preserving, Abbeville, Al., is among the nation’s highest volume treaters from its 16 facilities throughout the South, Midwest and Eastern Seaboard. Late last year, Mark Callender took over as president and CEO. Founder Jimmy Rane remains chairman. Its YellaWood brand family of products includes YellaWood Select and SuperSelect KDAT products, YellaWood Columns, MasterDeck decking, and Rainwood with water repellent, plus fencing, railing, specialty products, fasteners, joist tape, stains and sealants. Treatments are MCA, borates, FRTW, CCA and CA-C.

Koppers Utility & Industrial Products, a division of Koppers Holdings, operates 16 industrial plants, mostly in the Southeast—nine specializing in crossties, seven in utility poles. It recently announced plans to idle production at its utility & industrial products facility in Vance, Al., and its railroad products/services facility in Florence, S.C. Treatments: CCA, penta, CuNap and creosote.

Doman Building Materials, Vancouver, B.C., operates 37 treating plants in North America. Treatments include MicroPro XPS, Advance Guard borates, FlamePro FRTW, LOSP (Light Organic Solvent Preservative), Preserve CA, ACQ, and Wolmanized Outdoor Wood (Doman Tucker).

UFP Industries late last year launched its Ground Contact-treated ProWood TrueFrame Joist, initially in Colorado and expanding eastward this spring. UFP has 220 affiliated operations in nine countries, including 22 treating plants from Colorado to the East Coast, Midwest and Texas. Treatments include ProWood brand MCA, CAC, borates and ProWoodFR FRTW. UFP also owns Sunbelt Forest Products, Bartow, Fl., which operates 11 plants in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, utilizing Ecolife, TimberSaver borates, Preserve CA, Preserve Plus CA with water repellent, Wolman E MCA with BARamine technology. UFP estimates it produces approximately 28% of all residential treated wood, 17% of all wood fencing, and 7% of all FRTW products in the U.S. ProWood sales fell 6% to $2.03 billion last year, which UFP attributes to higher interest rates and less remodeling.

Culpeper Wood Preservers, Culpeper, Va., after several years of aggressive expansion, settled in at its 22 facilities from the Southeast to the Northeast through the Midwest. Treatments include MicroPro MCA, Advance Guard borates, CCA, FlamePro interior FRTW, and CA-C.

Hoover Treated Wood Products, Thomson, Ga., produces fire retardant wood treatments and operates 10 of its own treating plants, from coast to coast, offering Pyro-Guard interior FRTW, Exterior Fire-X exterior FRTW, CCA, permethrin/IPBC-based Clear-Guard, Cop-Guard CuNap, Micro-Guard MCA, and Dura-Guard ACQ.

Allweather Wood is the largest waterborne preservative-treated lumber manufacturer and distributor in the western U.S., with six treating plants in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Utah. Treatments include borates, CA-C, CCA, MCA and interior FRTW.

Bestway, Cortland, N.Y., has four treating plants (in New York, Pennsylvania and North Carolina) that offer Wolmanized Outdoor Wood, Wolmanized Heavy Duty CCA, and D-Blaze interior FRTW.

Biewer Lumber’s three treating plants (Lansing, Mi.; Seneca, Il.; and Prentice, Wi.) have a combined annual capacity of 350 million bd. ft. of CA-C, MCA and FlamePro FRTW.

Conrad Forest Products treats in North Bend and Rainier, Or., and Arbuckle, Ca., using Wolmanized Heavy Duty CCA, Chemonite ACZA, Wolmanized Outdoor Wood CA-C, Sillbor/FrameGuard borates, interior and exterior FRTW, and QNAP. BPD

ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

------------ BY JAMES OLSEN

JUST AS THE discoveries a scientist makes while working for a research company belong to the company, the accounts that are brought in and sold by your sales team are the company’s assets.

This is a sensitive subject. Salespeople feel that accounts they bring in or even accounts that are given to them to work are their accounts. We want salespeople to feel this way. We want them to have a personal stake in the success of the relationship with the customer. But we must be clear that there are no “life-time assignments.” Accounts must be worked and developed or reassigned.

Complacency of ownership will lead to a stagnation of your team’s sales increases and calcification of their sales skills. No one on your team, even and sometimes especially, the most experienced, will know how to find, much less, grow new business.

When we create a culture of account rotation, sales activity will intensify. Salespeople will know that they can’t “desk-drawer” potentially great accounts for their individual rainy day. New sellers will feel they have a chance to grow. Hoarding accounts is real and demotivating to your new sellers and experienced sellers alike— even those currently abusing the system.

Key Account Management

The sales manager should have a personal relationship with the “Pareto’s Peak” of your total account base. Eighty percent of your company’s sales are coming from 20% of the total accounts worked.

If the salesperson is the only one paying attention to the account then the loyalty will be only to the salesperson. The sales manager’s ongoing relationship with these key accounts will help the seller; customers like attention from all levels of our company—it makes them feel important—and will create loyalty to your company as well as the salesperson.

Master Sellers Beware

If you are a Master Seller, you are running out of time. When we get past the journeyman phase of our careers, we are now in the leverage business; we have sold ourselves out of time. So we must spend it (leverage it) with better accounts. Too many Master Sellers see their business plateau and decline not because they aren’t great sellers, but because they are working an account base that isn’t growing or has faded from being hugely profitable to marginally so. These sellers wake up one day too late and have a lot of ground to make up.

Sales at First Sight

How long should we work an account before we reassign? Master Sellers work accounts for much less time than their struggling counterparts. Master Sellers know they are good—they are already selling others successfully. They take rejection less personally and move on more quickly.

We should do the same as companies and make account rotation a part of a sales growth culture. I have asked thousands of salespeople, “How long did it take you to begin to do some business with your best accounts?” About 99% say less than six months.

We invert the math. If an account isn’t doing solid business with us in six months, they never will. We cannot delude ourselves otherwise. There are exceptions, but we cannot build a business on exceptions. Play ’em or trade ’em. Letting your sales team (letting is the same as making it “company policy”) work accounts unprofitably for more than six months is costing you and your team money.

One hundred percent of the lumber salespeople in North America—be it mill, distribution or office wholesale sellers—make 80% of their sales to five accounts or less. Ninety percent of their business comes from fewer than 10 accounts! The crazy thing is if you ask a salesperson how many accounts they are working, they will tell you 30 to 50.

Think of this terrible loss of potential. Each of your salespeople is profitably selling fewer than 10 accounts. How much growth are you leaving in the field un-worked and untapped? How can this be? There is a big difference between having an account “on your screen” or “in your account box” and being profitable.

Creating an environment where everyone on the team knows that accounts will be sold, grown or rotated—there will be no hoarding of accounts—is the number one thing managers can do to create a culture of growth, period. BPD

JAMES OLSEN

INNOVATION REQUIRES ACTION

ANYTHING ELSE IS NOISE

Hype RESULTS

Mandates MENUS

Salespeople GROWTH PARTNERS

Someday TODAY

FORGIVENESS AS A LEADERSHIP SUPERPOWER

BY CLAUDIA ST. JOHN

FOR THE PAST 10 years, I have been obsessed with the concept of forgiveness. (Odd, I know.) I didn’t discover it in a church pew or on a therapist’s couch, but through a deeply painful rupture with a family member that forced me to reckon with what it really means to let go.

As I did the hard, messy work of forgiving and began to feel the freedom and healing it created in my own life, I started to notice forgiveness quietly (and sometimes loudly) showing up in the workplace too—especially when leaders chose grace instead of shaming after a mistake, when teams repaired trust after conflict, and when people released grudges so they could move forward. Seeing how powerful those moments were for their workplace culture, performance, and wellbeing made me a workplace forgiveness evangelist and is why I’m writing this article.

What forgiveness is (and isn’t)

One of the most unhelpful myths is “forgive and forget.” Forgetting isn’t required, and it isn’t even wise. If you erase the lesson, you’re more likely to experience or allow the harm again. And forgiveness isn’t about letting bad behavior slide. Quite the opposite. Instead, forgiveness is the intentional choice to release resentment, anger, and the desire for revenge, and to reframe what happened so it no longer controls you. It’s about letting go of the hurt and the negative emotions that accompany it.

Forgiveness isn’t about:

• Condoning the behavior—it’s not okay to be harmed.

• Restoring trust or even reconciling the relationship— from experience I know we can forgive and say goodbye.

• Sacrificing justice or accountability—I truly believe people should be accountable for their actions and their intentions.

• Waiting for an apology, signs of remorse, or “earning” forgiveness—I never got an apology, but I didn’t need it. My forgiveness was powerful without the mea culpa.

Most importantly, forgiveness isn’t for the benefit of the person who caused harm (in fact, they may not even know you’ve forgiven them because it’s not about them). It isn’t about letting someone off the hook—it’s about refusing

to carry the hook around in your own body and mind. It’s about you. And trust me on this one, it’s not weakness; it is a deliberate act of strength and self-leadership.

