NBMDA Distribution Matters 2024 by Surface & Panel Magazine

2024

Distribution

MATTERS

Interview with 2024 NBMDA President Don Plunkett 2023 Annual Convention Reaches New Heights Meet Honour Delaney, NBMDA Emerging Distribution Leader 2024 Member Directory

Q&A with Don Plunkett

NBMDA PRESIDENT

Q: Congratulations on your new role at NBMDA! What

are your plans as president for this year and in what ways do you think the association can help its members successfully navigate today’s dynamic market landscape?

A. Thank you! I think my plans are to keep the standards that were set before me — we have been very fortunate to have had some really high-quality individuals lead our organization.

The leadership team at Smith-Bucklin are phenomenal and continue to bring ideas in both education opportunities and cost saving ideas for our distribution partners in the association.

Q: With fuel prices and interest rates remaining high

heading into a big election year, how has the current economic climate affected the industry and in what ways can distributors overcome these challenges?

A. I think one of the main things we are really trying to focus

on is sending out full trucks to maximize the efficiency of all our routes. I think communicating with our customers about all these increases helps get some of these pushed through because it is affecting them as well.

Q: From integrating sophisticated systems for inventory

management, customer relationship management (CRM), data analytics, and e-commerce platforms to utilizing evolving AI platforms, how have technological advances affected the distribution industry? In the same vein, are there increased concerns about cybersecurity and if so, how are they being addressed?

A. We converted to a paperless system a few years ago and it has helped us streamline our order pulling and loading trucks process at all of our branches. We have not ventured into the AI platforms yet, but I definitely see it coming in the future. On the cybersecurity front we continue to be diligent with our IT team and have added a cyber policy with our insurance provider to add another layer of protection.

Q: With sustainability in the spotlight, in what ways are

distributors implementing eco-friendly practices while maximizing cost-efficiency?

A. We are seeing more FSC panel orders and plywood orders coming in on our commercial projects, which is new for us

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over the last few years. Our area of the country is probably a little behind in these areas, but we are seeing more requests for these products. As we start getting more and more requests it will help us be more efficient in our ordering to help keep cost as low as possible.

Q: Issues with supply chain reliability over the past few

years have been well-documented. Have you seen these problems ease at all, and what lessons have been learned in managing disruptions?

A. The supply chain issues for most of our products have come back to the normal lead times. We actually did a pretty good job of staying ahead on most items but as prices dropped it did create some margin pressure we didn’t like to see.

Q: On a lighter note, what trends are you seeing from your

end in the design and building industries going into 2024?

A. I think with some of the issues we discussed earlier (higher interest rates and fuel cost) we are seeing customers value engineering their projects to try and meet budgets, for example, using laminate when maybe in the past they were using a hard surface (quartz granite). And with technology from the laminate companies on their TFL products with matching finishes this also gives some great value engineering opportunities. DM

Don Plunkett serves as the 2024 President of the North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA). His company, Plunkett Distributing Company, Inc., was founded in 1948 by J. F. Plunkett — Don’s grandfather — and has grown over the years from a one-man operation to employing more than 130 employees. Operating from Little Rock & Ft. Smith, Arkansas, the company expanded their coverage to include most of Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma, and southern Missouri. Plunkett Distributing further increased their footprint in the market in 2020 with the opening of a new location in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Out of this location, they service all of Oklahoma and extend into southern Kansas and North Texas. The company has also added several manufacturing arms including a laminating press operation, hardwood molding facility and a panel processing facility.

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

The 2023 NBMDA Annual Convention brought together industry leaders in Colorado

BY JENNIFER G. WILLIAMS

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he North American Building Material Distribution Association celebrated its 2023 annual convention at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The event, held November 14-16, 2023, brought together more than 1,200 distributors and partner suppliers and to share the latest trends and issues in the industry.

Attendance was up again this year and included more than 50 first-time exhibiting suppliers.

SPEAKERS, SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS The annual event offered speakers, sessions, presentations and workshops that were informative and covered all aspects of the distribution industry. From trading partner meetings to educating today’s distribution professionals and sharing best practices within the industry, there was a bit of something for everyone attending.

This memorable event was packed full of face-to-face networking, expert-led educational sessions and a few rounds of rock-paper-scissors.

