So Many Thank Yous!

For my typical editorial, I focus on the importance of engaging with the association, joining us for the journey or suggesting you take action to better your business. But for this issue, our inaugural issue of BLD Connection Magazine, I’m going to ask that you humor me as I extend some of the most needed and heartfelt thank yous I have ever given.

To Our Members: As you have now heard, read or will read on the following pages, we are now BLD Connection, one of the largest collections of building material dealers and suppliers in the country. That feels awesome to write/say. We understand that with this change, there will be many emotions, questions, comments and suggestions, and for all of them, thank you! Thank you for telling us how you feel and what you want. Thank you for joining us on this new adventure as we continue to work to build a stronger community and industry. And finally, thank you for your unwavering support. We cannot do this without you.

To Our Leadership: As volunteer leaders, committing to a major undertaking is often difficult, let alone four major projects in one year. What you all have challenged this organization, its members and our team to do is dream. Dream bigger, think bigger and be bolder than ever. Thank you for this. Dreams do not always come true, but they sure are fun to chase.

Board members, task force members and dedicated committee members, thank you for your continued commitment, participation and support throughout this process and as we charge forward. It has not gone unnoticed, and we are forever grateful.

Finally, and maybe most importantly, To Our Staff/Our Team: Most associations may face a merger, a new strategic plan development, the addition of new services and new team members or a major corporate rebrand over a 10-year period. We’ve done all of that in under one year. You’ve done it all. Every step may not have gone perfectly or how we planned, but you’ve done it.

I will forever be grateful for your passion for association management, for your care for our members – always putting them first – and for your commitment to this process. You are all amazing professionals. You deserve all of the accolades that will come from your efforts, and I cannot imagine doing this without any of you. From veterans to new hires, you are and will forever be a part of our story, and I’m honored to serve with each one of you each day. Thank you!

Together, we are all BLD Connection. We couldn’t be more excited – or more grateful – to be your trusted resource, your trusted partner and most importantly, your friends.

Thank you!

Cody Nuernberg BLD Connection President

2nd Vice Chairman

Adam Hendrix

Chic Lumber Co., St. Peters, Missouri

Treasurer

Jennifer Leachman

Leachman Lumber Company, Des Moines, Iowa

Past Chairman

Lynn Trask

Spahn & Rose Lumber/Moeller & Walter, Reinbeck Iowa

President/Secretary

Cody Nuernberg

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Directors

Iowa Director

Brent Schneider

Spahn & Rose Lumber Co., Dubuque, Iowa

Minnesota Directors

Pat Hegseth

Scherer Bros Lumber Company, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

Brian Klimek

Hilltop Lumber Co., Alexandria, Minnesota

MLA Directors

Brett Thorne

Thorne Lumber Co., Chillicothe, Missouri

Hatch McCray

McCray Lumber & Millwork, Kansas City, Kansas

Nebraska Director

Mark Russell

Millard Lumber Inc., Waverly, Nebraska

North Dakota Director

Samantha Nassert

Crane Johnson Lumber, Fargo, North Dakota

South Dakota Director

Jason Meester

Watertown Cashway Lumber Company, Watertown, South Dakota

Wisconsin Director

Nate Ehlen

Sav-Rite Building Center, Neillsville, Wisconsin

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

Nate Hanson, Simpson Strong-Tie

Chris Harding, Boise Cascade

NLBMDA REPRESENTATIVE

Brett Hanson, Tri-State Building Center, Sisseton, South Dakota

NLI OFFICERS

President: Brad Spelts, Spelts Lumber Co., Burwell, Nebraska

Vice President: Bill Brotherton, Wall Lake Lumber Company, Wall Lake, Iowa

Treasurer: Mike Bertrand, Lloyd Lumber Company, Mankato, Minnesota