Why forgiveness belongs at work

Many leaders struggle to connect forgiveness with performance, accountability or results. They worry that forgiving someone means looking weak, lowering the bar, or inviting repeat behavior. Some even think that forgiveness has no place in the workplace. But forgiveness shows up constantly, we just don’t call it that. We call it “moving on,” “giving grace,” “assuming positive intent,” or “letting it go”—and whether we acknowledge it or not, those are acts of forgiveness.

Reminding a subordinate that “mistakes happen” when a critical error occurs is an act of forgiveness. Addressing a conflict directly in an effort to unpack and move on from a challenging situation is an act of forgiveness. Encouraging a team to move on without anger or the need for revenge after terminating a disruptive employee is an act of forgiveness. It happens every day in the workplace—we just don’t call it forgiveness.

What happens when leaders don’t forgive

When we don’t forgive, we hold onto negative emotions—anger, resentment, and frustration—and over time those emotions take an emotional and physical toll on us. They get piled into our emotional backpacks that cloud our thinking, put stress on our bodies, and affect those around us. In a workplace where people believe mistakes won’t be forgiven, they get defensive, hide errors, and play it safe. You see behaviors like:

• Withholding information to avoid blame.

• Broadcasting others’ mistakes to protect themselves.

• Reluctance to take risks or suggest bold ideas.

• Gossip, scorekeeping and quiet disengagement.

And underlying that environment is fear. By contrast, when leaders consistently practice forgiveness, people feel safer admitting errors, asking for help, and trying new things. That kind of culture doesn’t erode standards; it strengthens learning, loyalty, creativity, and resilience.

The leadership skills that make it possible

I don’t see forgiveness as an optional leadership skill. I see forgiveness as braided together with empathy, compassion, active listening, emotional intelligence, and vulnerability—leadership traits that build teams rather than eroding them.

These practices are the muscles that make forgiveness possible in a grounded, healthy way. And if the actions that cause harm reoccur, leaders may decide to discipline or even terminate the person causing harm. Forgiveness isn’t about condoning or accepting bad behavior—it’s about letting go of the negative emotions that burden us as a result of that behavior.

How leaders build forgiveness

If we want forgiveness to become a core leadership competency—not a vague aspiration—we have to practice it intentionally and model it consistently. A simple, leaderfriendly framework looks like this:

1. Tell the story. Describe what happened in clear, non-accusatory terms. Acknowledge your emotions and the impact. This could be harm you experienced or harm you caused.

2. Name the hurt. Give the emotion a name—anger, disappointment, embarrassment, fear—so you can understand what’s really at stake for you and for others.

3. Grant forgiveness. Consciously choose to release your ongoing claim to resentment or revenge. This doesn’t mean there are no consequences; it means you’re not going to let bitterness set the agenda.

4. Renew or release the relationship. Decide how, or whether, you want to move forward together. You might fully renew the relationship with clearer expectations, or you might limit or end the relationship altogether—but you’re doing so from clarity, not from spite.

Q. We have weekly team meetings that are mandatory for all employees, including remote employees, to attend. This allows us to relay important information while also increasing face-to-face connectivity between coworkers. Recently, some remote workers started turning off their video feeds, which negates this benefit. Another employee showed up in pajamas, which was completely unprofessional. Can we require employees to have their video on and be dressed properly even when they are not in the office?

A. Some expectations for remote employees naturally differ from those for in-office employees. However, you can require remote employees to follow company policies as well.

Draft a policy outlining the requirements and expectations for remote workers and then hold employees accountable to it. The policy should include critical aspects such as availability, connectivity and information security requirements.

It should also include your expectations for conducting business meetings remotely with coworkers, clients, prospects, or vendors. If you require them to keep their cameras on for all meetings, provide procedures for situations when they cannot join via video (i.e., being unpresentable due to illness). Also, set on-screen appearance expectations to mirror those of your in-person meetings while possibly also allowing them to be more relaxed off-screen.

To support this in daily leadership, I encourage:

• Building “repair” into norms: debrief mistakes without humiliation; focus on learning, process fixes, and putting future guardrails into place.

• Separating forgiveness from trust: forgive to release resentment, then rebuild (or decline to rebuild) trust based on behavior and boundaries.

• Practicing emotionally intelligent language: “Here’s what happened, here’s how it impacted me and the team, and here’s what we need going forward.”

Forgiveness doesn’t erase harm when it happens; it’s about what happens next, and in leadership, what happens next is the difference between a workplace that fractures under pressure and one that grows stronger because people know how to repair.

For me, forgiveness allowed me to lighten my emotional backpack and, in a very real way, has transformed my own life and guided my leadership, helping me navigate difficult situations and people with more clarity, compassion and courage than I ever thought possible. And I know it can do the same for you and your teams… if you let it. BPD

CLAUDIA ST. JOHN

Claudia St. John, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is founder and CEO of The Workplace Advisors. Reach her at (877) 660-6400 or claudia@theworkplaceadvisors.com.

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5 THINGS RETAILERS CAN LEARN FROM A PACKED IBS BOOTH

BY JEFF EASTERLING

THE 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show drew 75,000+ building professional attendees to the show in Orlando. There were 27,000+ organizations represented and well over 1,600 exhibitors on the show floor. The Orange County Convention Center was bursting at the seams with new products, new services, innovation, and positive talk about the building season to come.

Among those exhibitors, the Think Wood booth, sponsored by the Softwood Lumber Board, provided a show floor home to multiple wood associations, including the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NELMA). Each association arrived at the show loaded with knowledge and information to pass along to builder, contractor, and retailer attendees in the form of brochures, videos, case studies, and more.

For the 2026 booth exhibit, we tried something different and hired a carpenter to build projects in the booth throughout the show using various wood species represented by the associations in the booth. Instead of just talking about wood, we built something with it.

The booth became a magnet, and it worked like a charm. The carpenter had a crowd surrounding him, rapt with attention, all day every day. We especially enjoyed watching and listening to the groups of young builders soaking everything in and asking question after question.

How to translate this experience into quick lessons for retailers? What we witnessed is exactly how good lumberyards sell every day: show, teach, solve problems. It’s the next logical step beyond just talking about a product. Here are a few other takeaway lessons from our experience: Demonstration beats description. Retailers know that customers understand materials better when they see them in use. A live action project turns a passive product into an active solution. On the retailer side, this can be translated into hosting in-yard demos for siding installations, framing, and more. Maximize the opportunity by talking about real tools used, fasteners, joiners, and more—take it beyond the standard product sample. People remember what they see more than what they hear

Education drives traffic. Our IBS 2026 booth was busy all the time because attendees were learning something, not simply collecting brochures and fun booth toys (although there’s always room for a good free giftee!). Builders and contractors—especially those in the younger generations—are hungry for practical knowledge. They want to know how their father and grandfather did it, because it worked. In-store, this could equal short workshops, contractor lunch-n-learns with a quick demo, and howto sessions with hands-on product time. When dealers translate their knowledge into education, it’s an opportunity to become the supplier of choice to a customer.

Projects create conversation. “Is that a bench?” “That is the most gorgeous newel post I’ve ever seen!” A project in the works is a welcome mat for conversation. The questions might start with the wood species, the fastener, or the tools. But it always comes back to the wood. For your store, consider displaying partially completed projects and be sure someone is around to answer questions.

Expertise attracts attention. Our carpenter was a show floor star, because he knew what he was doing, he talked to everyone who approached him (we had a lavalier mic on his collar to better facilitate conversations on the noisy floor), and his credibility was crystal clear. Authenticity wins, every single time. On the retail side, consider inviting local builders to demo their favorite building techniques in-store. Customers trust people who build things, not just the people who sell things.

Experience = energy. Think about the last trade show you walked. If a booth was filled with people standing around waiting to talk to you, did you approach? But if a booth is surrounded by people watching an expert building a stunning eastern white pine end table, you’d probably stop. Movement and activity feed curiosity. Activity creates energy, which leads to a simple booth becoming a trade show floor destination. Just the way a live sawing, fastening or framing demo can translate into a supersuccessful series of contractor days at your store. BPD – Jeff Easterling is president of the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (www.nelma.org).

NELMA EXHIBIT carpenter and his assistant worked hard and always had a crowd asking questions.