Speakers included popular author Kelly McDonald, who discussed How to Grow Business by Selling to and Serving People Not Like You, showing how marketing to people’s values is the way to greater sales profits and customer loyalty; and Andrew Creamer, Chief Operating Officer, Proton.ai, whose session on Making Artificial Intelligence a Competitive Advantage helped educate distributors on the topic of AI and its impact on the distribution industry.

Connor Lokar with ITR Economics spoke to a packed house for his Economic Trends in Construction and Consumer Markets session, which looked at individual market drivers for 2024 for building materials and flooring products and covered current and expected growth trends in retail and wholesale channels for interior building and flooring products. He also discussed the split C O N T I N U E D O N PAG E 1 5 4

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between residential and commercial construction segments and how they are diverging, offering different demand trajectories heading into 2024.

Internationally recognized author, professor, and TV news contributor Jamie Turner, the 60-Second Marketer, shared how to gain a better understanding of the science behind effective persuasion and communication in his session, The Science of Persuasion: How to Get What You Want (Without Being a Jerk).

And Brian Beaulieu, CEO of ITR Economics, shared ways to maximize your revenue and profit growth in his Piercing Through the Noise session.

Attendees said they were impressed by the quality of presentations and variety of sessions offered, saying it’s a key reason they attend the annual convention each year.

UNIVERSITY OF INNOVATIVE DISTRIBUTION-IN-A-DAY This popular one-day leadership workshop is a compressed version of the four-day UID program offered exclusively at the annual convention, providing tailored education to those in management positions within wholesale distribution firms. This year, 80 distribution managers took advantage of training focused on learning how to be better leaders, mentors, and managers.

The program provided a roadmap to show them the way. Popular speaker/ trainer, Jamie Turner, delivered the Unspoken Rules of Leadership, providing science-based techniques to help distribution professionals work more productively, more efficiently, and more thoughtfully with those around them.

CELEBRATING EMERGING LEADERS Launched in early 2022, the NBMDA Emerging Distribution Leaders Program is a professional development program centered on up-and-coming distribution professionals. The nine-month program is designed to provide education and networking opportunities to professionals interested in furthering their career in the distribution channel.

Distribution professionals who strengthened their management and leadership skills in 2023 and graduated from the program at the 2023 NBMDA Convention in Colorado included:

• Erin Husser, Corporate Surfaces Product Manager, Aetna Building Solutions • Austin Alexander, Corporate Lumber Product Manager, Aetna Building Solutions • Tara Harrison, Operations Manager, Yorke Town Supplies, Ltd.

SPEAKERS Kelly McDonald Author

Andrew Creamer Chief Operating Officer, Proton.ai

Connor Lokar ITR Economics

Jamie Turner 60-Second Marketer

• Doug Perkins, Regional Sales Manager, Knape & Vogt • Bobbi Gross, Purchasing Manager, Wurth Baer Supply • Jordan Plunkett, Formica Architectural Sales Rep, Plunkett Distributing • Brady Sadler, Inside Sales, Plunkett Distributing • Trevor Webb, Plunkett Distributing • Jarred Bodin, Panel Shop Manager, Plunkett Distributing • Aaron Olivares, Operations Manager, EB Bradley Co. • Eric Oquist, Operations Manager, EB Bradley Co. SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS The association also had a special membership tenure recognition for members who have reached 40 and 60 years of continuous membership in NBMDA:

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Brian Beaulieu CEO, ITR Economics

The 2024 NBMDA Annual Convention is scheduled for October 29-31 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Visit www.nbmda.org for the most up-to-date information and to register.

Forty Years of Continuous Membership: • L umbermens, Grand Rapids, Michigan • V T Industries, Holstein, Iowa Sixty Years of Continuous Membership: • A etna Building Solutions, Maywood, Illinois NBMDA also recognized Chemcraft’s Cayce Hewlett as its 2023 NBMDA Growth Award Recipient.

OFFICERS AND BOARD NBMDA elected its new slate of officers for 2024, and also named its Board of Directors at the convention. The role of the Board is to govern, establish policy and make strategic decisions about the organization’s future.