Celebrating Celebrating

THREE GENERATIONS STRONG: SWANSON GROUP CELEBRATES 75 YEARS

SWANSON GROUP HAS BEEN FAMILY-OWNED SINCE 1951, WHEN STEVE SWANSON’S FATHER AND UNCLE OPENED THEIR FIRST MILL IN GLENDALE, OREGON TO MEET POST-WAR LUMBER DEMAND. THE COMPANY GREW QUICKLY, SUPPORTED BY ITS PROXIMITY TO THE CALIFORNIA MARKET, AND EXPANDED THROUGH THE NEXT GENERATION IN THE 1970S. TODAY, CHRIS SWANSON SERVES AS PRESIDENT, CONTINUING THE FAMILY LEGACY. BASED IN DOUGLAS COUNTY—ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST PRODUCTIVE TIMBER REGIONS— SWANSON GROUP REMAINS COMMITTED TO SECURING RELIABLE LOG SUPPLY AND PRODUCING HIGH-QUALITY LUMBER AND PLYWOOD. ITS DIVERSIFIED PRODUCT RANGE HAS SUPPORTED GROWTH INTO NEW MARKETS AND INDUSTRIES, EARNING A STRONG REPUTATION NATIONWIDE AND ABROAD.

NEW VENTURE: PELLET PRODUCTION IN FALL 2025, SWANSON GROUP LAUNCHED DEAN RESOURCES, A WOOD FUEL PELLET MILL IN OAKLAND, OREGON, TO ADDRESS RESIDUAL UTILIZATION AFTER A NEARBY PARTICLEBOARD PLANT CLOSURE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHPORT LUMBER, SWANSON ALSO FORMED OREGON PELLET MILLS, A NEW EXPORT FACILITY AT THE PORT OF COOS BAY. THE INITIATIVE ADDRESSES RESIDUAL CHALLENGES AND POSITIONS THE COMPANY FOR GROWTH IN ASIAN MARKETS AND FUTURE FUEL-REDUCTION POLICIES. LOOKING AHEAD, CEO AND CHAIRMAN STEVE SWANSON SAYS THE COMPANY IS “IN GREAT SHAPE COMPANY-WIDE” AND CREDITS THE FOUNDERS’ LONG-TERM VISION. “MY FATHER AND HIS BROTHER WANTED THIS COMPANY TO LAST FOR AS MANY GENERATIONS AS POSSIBLE—AND THAT TAKES BEING PROACTIVE.”

PALMER-DONAVIN UNVEILS INDIANA

DISTRIBUTION CENTER

Palmer-Donavin has opened its new distribution center in Bluffton, In., which replaces an smaller location in Delphos, Oh., and significantly expands operational capabilities. The Bluffton DC spans 200,000 sq. ft. with 35-ft. ceilings, allowing the company to maximize vertical storage and improve material flow and efficiency. The location also features a four-acre outdoor storage yard—its largest in the company, supporting continued growth of the company’s engineered wood products offering.

“This new facility represents a major investment in the future of our Midwest operations,” said Matt Butzier, COO of Palmer-Donavin. “The additional space, improved layout, and expanded outdoor yard allow us to operate more efficiently while continuing to support the growth of key product categories like engineered wood products.”

The transition from Delphos to Bluffton was a multi-week effort involving teams across operations, logistics and transportation. Hundreds of truckloads of material were relocated, while maintaining daily operations throughout.

In addition to expanded storage and distribution capabilities, the Bluffton facility was designed to support future growth and operational enhancements, including the potential addition of material handling systems similar to those used in other Palmer-Donavin locations.

SHERWOOD READYING DANVILLE DC

Sherwood Lumber will begin operations April 6 at a new distribution center in Danville, Pa., a strategic expansion designed to significantly increase inventory availability and delivery frequency across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and western New York.

The Danville facility expands Sherwood’s logistics footprint and is positioned to deliver more service days into the market while holding increased on-the-ground inventory of materials. By reducing transit times and improving local stock levels, it will help contractors, dealers and builders complete projects faster with greater reliability. Products will include LP SmartSide

engineered wood siding and trim.

“This is about more than a new warehouse—it's about delivering certainty to our customers' schedules and giving them the confidence to plan and execute projects without avoidable delays,” said Todd London, senior vice president of sales. “As the building industry faces fluctuating demand and supply-chain pressures, our role is to provide steady, predictable service. The Danville center enhances our ability to do that immediately and positions us to expand further as needs change.”

SOUTHERN PARALLEL IDLING SYP MILL

Southern Parallel Forest Products Corp. plans to permanently shutter its southern yellow pine sawmill in Albertville, Al., effective April 8.

The mill produces SYP lumber for housing and treating markets, with an annual capacity of more than 100 million bd. ft. The closure will impact about 62 employees.

SRS ACQUIRES PAIR OF DISTRIBUTORS

SRS Distribution Inc., a subsidiary of Home Depot, acquired two large regional wholesalers— Sider Lumber & Supply Co., Nesconset, N.Y., and LS Building Products, East Peoria, Il.

Founded in 1948, Sider Lumber was owned and operated by Frank and Joe Sider. Frank planned to retire upon the close of sale, with Joe continuing to lead the business going forward, ensuring continuity and consistency for customers, suppliers, and employees.

SRS president Kent Gardner said, “The Sider family has established an incredibly strong reputation over the last 75 years serving the lumber industry in and around Long Island. Together, we look forward to building upon the company’s legacy for excellent service while adding additional resources, tools and product lines to better serve their loyal customers.”

LS, established in 1950, was owned and operated by Troy Reed, Matt Jaeger, and Dan Schumacher. The company has four distribution locations and three production facilities throughout Central Illinois and employs a team of more than 220. The former owners will continue to lead the business.

DEALER BRIEFS

Sticks & Stuff has grown to seven locations with the purchase of 63-year-old Wheeler Building Materials, Lyndonville, Vt., from the Wheeler family.

McCoy’s Building Supply this month is opening a new yard on 3.5 acres in New Caney, Tx., headed by store manager Matt Daughrity.

Turnkey Lumber, Fitzwilliam, N.H., had a section of its roof collapse March 9 due to heavy snowfall.

Menards has temporarily shuttered its Three Rivers, Mi., location after a March 6 tornado inflicted millions of dollars in damage to the structure.

Fitch Lumber & Hardware, Carrboro, N.C., is opening a new building product showroom later this spring in North Raleigh, N.C.

Seiffert Lumber Co. has added a window and door design center in Davenport, Ia.

Decks & Docks Co. has expanded into the Upper Midwest with its acquisition of Pro Deck Supply, Minneapolis, Mn., from Pat Noonan, who founded the business in 2014.

Hiller’s True Value Hardware, Marshfield, Wi., is transitioning to Ace Hardware affiliation after 63 years.

Mankato Ace Hardware opened March 11 in Mankato, Mn. (Tad Cornellius, general mgr.).

Clinton Hardware, Clinton, Md., has been placed up for sale to permit the retirement of David Billman, whose family has owned the 80-year-old business since 1963.

Harpeth True Value, Franklin, Tn., permanently closed on April 1 after 50+ years.

Ace Hardware franchisee Tim Bracey added a 12,000-sq. ft. branch in Walnutport, Pa. He has had a store in Brodheadsville, Pa., since 2013.

ABC Supply is rebranding its L&W Supply locations as ABC Supply Interiors, and its Town & Country branches as ABC Supply Outdoor Solutions.

Fabrizio Lumber, Middleton, Ma., has become the first official stocking dealer of IG Railing frameless glass railing systems.

Cassity Jones Building Materials recognized its Longview, Tx., yard as 2025 Store of the Year.

Re Reddwwood i ood is o

It thrives in some of the most productive timberlands in the world. Redwood is known for its timeless durability without the use of chemicals. Due to its flawless formation, there has never been a Redwood recall. There is a grade of Redwood for every application, every budget, and every customer.

“Growing beyond measure.”

Call or visit us today. Our family of Redwood timberland owners will continue to be your reputable and reliable source of Redwood.

SBSI ACQUIRES ALPHA LUMBER OF ALABAMA

Southeast Building Supply Interests has expanded into Montgomery, Al., with the acquisition of Alpha Lumber & Supply. This marks SBSI’s 11th and its second location in Alabama, complementing Buettner Brothers Lumber Co., Cullman, Al.

Founded in 1945, Alpha Lumber has been a trusted supplier to the Montgomery building community for more than 80 years. Longtime owner Ken Williams will continue to lead Alpha’s operations, partnering closely with SBSI president Tom Tolleson and the SBSI leadership team to support continued growth and exceptional customer service.

Tolleson said, “Our goal is simple: provide the systems, resources, and operational infrastructure that make it easier for great operators like Ken to focus on what they do best, serving customers, supporting employees, and growing their business.”

Williams added, “Partnering with SBSI creates meaningful opportunities for our customers and our employees. Their team brings the scale, resources and operational support we need to continue enhancing the customer experience and investing in our future, while allowing us to maintain the entrepreneurial spirit and community focus that define Alpha.”

MACDONALD & OWEN HARDWOOD ACQUIRED

Spell Capital Partners, Edina, Mn., acquired hardwood manufacturer MacDonald & Owen, West Salem, Wi., in partnership with the management team.

Founded more than 50 years ago, MacDonald & Owen produces around 40 million bd. ft. annually of hardwood lumber from four different locations. With two facilities in Wisconsin, and one in Pennsylvania, M&O is able to serve their customers with over 18 species of American hardwoods to over 30 countries.

Services include custom length/width/color sorts, gang ripping, S4S, mixed truckload shipments. It also has a full-service wood components facility offering drawer sides, face frame profiles, glued panels, cabinet parts, chopped to length parts, other millwork services, and UV finishing. It is FSC certified.

MINNESOTA ACE CHAIN ADDS STORE #4

Ace Hardware operators Joe and Kathryn Donahue opened their newest store last month in Mankato, Mn.

The new store opened early last month, with a grand opening set for early days of May. The hardware store will occupy the front 10,000 sq. ft. of a 19,000-sq. ft. building that debuted as a Woolworth’s in 1968 and last housed a Joann Fabrics, until it closed early last year.

The Donahues had also been considering the former Arrow Ace Hardware in St. Peter, Mn., which closed about a year ago, but decided on Mankato due to its larger population. They are leaving the door open for possible expansion into St. Peter, but for now hope the Mankato store will be able to draw customers from St. Peter.

They purchased their first location in Faribault, Mn., in 2002, bought the former Arrow Hardware in Owatonna, Mn., in 2023, and acquired the shuttered Northfield Ace in Northfield, Mn., in 2024.

------------| SUPPLIER BRIEFS

Cornerstone Truss & Components, Uxbridge, Ma., has begun operations under general mgr./sales director Junior De Lima.

Metrie acquired Owens Corning’s door distribution businesses, including BWI Distribution’s warehouses in Leominster, Ma.; Mechanicsburg, Pa.; and Branchburg, N.J.; Louisiana Millwork’s operation in Lake Charles, La.; and Florida Made Door’s facility in Yulee, Fl.

Basin Material Handling, Sturgis, Mi., acquired 50-year-old Delaware Valley Box & Lumber, with manufacturing facilities in Trenton and Glendora, N.J.

Trimlite has acquired Harris Door & Millwork, Pendergrass, Ga. Scotty Harris Jr. will continue as VP/ general manager and Devon Miller as VP of product management.

Fastenal Co. has started construction of a new Southeast U.S. regional operations and logistics center in Carrollton, Ga. Slated to open next spring, it will be dramatically larger than its current 252,000-sq. ft. regional DC in Atlanta, Ga., with room to grow to 900,000 sq. ft.

Stanley Black & Decker is closing its single-sided tape measure manufacturing facility in New Britain, Ct.— its last factory in its hometown since 1843.

Moraska Saw Inc., Powers, Mi., has been acquired by Burton Mill Solutions.

ECI Software Solutions has acquired Drypowder, a financial technology company focused on modernizing accounts receivable, billing and digital payments.

Palmer-Donavin has expanded its distribution of Tando Composites products across the Southeast. Over the last 12 months, the distributor has added Beach House Shake and TandoStone to its branches in Knoxville, Tn.; Duncan and Darlington, S.C.; Raleigh, N.C.; and Richmond, Va.

Wausau Supply is adding Westlake Royal Building Products’ TruExterior poly-ash siding and trim at its branches in Gardner, Mo.; Rapid City, S.D.; and Stuart, Ia.

Manufacturers Reserve Supply, Irvington, N.J., is now distributing RISE siding and trim by CertainTeed in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

Materials Sales Midwest is repping IG Railing glass railing in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

UFP Industries introduced its new ProWood TrueFrame Joist to Midwest and Great Lakes markets last month and will begin distribution into the Northeast and South Atlantic early this month.

Trex is rolling out its new ignition-resistant Refuge Decking into the Northeast.

QXO has become the first distributor member of the Polymeric Exterior Products Association (formerly the Vinyl Siding Institute).

National Wooden Pallet & Container Association is changing its name to Woodpack Global to better represent its members and align with the board’s strategic goals.

------------| MOVERS & SHAKERS

Brian Kerkhoff, ex-KA Components, is now Indiana-based strategic product mgr.-engineered wood products with Weyerhaeuser Co.

Joseph Johnston, ex-US LBM, has joined Bliffert Lumber & Design, Oak Creek, Wi., as director of procurement.

Hannah Mullaney has been named director of marketing & business development for Mountain Ridge Building Supply, Sylva, N.C.

Benjamin Morgan was promoted to forest products trader at Do it Best Corp., Fort Wayne, In.

Adam D. Zambanini will become the next president, CEO and board member of Trex Co., Winchester, Va., effective April 28. His predecessor, Bryan H. Fairbanks, is retiring after nearly 23 years with Trex; he’ll serve as an outside consultant. Lee Coker has joined the company as VP, corporate development & investor relations.

Ken Crittenden, ex-Carter Lumber, has moved to BlueLinx, Grand Rapids, Mi., as EWP product mgr.

Laura Mikolich, ex-LP, has joined Roseburg Forest Products, as Atlanta-based national account mgr.-Home Depot.

James Hicks, ex-Trex, is now a senior account mgr. with Snavely Forest Products, Westminster, Md.

Ryan Daniels has assumed leadership of Rayonier’s Wood Products business on an interim basis, as the company seeks a permanent successor to Ashlee Cribb, who resigned as executive VP to become CEO of an unnamed

Jeff Land, ex-Northern Tool & Equipment, was appointed chief executive officer of House-Hasson Hardware Co., Knoxville, Tn.

Justin Duranceau joined Granite Valley Forest Products, as production mgr. for AAA Hardwood, Weyauwega, Wi.

Colin Sanders is a new inside sales coordinator with Carter Lumber, North Charleston, S.C.

Erin Myers has joined Great Lakes Ace Hardware, Farmington Hills, Mi., as business development mgr. for Central Illinois.

Glenn Stewart, ex-Guthrie’s Ace Hardware, has been appointed general mgr. of B&C Ace Hardware, Brentwood, Tn.

Owen Freeman has joined Benjamin Obdyke, Horsham, Pa., as sales associate, serving Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Marisol Rodriguez, ex-REW Materials, is new to outside sales with L&W Supply, Dallas-Fort Worth, Tx.

Cheryl Keene has been promoted to controller for McCoy’s Building Supply, San Marcos, Tx.

David Schwartz is new to LP Building Solutions, Nashville, Tn., as director of marketing performance & digital operations.

Josh Winkel, ex-Trex, is now in outside sales with U.S. Lumber, based in Seymour, Ct.

Andy Beckerman has been promoted to VP of vendor relations for Gulfeagle Supply, Jacksonville, Fl. He succeeds , who has left the company.

Enhanced Penetration of Solid Lumber, Timbers & Railroad Ties

Solubilized Metallic Wood Treatment for Above/In-Ground Use Classification

Efficient Low-Water Pressure Treatment for Engineered Wood, Glulam, & Cross-Laminated Timber

Tucker Binkley has joined the outside sales team at Boise Cascade, Memphis, Tn.

Mike Lamb has been promoted to commercial mgr.-West for Lezzer Lumber, Curwensville, Pa.

Marc Johnson has joined Witmer Wood Products, Berlin, Wi., as VP of sales & marketing.

Ron Gunther has retired after 39 years in the industry, the last 36 as an account mgr. with Snavely Forest Products, Westminster, Md.

Taylor Campbell, Tando Composites, has been promoted to territory mgr. covering southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.

Marcello Maiuri, ex-MAC Metal Architectural, has joined the outside sales team at Brazilian Lumber, North Brunswick, N.J.

Glen Spencer has been promoted to residential housing division president at Style Crest, Fremont, Oh.

Rick Wheeler, ex-Mission Lumber Sales, is new to sales at Meherrin River Forest Products, Alberta, Va.

Laura Page is now director of Green Tree Risk Partners, Philadelphia, Pa., a member company of PLM. She succeeds Angelo Ganguzza, who after 40 years is retiring from his full-time agency leadership role and transitioning into a strategic position within brokerage operations.