Officers:

• P resident: Don Plunkett, Plunkett Distributing, Ft. Smith, Arkansas • P resident Elect: Jon Minnaert, Aetna Building Solutions, Maywood, Illinois • V ice President: John Geraghty, Wurth Baer Supply, Vernon Hills, Illinois • T reasurer: Chris Burns, EB Bradley, Vernon, California • P ast President: Matt Huber, Allegheny Plywood, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Distributor Directors: • S teve Hollinshead, Aetna Building Solutions, Maywood, Illinois • A ndrew Northrop, Spokane Hardware Supply, Spokane, Washington • C raig Ratchford, Richelieu, Ville Saint Laurent, Quebec Supplier Directors: • J onathan Dixon, Salice, Charlotte, North Carolina • M elissa Herman, Formica Corp., Cincinnati, Ohio • C ayce Hewlett, Chemcraft, High Point, North Carolina • P at Lynch, Timber Products, Springfield, Oregon • D on Raymond, Uniboard, Laval, Quebec

2023 NBMDA Convention GIVE-BACK PROGRAM Each year NBMDA donates a portion of convention registration fees to an industry organization in need of financial support to move their mission forward. In 2023, NBMDA Give-Back recipient was …

National Woods Board As more and more woodworkers in the field are retiring and switching careers, companies are struggling to find skilled trade laborers to fill those jobs. The National Woods Board was created to help face the challenge of labor shortages head-on — by making trade education accessible within high schools around the United States, creating career opportunities, and addressing the industry’s workforce needs. The mission of the National Woods Board (NWB) is to replicate and proliferate the successful model implemented by the Colorado Springs-based Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab, known as the MiLL, on a national level. The organization was founded to make the industry-supported education that was built for the MiLL accessible and scalable to students regardless of the location or population of their district.

• L orne Smith, Berenson Corp. , Buffalo, New York • J eff Winters, Kessebohmer USA, Wilmington, North Carolina DM

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'Economic GPS'

Helps Navigate Twists and Turns

BY DENISE WILLIAMS

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BMDA and NAFCD have welcomed back ITR Economics to present at their Annual Convention year after year, and Brian Beaulieu — the consultancy’s CEO and chief economist — thinks he knows why.

Building materials distributors are just a down-to-earth group of people, Beaulieu surmises, and they respect that same straightforwardness in others. So, if he had to rationalize the popularity of ITR’s talks at the event, he’d guess it has a lot to do with the company’s apolitical, unbiased perspective on the economic climate. “I think the audience appreciates that we speak business instead of babble,” says the executive.

Beaulieu stuck to that formula during ITR’s “Pricing Through the Noise” session at the last meeting in Colorado Springs. The timing for the topic is spot-on, he suggests, given that the country is on the

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cusp of a presidential election cycle that has the potential to skew the narrative on the economy to suit the political backdrop. “There’s so much noise out there,” Beaulieu laments, “and some parts of the media aren’t looking at the real ‘tells’ when it comes to this economy.”

That’s where ITR comes in.

The company weeds out the supposition and leans on the signs, including the most subtle of indicators. To give building material distributors a snapshot of the conditions awaiting them in 2024 and into 2025, ITR will analyze trends and the impact those trends have had on the sector in the past. “It’s just based on what has happened before,” explains Beaulieu. “We constantly look to see if there’s any reason why [the same impact] shouldn’t happen this cycle.”

WHAT THE SIGNS SAY In case you’re wondering whether the near-term outlook is up

... knowing these and other signals and recognizing their historical influence on the economy positions businesses favorably.

or down, Beaulieu says that session-goers left ITR’s presentation feeling upbeat. The smiles he saw on their faces, he says, was due to a favorable combination of: • I ncreasingly positive reports on building permits for singlefamily houses as well as multifamily homes •A continued rise in real incomes •E arly signs of a downward trend in interest rates “These are the road signs to the future,” Beaulieu asserts.

Barring any significant departures from established patterns, he finds that knowing these and other signals and recognizing their historical influence on the economy positions businesses favorably. They can “have a reasonable expectation and plan half a business cycle ahead” of competitors that aren’t equally informed, according to the economist.

Beaulieu even draws a comparison between employing navigation technology for a tricky commute versus tuning to AM radio reports delivered every 15 minutes based on monitoring by helicopter.

“ITR functions like an economic GPS,” he elaborates. “If you have us loaded in your car, we’re going to help you see where the traffic jams are, and we’re going to get you from Point A to Point B – with Point B being ‘prosperity’–in the best possible manner.”