Scott Enter, Wright Lumber & Millwork, Buffalo, Mn., was appointed to a second term as chairman of BLD Connection. New officers include: 1st vice chair Brett Hanson, TriState Building Center, Sisseton, S.D.; 2nd vice chair Mark Russell, Millard Lumber, Waverly, Ne.; North Dakota director Troy Bosch, Bosch Lumber, Dickinson, N.D.; South Dakota director Jason Meester, Cashway Lumber, Watertown, S.D.; and Wisconsin director Jake Buswell, All-American Do it Center, Tomah, Wi. For BLD Connection Iowa, chairman is Craig Brotherton, Wall Lake Lumber, Wall Lake; vice chair Jason Lorenzen, Consumers Lumber, Spirit Lake; and Southeast director Mark Hulseberg, Williamsburg Lumber, Williamsburg. For BLD Connection Mid-America, chair is Paige Becker, Becker Millwork & Hardware, Freeburg, Mo.; vice chair Jake Lentfer, Mead Lumber, Omaha, Ne.; Kansas director Kelly Glasscock, Kansas

Lumber Home Stores, Manhattan, Ks.; and associate director Thomas Graves, Frontier Forest Products, Kansas City, Mo. For BLD Connection Nebraska, chair is Jeff Dittmer, Crete Lumber & Farm Supply, Crete; vice chair Kyle Williamson, Fremont Builders Supply, Fremont; and Northeast director Eric Koehlmoos, Century Lumber, Norfolk. For BLD Connection Wisconsin, district director is Shane Schwingle, Pukall Lumber, Arbor Vitae, and associate director Bill Hesselgrave, Manion’s Wholesale Building Supplies, Superior.

Shanda Gentry, plant mgr. at LP Building Solutions, Roaring River, N.C., was honored by The Manufacturing Institute with a 2026 STEP Ahead Award, which recognizes outstanding women in manufacturing who are driving impact from the shop floor to the C-suite. Ariel Foss, safety mgr. at LP’s mill in Houlton, Me., was named a 2026 STEP Ahead Emerging Leader. Sue Sheff is second-in-command of the employee cafeteria at MungusFungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., report co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus

OPTIMIZED STRUCTURAL FASTENER

Featuring proprietary 4CUT technology and optimized thread design, SPAX’s new PowerLags XF Structural Fasteners represent the next generation of SPAX structural performance.

Designed for structural wood-to-wood applications, they start fast, reduce splitting, and drive with less torque for smoother installation.

SPAX.US (888) 222-7729

RUSTIC COMPOSITE SHAKES

Tando Composites has added the new Beach House Shake Rustic Collection that features a staggered edge design, characterized by shingles of varying thicknesses and uneven edges. The iconic look dates to the 1600s when craftsmen began using irregularly-shaped shingles for speed and aesthetics.

Like the original Beach House Shake, the new line is an ideal replacement for natural cedar shingles. It is available in four styles: Pacifica, a fresh western red cedar; Sandcastle, fresh white eastern cedar; and two new darker shades depicting gracefully aged wood shingles—Galveston Gray and Ballard Brown.

BEACHHOUSESHAKE.COM (800) 932-9663

PRO SIDING

CERTAplank PRO siding from CertainTeed delivers a combination of curb appeal and high performance, helping contractors install confidently and provide homeowners with peace of mind.

Made from a next-generation rigid composite material with an innovative Resilient Composite Reinforcement backer, it offers durability, ease of installation, and longterm performance for residential projects.

CERTAINTEED.COM (800) 233-8990

FEROCIOUS DEMOLITION BLADE

Milwaukee Tool’s new AX with Nitrus Carbide Sawzall Blade for Wood with Nails & Screws reportedly provides the fastest cuts and longest life.

An optimized tooth geometry enhances durability in hardened fasteners, allowing the blade to deliver up to 2x longer life vs. carbide blades in wood with nails. This reduces blade changes and maximizes productivity when cutting through wood, embedded fasteners, and tough roofing materials.

With the integration of NailGuard, users can rip nails, not teeth, which significantly improves durability and maintains consistent cutting performance. Its Fang Tip design provides speedy plunge cutting in nailembedded wood.

MILWAUKEETOOL.COM (800) 729-3878

HIDDEN FASTENING SYSTEM

FastenMaster has introduced the industry’s first concealed fastening solution engineered to deliver precision accuracy without sacrificing speed.

The Zip Hidden Fastening System is comprised of three integrated components: the Gapper (a spacing tool used to gap multiple boards at the same time for consistent uniform gapping without jacking or damaging the boards), ZipClip (an integrated clip and fastener that locks down grooved deck boards when installed), and ZipStick (a stand-up cordless drill attachment used to install ZipClips). ZipStick is compatible with all variable speed drills and provides pros with the option to stand and drive ZipClips.

The system is compatible with leading grooved composite and PVC decking boards, including Trex, Deckorators, Fiberon and more.

FASTENMASTER.COM (800) 518-3569

COASTAL WHITE CABLE RAILING

Feeney’s DesignRail Modern cable railing system is now available in Coastal White, a crisp, clean matte finish developed for contemporary interiors and coastal-inspired builds. The bright, modern hue offers a fresh alternative to darker metal profiles.

DesignRail Modern kits are engineered for easy installation, using components that snap and screw together, with pre-drilled posts and pickets designed to support 6200 Series 1/8” CableRail Kits for Metal posts. The kits feature 6000-series aluminum, known for its strength, corrosion resistance, and reliability in outdoor environments. An AAMA-2604 powder-coated finish adds an extra layer of protection against UV exposure, salt spray, and weathering, ensuring long-term durability with minimal maintenance.

FEENEYINC.COM (800) 888-2418

FUSED DECKING

Novus fused composite decking from Fiberon combines groundbreaking photo-realistic wood appearance with a new-to-the-industry thermoset shell that prevents scratches and dents.

The new line uses precise image-capture technology to preserve the genuine appearance of real wood and fuses the image to deck boards. The line is offered in three natural colors: Weathered Ipe, Natural Ipe, and Golden Cedar.

Backed by a 50-year warranty, it is Fiberon’s most slip-resistant board ever.

FIBERONDECKING.COM (800) 573-8841

EXPANDED FIRE RESISTANCE

Arclin is now offering its Firepoint fire-resistant OSB panel in larger sizes, including 4x9 and 4x10, making it ideal for tall-wall and multifamily construction, and compatible with roughly 80% of the market that relies on OSB sheathing.

The proprietary sheathing provides 90 minutes of fire resistance when used in wall assemblies, exceeding code by 53%, to slow fire spread and give people critical time to protect lives and property.

FIREPOINT.ARCLIN.COM (404) 334-6833

THE ROI OF IBS

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO PROFIT FROM INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS’

------------ BY TYLER SHARPE

FAREWELL, ORLANDO! This was the last International Builders’ Show in Florida for the next decade—and for good reason. IBS attendance has outgrown the hotel, restaurant and rideshare capacity of the theme park capital.

This year, the impact and footprint of IBS was expansive, extraordinary and electric. As an exhibitor and attendee for over a decade, it’s become both a pillar of my annual strategic planning and a frustrating paradox; so much value, so little time. Exhibitors and attendees are in a constant state of prioritization, exploring the show floor, meeting with customers or suppliers, evaluating products, analyzing trends and more. This year, I attended with a broader focus of gauging the general health of the market. Whether you attended, exhibited or caught glimpses online, consider this my perspective of the value of the International Builders’ Show and how to best experience it in 2027 as it returns to Las Vegas Feb. 2-4.

IBS is the Olympics of building products; dozens of world-class disciplines competing simultaneously. The story is about elevating global top performers on the same stage. As the Olympics recently hosted ice hockey, figure skating, ski jumping, bobsledding, etc., simultaneously, at IBS so do windows & doors, roofing, insulation, framing, outdoor living, design and more. Even the most dedicated sports fans—the ones who genuinely glue themselves to the screen for two-and-a-half weeks straight—can’t keep up. IBS operates the same way for three days; the overlapping content exceeds available hours.

IBS 2026 by the numbers: 117,000+ attendees, 2,250+ exhibitors, 1.15 million sq. ft. of exhibit space—and that’s before you factor in the educational seminars, industry panels, awards ceremonies, evening galas and private offsite events running in parallel. The show is massive in every sense. Crowds swell through every corridor and crevice of the convention center from open to close and, like a busy

SHOW

airport, it’s far from glamorous. There are no fast passes or pre-check lines—showing up properly is both a significant investment and a genuine physical one.

Walking the floor this year and in conversation with many exhibitors and fellow supply chain leaders, my first takeaway is the industry is evolving, and it’s clear which companies are leading the charge. Some of it was visible in the booths themselves, who invested, who showed up with a story vs. who showed up with a display or who didn’t show up at all. Some of it surfaced in conversations, the tension between optimism and operational reality or between what buyers are demanding and what the supply chain can actually deliver. The confidence many exhibitors displayed was real but so was the complexity underneath it. For those paying attention, IBS 2026 offered a picture of who is positioned to win and the innovations or change they embraced to get there.

For many major exhibitors, there were multi-level structures with dedicated meeting rooms, fully operational kitchens, multiple 25-ft. LED screens, interactive demos, attractions like golf simulators and impressive giveaways. Essentially building a fully functional office space and showroom for three days in order to tear it down and ship across the country for next year. Certain booths like Owens Corning or Westlake Royal could not be missed with such a profound presence.

Owens Corning described the show as a new experience for them, bringing the full enterprise in one space. It was the opportunity to show a unified product portfolio after completing multiple acquisitions, and new product launches. The booth was filled with QR codes and two-story displays demonstrating a cohesive approach to bringing roofing, insulation, doors and fiberglass reinforced lumber solutions to builders.

(IBS observations and photo coverage continue over next four pages)

THE CROWDS may finally be gone from the Orange County Convention Center, but it’s not too late to learn from the International Builders’ Show.

Weaver, Kyle DeMaio, Danny Cordova, Rob Thornbladh, Noah Forrest. [11] Kenny Gouts, Sean McMeel. [ 12 ] Kurt Westerlund, Dave Farley. [ 13 ] Jeff Bloch, Julia Quatteri, Kyle Renville, Alyssa Keys, Scott Fischer, Lydia Poulsen. (More

coverage on next three pages)

IBS 1 [1] Kurt Hogard, Hunter Johnson, Noah Johnson, Chris Johnson. [ Feazel, Craig Hoberman, Mike Howser, Jeramy Albert. [3] Andrew Corteau, Kevin Carrier, Derrick Hendrick, Rick Larkin. [4] Chris Athari, Sophie Viller, Gary Rachles. [5] Tanner Baze, Kyle Porter, Sumner Adams, Davis Kraus. [6] Mark Hodgins, Kevin Stamets. [7] Levi Tippets, Mike Malkin. [8] Sal Presti, Jeff Hawkins, David Harlan.

Alternatively, Westlake Royal elevated its booth presence as a premier show sponsor. With a curated series of strategic sponsorships across the convention center and unique decals like a full staircase mural. Westlake Royal’s message landed before attendees even reached the show floor. IBS is their single biggest marketing event of the year and the official kickoff for everything that follows. Its footprint spanned the full portfolio, including siding, trim, mouldings, roofing, stone and outdoor living, with a wide selection of new styles, colors and profiles.

When discussing ROI with exhibitors, the responses were consistent: hard to quantify precisely but unquestionably strategic with extensive marketing drip campaigns, prospecting lists and sampling initiatives to follow. Others made a different calculation— smaller footprints, lower spend, more targeted goals. For established brands with deep market penetration, the name alone draws the crowd but for anyone hoping a 10x10 footprint was going to put them on the map, the odds were long. The target audience is continuously reprioritizing, overstimulated and moving with purpose. Lightning strikes were possible but many small exhibitors I spoke with questioned the value.

At Weston Wood Solutions, we took another approach entirely, converting the booth into a meeting lounge with a high top table, couches and a full schedule of appointments and dropins. To spell it out, the show is the platform but the value comes through a combination of investment and planning. Lastly, the exhibitors who didn’t show up weren’t missed. There was simply too much in the direct line of vision to pause and search for an absence. That’s a brutal reality of a show at this scale, out of sight is genuinely out of mind.

The products drawing crowds this year shared a common thread either enabling partners to up sell or delivering a sharper value proposition in a market where cost is the conversation everyone is having but few are solving. The most interesting solutions displayed weren’t a discounted sticker price, it was about value architecture. Margin compression and engineered cost reductions like scanting or repackaging have limits and for those paying attention to quarterly earnings calls we can see many companies are

brushing up against them. The next wave of innovation is a redesign of the total cost equation. The products generating genuine excitement this year were smarter by delivering time savings, reduced labor or waste.

Owens Corning’s EZ Sheath was the clearest example on the floor, a product helping provide fewer handoffs and fewer opportunities for missed deals. A 3-in-1 system, EZ Sheath combines structural reinforcement, continuous R-5 insulation and an air and water barrier in a single panel. No housewrap required and lighter than OSB, this innovation delivers fewer steps, lower labor costs, and full code compliance in one product.

Cost innovation alone doesn’t win. The other half of the equation is navigating a supply chain that shows no signs of simplifying; geopolitical pressures, compliance and rising customer expectations are the new baseline. A clear avenue for growth is the integration of complementary products into an already established distribution chain. With customer reach, scale and excellent support infrastructure, new products are launched with fully coordinated sampling programs, installation guides, building code compliance documentation and an aggressive market entry price. Their path forward is capturing market share faster than (Coverage continues over next two pages)

EWP SNEAK PEEK AT IBS

Weyerhaeuser Co. offered a sneak peek at two new engineered wood products during the International Builders’ Show in Orlando. Both products, currently in development, are designed to give builders more versatile and higher-quality flooring solutions.

• Trus Joist ProPanel is Weyerhaeuser's newest innovation in engineered floor panels, featuring enhanced moisture resistance, a bright fully sanded face and self-draining DownPore technology. When paired with Trus Joist products, ProPanel completes an unmatched value stack for builders, bringing together integrated engineering, field sup-

port, TJ-Pro Rating, and comprehensive warranty coverage.

• Trus Joist AeroStrand Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL) is the next-generation floor joist, combining the proven strength, stability and straightness of the company's proprietary TimberStrand LSL with a new castellated design featuring pre-cut openings to easily accommodate the mechanical, electrical and plumbing needs of any residential construction project. AeroStrand's versatility will give builders a more predictable, fully engineered flooring system that reduces cost and complexity, shortens lead times and enables flatter, higher-quality floors.

WEYERHAEUSER’S exhibit at IBS was constructed out of its engineered wood products and offered an early first look at two new EWPs currently under development.

IBS 2 (continued from previous page): [ 14 ] Cami Waner, Chad Turner, Brett Bleichrodt, Dominic Mattos Jr. [15] Kenny Collins, Daniela Carrasquero, Robbie Wilbanks. [ 16 ] Michael Brown, Landon Tarvin, Ashley Vanderwall. [ 17 ] James Webb, Kalvin Eden, Nick Price, Chuck Keating. [18] Jim Enright, Duane Smith. [19] Norman Willemsen, Brett Kelly. [20] Raven Garrett, Emily Russ. [21] Kevin Harris, Matt Toglia. [22] Jason Lewis, Marshall Owens, Gary Kauffman, Loren Digger,

Chad Weldy, Mary Gearhart. [23] Travis Owens, Troy Welsh. [24] Darren Wales, Katherine Muller, Jacob Mingle, Mark Challinor, Jessica Streiff, Sean Leary, Matt Stansell. [25] Barret Anderson, Michi Vilera, Ryan Guidry. [26] Thomas Davis, Joe Hamon, Jordan Hawkins, Mara Allen, Taylor Robida, Josh Richar, Michelle Hendricks, Chad Adler, Jeff Falke (More photos on next page)

the industry itself is growing. In other words, in order to grow, many will experience declining sales. This increases pressure on niche manufacturers or distributors to meet the escalating expectations of the customer.

The technology impact was present as well with ERP, CRM and AI agentive solutions on full display in thirdparty offerings and fully integrated solutions. Exhibitors are scaling through new customer sales channels with online portals and app-based support with near-instantaneous fulfillment.

SalesJack CEO Ryan Dempsey framed it well: “What stood out at IBS is that manufacturers, dealers and builders are all converging on the same realization. Your ERP, project data, sales process can’t live in silos anymore. The companies that have connected those dots are operating at a different speed, automating work that used to eat up a rep’s day and turning data into action. The companies exhibiting this operational sophistication were signaling that 2026 would be a year of targeted growth. The divide is becoming clear, those who show up with a solution to real problems are positioned to win. Those who show up to commiserate are not.”

I left the show with a strategic framework for 2026:

• The market is open, 2026 has real potential.

• The divide is widening, winners are pulling away.

• Cost pressure is relentless, innovation delivers savings in the face of inflation.

• Optimism is earned, forward momentum belongs to those who execute.

To those who exhibited, attended, tuned in online, or couldn’t make it, the International Builders’ Show is a choose your own adventure. For me, it’s a reality-check that lets me take the industry’s temperature by chatting with the people making decisions and a live read on where the market is headed. If you’re planning to go next year for the first or tenth time, your entire experience can be amplified by answering the question “What can I accomplish at this event that would redefine my year?” Planning should start the first week of 2027 reviewing exhibitor lists, reaching out to your network and optimizing your experience.

One final takeaway; the best thing you can do for a new hire or top performer is bring them with. Let them be overwhelmed by the scale, opportunities and most importantly, the power of in person connection. They may have the intellect, creativity and bandwidth to bring your next innovation to life. This is why I attended my first show; we call it the #WestonWay.

See you in Vegas! BPD

TYLER SHARPE

Atkins, Nick Leugers, Bobby Parks, Charlie Russo [31] Titta Pervis, Scott Walker, Chase Magee, Phil Winton, Laura Elk, Stuart Sheridan, Len Moscowitz, Jon Witt, John Black.