Which sounds like the more effective approach, Beaulieu asks? Having the necessary information upfront to aid in planning, or getting that key information on a lag and trying to play catch-up? He knows which he would choose. “This is how to plan for what’s coming up, in order to make the most of this future,” Beaulieu says of the GPS technique.

While that might seem like a tall order for just one short hour of discussion, Beaulieu asserts the important points he shared will drive attendees’ focus toward the areas and issues that should be front of mind–as well as equip them with tools to help keep them on the right track. One such tool is “Fed Watch,” ITR’s free YouTube video series. The brief recordings, released each Friday afternoon, cover the central bank’s activity over the previous seven days and interpret what those actions mean for viewers. Beaulieu will challenge session attendees to “take ownership” of their business management by investing 3-7 minutes each week to watch these updates at no cost and at their own leisure.

Equipped with resources like this and an understanding of the opportunities and/or difficulties ahead, Beaulieu assures that distributors will be doing their profits a favor.

And that, he says, is his only agenda. “I look at money as fuel,” Beaulieu shares. “You need it to provide a better life for yourself, your family, your community. I’m just there to provide a means for getting more ‘fuel’ to do more of the good things you’d like to do.” DM Visit itreconomics.com for more information.

Denise Williams is the Editor of NBMDA’s Channel Connections.

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Harvesting Future Workers THE NATIONAL WOODS BOARD SEEKS TO FILL JOBS THROUGH INNOVATIVE MiLL PROGRAM

BY DENISE WILLIAMS / PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY MiLL

A

manda Conger has a "problem" with the woodworking industry: She simply cannot resist an opportunity to help nurture and grow it — especially through initiatives centered around education.

That’s one reason she was so excited to attend NBMDA’s 2023 Annual Convention as executive director of the National Woods Board (NWB). In that capacity, she used her time to introduce conference-goers to the NWB and explain how distributors can help realize its mission and goals—which, in turn, promise to advance the industry as a whole, while spreading the word about a new initiative she hopes to take nationwide — the MiLL.

CRANKING UP THE MILL The MiLL (Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab) is a pioneering industry-education collaboration that sprouted in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2017, to drive high school students toward careers in cabinetmaking, welding and construction. Dozens

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of industry partners — some of the most recognized names in the business, in fact — backed the effort by offering time, resources and financial contributions to the tune of $2 million.

Considering the significant level of industry support, Conger is surprised at how many people in the industry are still unfamiliar with the concept — which NWB aims to enhance and elevate on the national stage. Conger arranged visits to the MiLL training center for NBMDA members who flocked to Colorado Springs for the 2023 convention who were interested in a birds-eye view of its impact.

Conger explained how NWB intends to develop the MiLL model into a nationwide format. The goal is to execute some ‘test runs’ in 2024, according to Conger, who predicts no shortage of interest. “We’ve had a lot of schools raise their hand already to say they want the curriculum — and they’re located all over, geographically,” she reports. “And that’s fantastic, because that’s what we need to do — spread it throughout the entire country.”

What NWB also needs, Conger emphasizes, is additional industry support. What the organization is looking for from the NBMDA community right now, she says, is dual-purpose: • Connections to local high schools, in order to place them on the list of prospective users of the national curriculum • Financial contributions to help put the curriculum into circulation

WIN-WIN The overarching theme of NWB’s efforts, Conger continues, is “to build the next generation of woodworkers, for decades to come” as a byproduct of long-term cooperation between industry and schools. Through successful execution of this strategy, as she and other advocates see it, everybody comes out on top.

“It’s a two-way partnership that will encourage product development for the industry,” she says, suggesting how students can test equipment, software and/or other resources in the classroom and provide feedback on how it could or should be developed.

The young people participating in the program, meanwhile, get a head-start on professional success. “When the students complete their coursework, they have not only the skills from the curriculum but they also have industry-recognized credentials like WCA (Woodworking Career Alliance),” Conger points out. “They can use that to then obtain internships or employment immediately following graduation from high school.”

EDUCATION AND ASSOCIATIONS: A NATURAL FIT Being a part of the mutually beneficial partnership between the woodworking industry and educators is a sweet spot for Conger, who could’ve gone in either of those directions singularly. She earned her college degree in secondary education. However, she recalls that woodworking was “always in the background” growing up, thanks to her grandfather’s 30 years of employment with

furnituremaker Herman Miller; and that’s where her path ultimately took her. Instead of pursuing a teaching career, Conger spent 10 years working for Stiles Machinery — which supplies technology for woodworking. Her work in the company’s marketing department included fostering relationships with key associations, which she says gave her a critical understanding of the function and importance of associations to the industry.

After her time with Stiles, Conger moved on to roles with the Cabinet Makers Association and the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals. She was juggling dual executive-director duties at both groups when she was approached to also run NWB. She initially got involved with the organization at the invitation of Dean Mattson, the educator credited with creating the MiLL concept, but initially tried to “sit on [her] hands” because she already had a full plate. The draw was too strong, however, and she eventually agreed to volunteer as both secretary and treasury before ultimately accepting the paid position of executive director.

“I’m still a proponent of lifelong learning,” Conger declares.

“And that ties back to the associations, because they encourage continued education and professional development.”

That being said, not only is she excited to address the Annual Convention this fall but she is delighted that NBMDA has selected NWB as the beneficiary of this year’s Give Back Program, which donates a share of the proceeds from each registration fee to a charitable campaign. The decision was completely unexpected, says Conger, but appreciated beyond words.

“It means a lot that NBMDA recognizes what the NWB wants to accomplish,” she shares. “It’s just incredible to have their support at that level, and their contributions will help further our cause.”

Visit https://mill.wsd3.org/ for more information on the MiLL and the programs it offers. DM Denise Williams is the Editor of NBMDA’s Channel Connections.

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Where Did All of the Workers Go?

BY C L AU D IA ST. J O H N

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ecently I shared a cab with a client on my way to speak at a conference. He turned to me and said that he was interested to hear what I had to say about the state of the U.S. labor market. When I asked him what specifically he was hoping to hear in my talk, he said, “Well, I’m hoping you’re going to tell us where the workers went and when they’re going to come back. When are they going to get off the sofa and back to work. We’re dying out here and people just don’t seem to want to work anymore.”

If only I had a dollar for every time someone asked me this exact same question: Where all the workers went and when they were going to come back. The truth, everyone IS back to work. They’ve been back to work for a long time. The problem is, there just aren’t as many of them as there used to be. And when I explain this to people like my client, they seem surprised. And that, in turn, surprises me because these labor trends have been on the horizon for a long time. I think business owners have been ignoring the reality that

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there aren’t enough workers for all the jobs that are out there. In fact, as of August 1, 2023, there were almost 4 million more jobs than there were workers available to fill them. And what’s worse is that we don’t anticipate this changing anytime soon.

In fact, this has become my personal and professional mission, it seems — to travel the country speaking to business leaders, making them aware of what they should already know: there simply aren’t enough workers to satisfy all of the promises companies have made to their customers, let alone to support their growth projections. And here’s why:

EIGHT MILLION MISSING WORKERS Since the COVID 19 pandemic, we have lost approximately 8 million workers from the workplace. There are a number of places those workers went: • According to Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, close to 500,000 workers died from COVID.

On average, 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 each and every day; and by 2031, the number of people age 65 and over will number an estimated 75 million.

• T he Brookings Institute reports that 1.6 million full-time workers have left the workforce due to long COVID. •G oldman Sachs reports that 2.5 million older workers retired earlier than anticipated and are not returning to the workforce.

•A ccording to the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), there are nearly 2 million fewer women in the labor force due to childcare and familial needs.

• J P Morgan Chase reports that there are 1 million fewer legal immigrant and non-native born workers than before COVID. These 8 million workers represent approximately 5 percent of the overall workforce — a sizeable and noticeable number, to be sure.

AN AGING WORKFORCE Let’s face it, just like you and me, the United States is getting older. According to recent U.S. Census Bureau data, the nation’s median age is pushing 40 years old, and we’re aging faster than at any other time in our history. On average, 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 each and every day; and by 2031, the number of people age 65 and over will number an estimated 75 million, almost double what it was just 15 years ago. As these workers age and retire, the number of Generation Z and following Alpha workers is not sizeable enough to replace exiting Baby Boomers.

LOWER BIRTH RATE The current U.S. birth rate is among the lowest it has ever been historically, and is projected to decrease over the rest of the century. We’re simply not giving birth to enough future workers to replace the workers that currently are and will retire. Unlike their older counterparts, Millennials are putting off marriage and childbirth until later in life and are having fewer children than at any time in our history.

anticipated to persist for the foreseeable future. Because of this, the unemployment rate is stuck below 4.2 percent — what economists say is full employment.