IBS 3 (continued from previous pages): [27] C.J. Roberts, George Hendry, Aaron Welch, Carolyn Atkinson [28] Katie Woodward, Joe Checkler, Shea Widner [29] Matt Henderson, Mara Allen, Jordan Hawkins, Michelle Hendricks [ 30 ] Eric

Tyler Sharpe is director of sourcing at Weston Wood Solution, a global distributor of value-added wood and specialty building products for industrial and commercial markets (westonwoodsolutions.com).

INDUSTRY LEADERS TACKLE THE FUTURE AT T100

NORTH AMERICAN Wholesale Lumber Association’s T100 brought together the best of the best in our industry to drive the future of lumber and building materials. The inaugural conference, held Mach 16-18 in Dana Point, Ca., provided a unique, exclusive opportunity for business owners and executives to connect, collaborate and collectively ensure the future success of the industry.

Leading experts discussed a wide range of topics influencing our industry covering topics spanning the political landscape, the upcoming mid-term elections, national and foreign policy, the ongoing pace of mergers and acquisitions, and more.

From the largest, publicly-held corporations to multi-generational family-owned businesses, leaders used this time away from the office to share ideas, concerns, and lessons learned in a setting designed to maximize networking and relationships. As our industry continues to evolve, events like this will be crucial to ensuring that leaders from throughout the supply chain, from manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and all the way to builders have their voices represented and focused on moving our industry forward.

– Make sure to look for next month’s NAWLA Special Section that will provide full, extensive coverage of this vital industry event.

NAWLA CHAIR Judy Haney

CANDID CONVERSATION Matt Phillips, Nick Arkle, Derrick Coder, Shyam K. Reddy

Matt Phillips

Jerry Schoendienst with Mulrooney Award winner Donna Whitaker

TECH TAKES CENTER STAGE AT DO IT BEST/TRUE VALUE MARKET

DO IT BEST and True Value dealers attending the buying group’s spring market in Denver, Co., were treated to in-depth education, exclusive buying opportunities, networking and strategic launches designed to equip them with new tools, from cutting-edge solutions to data intelligence, that directly drive growth, margin and profitability.

At the core of this year’s market was an emphasis on technology and innovation as foundational growth drivers. The Market Kickoff brought together thousands of attendees to highlight how data, proprietary platforms, and integrated tools support

smarter buying, sharper pricing, and stronger retail execution.

A landmark moment at the show was the official introduction of Retail Pulse, demonstrated on stage by Do it Best president Nick Talarico and VP of field sales Eric Lane. Retail Pulse is positioned as a new core offering that delivers real-time insights, performance analytics, and actionable benchmarks that help dealers make faster, more informed decisions about inventory, category performance, pricing and trends.

Last year’s spring market marked the initial shared experience of the

two teams and set the stage for deeper operational alignment; this year’s show reflected the progress achieved since then in cross-organization collaboration, vendor partnerships, and unified buying structures all designed to expand value for store owners.

“Everything we’re doing at this market is about delivering measurable results for independent dealers,” said Do it Best Group CEO Dan Starr. “By investing in stronger systems, smarter analytics, and fully unified operations, and launching Retail Pulse to turn insight into action, we’re giving store owners the tools and the team they need to grow faster and compete with confidence in a rapidly changing retail landscape.” BPD

LBM INDUSTRY Update included a product rundown by [ 1 ] Ryan Cooley, Lauren Wiilson, Abeer Saeed, and Gabe Arnold. [2] Nick Kelly, William Frazier. [3] Lindsay Kaufman, David Williams. [4] Chase Darnell. [5] Jeff Baggett, Christopher Sledge. (More photos on next page)

DO IT BEST GROUP CEO DAN STARR KICKS OFF THE MARKET KICKOFF

Greg Lenhart, Jodi Smith.

Leah Bryant, Huda Khan.

] Jessica Maki, Abby Tittle, Cathie Peacock.

Mike

Duval, Luke Stankiewicz, Brent Reel, Joe Pope. [11] Rafe Krauter. [12] Randy Hollinger, Christina Norris. [ 13 ] Rachel Jantorno. [ 14 ] Jacob Lightsey, Trey Weatherby. [15] Shane Abercrombie.

LMC TAKES ANNUAL MEETING TO CHICAGO

LMC held its annual meeting March 9-12 in Chicago. [1] Bryan Sutton, with LMC president/CEO Paul Ryan. [2] Bill Schlottman, Kevin Simard. [3] Jay Bishop, Brian Paul, Damien Fallin. [4] Steve Firko, Susan Cho, Owen Coyle. [5] Brad Gerst, Kathy Balzer, Travis Wilson. [6] Beaux Roach, Kelly Matthews. [7] Hannah Gearhart, Tanner Wicktor, Alexa Day, Greg Wiessler. [ 8 ] Don Nelson, John Weaver. [ 9 ] Robert Thornbladh,

Michael Zampirri. [10] Travis Lund, Marc Mizgorski, Chris Hinytzke. [11] Chris Johnson, Kurt Hogard, Bella Uscila, Jeff Morlock. [12] Austin Connelly, Steve Carreria, Jordan Cook. [13] Jimmy Kastrinakis, Lisa Martin. [14] Elizabeth Moore. [15] Greg Barnum, Denny Beckerman. [16] Nick Wick. [17] Steve Grohowalski, Jimmy Welch, Stacy Walley. [18] Bruce Blake, Paul Dupont, Troy Allen, Biff Massingill. (More photos on next page)

EXHIBITORS at LMC annual meeting (continued from previous page) : [ 19 ] Marty Hawkins, Craig Patnode. [20] Travis Maddox, Mark Dwyer, Andy Faircloth. [21] Robbie Temple, Jim Hunt. [22] Dan Semsak, Trent Johnson. [23] David & Ellen Welborn. [24] Roxanne Celentano, Troy Wilson. [25] Reece Hudson, Ryan Cornutt. [ 26 ] Tommy Kutchko. [ 27 ] Leigh Brigham, Mark Zemrowski, David Mellstrom. [28] Lee Shifflett, Collin Shifflett, Brock Adams. [29] Spencer Trahan,

Chad Blizzard. [ 30 ] Bill Nocerino, Jason Eady. [ 31 ] Chris Bartimioli, James Lavitola, Quinten Boyd. [32] Steve Conroy, Dee Pferdehirt, David Hall. [33] Ian Penney, Jamie Moulton. [34] Aaron Fleming, Paul Thorne, Mark Swinth. [35] Brent Beier, Ryan Helwig, Jeff Tank. [36] Mark Stewart, Cindy McCarville, Jordan Lynch. [37] Nick Kopec, Rylie Joachim. [38] Patrick Glaze, Caroline Butler, Jim Powell, Bobby Ford, Sam Dutkowsky, Jay Fraga.

LBM ADVANTAGE SHOW SHATTERS RECORD

LBM ADVANTAGE drew record-breaking attendance to its 2026 annual buying show March 2–4 in Nashville, Tn. The event concluded [1] with an inspiring keynote presentation from actor, humanitarian and veteran advocate Gary Sinise (left), who shared stories from his work with the Gary Sinise Foundation, here with LBM Advantage president David DeJoy [2 ] Jeff Cullen, Chad Emery. [ 3 ] Gregory Wiessler, Thomas Hartwell. [4] Kenny Carchedi, Jay McCarthy. [5] Steve Guenther, Stacy Walley, Brian Powers, Andrea Thacker, 2 4

Lou Bradner. [6] Rachel Brooks, Eric Pagan. [7] Mark Przypek, Amy Vitek, David Mitson, Channing Doughtry. [ 8 ] Richie Palmer, Chris O’Neill, Joe Gaca. [ 9 ] Lee Shifflett, Kari Gaviria, Kristina Eanes, Finny Akers, John Michael Price. [10] Jonathan Mathias. [11] Tracey Molettiere, Brian McDonald, Jamey Armstrong. [ 12 ] Leah Bryant, Juliana Transatti, Michael Morgan. [13] Clint Darnell. [14] Duane Hinderer, Chris Garrity, Joel Crosley.

(More photos on next page)

------------| DATE BOOK

Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend.

Peak Auctions – April 11, LBM auction, Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, Berea, Oh.; www.peakauction.com.

Construction Suppliers Association – April 12-14, roundtables, Turks & Caicos; April 15-17, Portland, Me.; www.gocsa.com.

Composite Panel Assn. – April 12-15, spring meeting, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, Bonita Springs, Fl.; www.compositepanel.org.

Montreal Wood Convention – April 14-16, Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, Montreal, P.Q.; www.montrealwoodconvention.com.

Associated Building Material Distributors – April 16-19, annual distributors & suppliers meeting, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, Bonita Springs, Fl.; www.abmda.com.

Expo Richmond – April 17-18, East Coast Sawmill, Logging & Pallet Exposition, Meadow Event Park, Doswell, Va.; www.exporichmond.com.