See what I mean? It’s kind of scary. It’s definitely something business leaders should be staying up at night thinking about.

Or at least having some conversations with their best and brightest internal and external advisors discussing. Yet, I don’t see this happening. I get the sense that business owners are mistakenly believing that there is a pool of workers waiting on the sidelines for something magical to happen to convince them to rejoin the workforce. But they don’t exist. Everyone is working. This is just the new normal.

If this comes as a surprise to you, you’re not alone. And it’s not too late. What’s required is simply a mindset shift.

Most business leaders that we work with have all of the tools to get ahead of the game: they are investing in retention and employee engagement initiatives, they are looking for technology and outsourced/offshore labor alternatives, they are upskilling their existing workers and they are investing in soft-skill training for their managers and supervisors who are the front-line defense for employee turnover and attrition.

The good news is that most of these initiatives cost little to no money to implement and to do well. All of our clients are well-prepared for the task at hand, and of course we’re here to help them along the way. All it takes is a mindset shift. All it takes is dedication and commitment to do one and only one thing: to value employees for the valuable asset that they are. DM Claudia St. John, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is President of Affinity HR Group.

DECREASED IMMIGRATION & REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT So if we’re not giving birth to enough future workers, the strategy used historically and by other industrialized nations facing a similar aging workforce and low birthrate is to increase immigration.

However, the U.S. has done the opposite. Between the years of 2013 and 2018, the annual net immigration stood at just under 1 million workers per year. Since COVID, immigration has largely dried up, with only 241,000 workers joining the workforce in 2021.

EMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONS According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2021 to 2031, the U.S. economy is projected to add 8.3 million jobs.

But we’re already 8 million workers short. And this shortage is

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Developing Distribution Dynamos

MEET HONOUR DELANEY, ONE OF NBMDA’S EMERGING DISTRIBUTION LEADERS

BY JENNIFER WILLIAMS

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he NBMDA Emerging Distribution Leaders Program, a curated professional development program centered on up-and-coming distribution professionals, looks to add to its number of alumni.

Launched in 2022, this nine-month program assists up-andcoming professionals in reaching their full potential through the provision of coordinated education and relationship-building opportunities by providing opportunities to connect and build relationships through education, networking and involvement in the association.

“We believe this program will help us curate a network of individuals who are eager to learn, hungry for growth and ready to engage with their peers in the channel,” said Kevin Gammonley, Executive Vice President of NBMDA. Designed for distribution professionals who want to strengthen their management and leadership skills and advance their careers, the program offers the following benefits: • T ailored educational opportunities designed for emerging industry leaders •F orum for emerging leaders to network with other managers in the channel •O pportunity to network with NBMDA volunteer leadership and learn more about the organization Participants must be nominated by an NBMDA member company's executive team.

During the program, emerging leaders will participate in events, education opportunities and cohort touchpoints,

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including the four-day University of Innovative Distribution (UID), the ten-week NBMDA Master Manager Program (online), the NBMDA UID In-A-Day and the NBMDA Annual Convention.

So far, 25 professionals have graduated from the Emerging Distribution Leaders Program, says Gammonley, with additional candidates who are scheduled to complete the program in March 2024. One of the 25 graduates is Honour Delaney, who spent much of her career in nursing before her father asked her to join him in their successful, family-owned company, Distributor Service, Inc. Honour graduated in Nursing from Penn State University and worked as a labor and delivery nurse for more than 10 years.

She went on to get her Masters of Science in Nursing while working full-time crazy shifts and having three kids. Honour worked as a bedside nurse, Nurse Educator, Clinical Educator, and Nurse Manager simultaneously for most of her career.

She did not get involved in the business world or distribution until 2020, when her father, Bill Delaney, approached her with the idea of coming to work at his company, started by Honour’s grandfather in 1968. “My father was looking for a succession plan, she says. “I was honored and taken back by this, as I honestly never imagined working in the business, albeit alongside my father — one of the greatest and smartest businessmen. At that moment, I hung up my stethoscope, scrubs, and badge, and here I am three and some years later, going strong…. With so much more to learn, but I haven’t looked back for one second.”

We asked Honour about her Emerging Leaders experience and what advice she would give those considering applying to this program.

Q: Tell me a little more about the NBMDA Emerging

Leaders Program: how did you hear of it, what made you want to be a part of it and what type of time commitment did it require?