BLD Connection – April 21-23, Estimating 1-2-3, Inver Grove Heights, Mn.; members.bldconnection.org.

Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Assn. – April 21-23, spring leadership conference, Wild Dunes Resort, Isle of Palms, S.C.; www.kcma.org.

National Wood Flooring Expo – April 21-23, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fl.; www.nwfaexpo.org.

Timber Products Inspection – April 21-23, quality control course, Conyers, Ga.; www.tpinspection.com.

North American Wholesale Lumber Association – April 23, regional meeting, Topgolf, Birmingham, Al.; www.nawla.org.

Peak Auctions – April 25, LBM auction, Cabarrus Arena & Event Center, Concord, N.C.; www.peakauction.com.

LBM Advantage – April 26-29, NextGen Leadership Conference, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Whitefish, Mt.; www.lbmadvantage.com.

American Wood Protection Assn. – April 26-30, annual meeting, Embassy Suites/DoubleTree Downtown, Asheville, N.C.; awpa.com.

Virginia Forestry Summit – April 29-May 1, Norfolk, Va.; www. forestrysummit.com.

Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo – May 1-2, Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, Vt.; www.northernlogger.com.

Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association – May 2-6, annual convention, Nashville, Tn.; www.mheda.org.

Hardlines Distribution Alliance – May 4-7, group merchandising conference, Atlanta, Ga.; www.hdaworks.com.

SFI – May 5-7, annual conference, Montreal, P.Q.; www.forest.org.

Transload Distribution Association – May 5-7, annual conference, Savannah, Ga.; www.tdana.com.

Wood Industry Conference – May 5-7, El Conquistador Resort, Puerto Rico; www.woodworkingindustryconference.com.

Timber Products Inspection – May 5-8, planer course, Conyers, Ga.; www.tpinspection.com.

Peak Auctions – May 9, LBM auction, Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, Md.; www.peakauction.com.

Western Red Cedar Lumber Association – May 10-15, Cedar School; May 13-15, Cedar Summit, Victoria, B.C.; www.realcedar.com.

Decorative Hardwoods Assn. – May 12-14, annual meeting, Embassy Suites Hilton, Asheville, N.C.; www.decorativehardwoods.org.

Epicor – May 18-21, Insights conference, Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville, Tn.; www.epicor.com.

Stokes Wallace, Tim Pappas, Jordan Smith, Dylan Leavitt. [16] Joe Dalton. [17] Lindsey Digangi, Steve Hicks. [18] Nick Shenduk, Dave Grevemeyer. [19] Dustin

Taylor, Avarie Powell, Patrick Glaze, James Tanner, Bobby Ford, Bill Johnston. [20] Rich Labelle, Brandon Davis, James Howell, Jon Bryson, Todd Reynolds, Jamie Tanner. [21] Kris Fornuto, Rich Maurer.

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Austin Clark Huskey, 37, CEO of Huskey Building Supply, Franklin, Tn., was killed in a small-plane accident on Feb. 13 near Steamboat Springs, Co. All four people on board perished.

A graduate of Belmont University, Austin was the third-generation owner of the business. He had been promoted to purchasing manager in 2012.

Martin Lyle Avey, 82, founder and owner of ReTool, Lubbock, Tx., died on March 1.

A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, he started his career with Sutherland Lumber Co., Lubbock, rising to manager. He later formed Building Supply Center, Lubbock, and in 1999 founded ReTool.

John Anthony Angelbeck, Jr., president of PackRite Packaging & Crating Co., Troy, Mo., and Angelbeck Lumber Co., Chesterfield, Mo., died on Feb. 21 at the age of 88.

Jack began his entrepreneurial journey at 18 years of age by owning his first business, a service station. Soon after he launched Pack-Rite and later Angelbeck Lumber, Threaded Nail Corp., St. Louis Helicopter, and Beech Manufacturing.

Jack was a past president of the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association and the Missouri Forest Products Association.

Kenneth Lee Geesaman, Sr., 88, retired president of McCune Lumber, Shippensburg, Pa., passed away on March 7.

He was a 1957 graduate of the Chambersburg Business School.

Dean Martin, 81, who spent 44 years as manager of Square Deal Lumber, Horse Cave, Ky., passed away on Feb. 3.

Harold E. Congdon, 78, retired salesman for Howlett Lumber Co., Holland, Ma., died on March 6 after a lengthy illness.

Daniel Stelle Byrum, 78, co-owner of Byrum Lumber Co., Raleigh, N.C., passed away on March 6.

After attending Wake Forest University from 1965 to 1969, Dan graduated from the Charles Babcock School of Business.

He and his wife, Ellen, operated their own lumberyard for more than three decades, retiring in 2013.

Roger Dale Greer, 75, co-owner of Carolina Forest Products, Wake, N.C., passed away on Feb. 18.

He earned a degree in forestry from Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College in 1970 and in forest management from the University of Georgia in 1972.

After working as a forester, he started his own business in the early 1990s.

Archie D. Stevens, 93, owner and operator of Archie Stevens Forest Products, Onaway, Mi., died on Feb. 19.

Archie was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

David Albert Barton, 87, former owner of Barton Brothers Lumber, Epsom, N.H., died on March 4.

He started his life’s work as a logger at 14 years old, working alongside his father and uncle in the family business. In the early 1970s, David and his brother, Bruce, took over the company. He retired in 2004, marking 50 years in the trade.

One. Stop. Shop.

FLASHBACK: A LONG GOODBYE

NINETY-TWO YEARS AGO this month, BPD sister publication The California Lumber Merchant marked the passing of one of the unquestioned leaders of the nation’s lumber industry: Robert Alexander Long, chairman of the board of directors of the Long-Bell Lumber Co., Kansas City, Mo.

He passed away on March 15, 1934, following an operation for an intestinal adhesion and, though 83 years of age, appeared to be strong as an ox until he fell ill two days prior. The day before, he was at his desk as usual, attending to the affairs of the company.

His was an illustrious career. At 24, he opened his first retail lumberyard in 1875 in Columbus, Ks., managing the business for two silent partners—both teenagers. The first year the firm made $800 and the second year $2,000.

The firm of R. A. Long & Co. prospered. In 1884, he and his younger partners, Robert White and Victor Bell, incorporated under the name of the Long-Bell Lumber Co. with a capital stock of $30,000. Railroads were being built, and the company followed, adding yards southward and westward.

In 1889, the company bought a small portable sawmill in the South and began to manufacture and wholesale lumber in a small way. In 1891, the offices of the company were moved to Kansas City. The R.A. Long Building at 10th and Grand Streets, the first steel skeleton office building of consequence in Kansas City, was constructed between the years 1905 and 1907. Long-Bell continued adding retail yards and purchasing Southern sawmills, growing to become the world’s largest manufacturer of southern yellow pine lumber.

Looking for more timber sources, the company bought forestlands in the state of Washington, and built a sawmill at the confluence of the Cowlitz and Columbia rivers. There, he became a founding father of the city of Longview, Wa., established in 1923.

Longview quickly became a major port of call for ocean-going vessels, a hub for three transcontinental railway systems, and byway for the Pacific and Columbia River highways. What at the time was the country’s second highest bridge over navigable waters was constructed across the Columbia River between Longview

and Rainier, Or. Long helped organize the Missouri Association of lumber dealers, and served as president of the Southern Pine Association and the National Lumber Manufacturers Association. He was also a lifelong philanthropist, supporting countless Christian organizations, churches, libraries, schools and hospitals.

One of his greatest interests was Longview Farm, his country estate near Lees Summit, Mo., which he began building in 1913. It became a model farm with over 100 employees, covering 1,782 acres, and equipped with 60 buildings, including his 22,000-sq. ft. mansion, a hotel, school, church, greenhouses, stables, racetrack and 22-acre lake.

In its heyday, Long-Bell operated more than 100 lumberyards, sawmills, sash and door plants, and distribution centers. Yet the company was hit especially hard by the Depression. Industry-wide overproduction led to cratering lumber prices. Long-Bell got by through the sale of industrial bonds. But shortly after Long’s passing, declining sales revenue drove the company into receivership. As Long himself had wished, his successors vowed that every cent would be paid. The company survived and in 1956 was purchased by International Paper.

As publisher Jack Dionne wrote, “I knew Robert A. Long. And because I knew him and liked him, and he liked me, I am a better man than I would otherwise have been. He was a knightly gentleman, a gallant and inspired leader, and a happy, helpful friend. He has gone on another route, and I am still traveling this one, but those things that he left with me, will be with me always, for they are indestructible as the name and fame of Robert Long.” BPD

The April 1934 front cover was sponsored by Booth-Kelly Douglas Fir. Its former mill site in Springfield, Or., is now the home of a business park, Booth-Kelly Center.

R.A. LONG

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