A. I heard about the Emerging Leaders Program when I was at one of the NBMDA conventions, and a member of NBMDA told me about the program and asked if I would be interested.

Of course, I was newer to the industry and wanting to learn and network, I was very excited to get involved and also grow professionally, which led to me being nominated. I always have looked for ways to learn and grow within the industry and overall just as a professional, so I felt this would be the perfect opportunity. The time commitment was not too overwhelming, even with working full time and being a full-time mom, I feel that it was manageable. I was able to do the self-paced learning on my own time when it fit into my schedule, which is always beneficial.

Q: In what ways did your participation help you understand the world of distribution more than you already did?

What are the biggest benefits you have seen after graduating from the program in 2022? What did you personally see as the most helpful component of the program?

A. My participation allowed my current knowledge to be used as a foundation, and the program served as the building blocks for me to grow by learning additional aspects of distribution, business, and leadership. The more I learned, the more the various aspects of distribution and business became connected.

The biggest benefit was the opportunity to network at UID Conference in March, while also learning and participating in person at the four-day event. I also benefitted greatly from the self-paced learning modules. The diversity of topics that related to professional leaders and business–organizational leadership, people management, and finances–had me learning something every step of the way. It was helpful to be able to connect these components to grow professionally and understand the industry and business from a greater perspective. I think learning about the financial aspects helped tie a lot of the topics together, as finance touches every aspect of the industry.

Q: What advice would you give someone considering applying for this program?

A. Ask yourself: are you ready to commit to learning and growing professionally within the industry and your own leadership? Do you feel you want to take another step for professional growth? If you answered yes, then absolutely apply! The program is built for those that are upcoming and EMERGING leaders; people who want to take steps to improve themselves professionally. The program helps to build on your current professional foundation and the goal is to help launch your next steps into additional leadership opportunities, or simply just learn to become better leaders within the distribution industry. DM

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©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM / GORODENKOFF

Distributors Continue to Show Resiliency and Reinvention

BY K E VIN GAMMONLE Y, NB MDA E XECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

D

istributors have proven their value

levels. Competition remains fierce requiring distributors

within the channel again and again.

to deploy extra effort and resources to win the sale.

Leading distributors do not rest and are

Distributors must continue to be adaptable and resilient

continually reinventing themselves to

as trends continue to shift and the economy softens.

stay ahead of quickly changing trends

Distribution is not for the faint of heart as margins are

and the emergence of new opportunities.

Technology and data are essential but so is the need

Economic contraction is expected throughout 2024.

for deep industry relationships and creative partnerships.

Distributors adapted to the new realities throughout 2023

Best-in-class distributors keep a close eye on emerging

following the pandemic boon years. The good times are

trends in areas outside their footprint and continually

subdued but certainly not over as flexible and innovative

work on the industry relationships that will allow them to

distributors continue to find opportunity and take market

capitalize on future trends. This is why growth-oriented

share from firms that are not adapting quickly enough.

distributors serving the woodworking and kitchen/bath

Some see their future as part of larger entities and have

markets were in Colorado Springs in November of 2023 at

been consolidated under larger parent companies with

the NBMDA Annual Convention deepening relationships,

a more robust menu of resources. We are certain to see

establishing new contacts and looking for the next product

more distributors choosing this route in the coming years.

or value-added service that will keep them one step ahead

With less disruption and chaos that has plagued the

of the competition.

14

under pressure and 2024 remains unpredictable.

channel for the last several years, distributors have more

The state of wholesale distribution in 2023 could be

time to focus on optimizing their supply chain operations.

defined as more normalized than in the past several years

Operational efficiency and productivity allow distributors

with more dependable sources of supply, some stability in

to carve out an edge that is much needed in today’s

the workforce coupled with a general cooling-off of sales

competitive landscape. In addition to putting discipline,

S U R FAC E A N D PA N E L . C O M

best practices and policies in place, distributors must invest in technology to separate themselves from the crowd when it comes to their operations, and we are seeing more of them do just this.

Throughout 2023, distributors made progress in their deployment of a variety of technologies including those designed to make them easier to do business, those that

NBMDA’s economists are recommending that distributors carefully balance their workforce in 2024 without making too drastic of reductions as they predict an upswing in 2025 ...

enhance their customer’s experience and tools that allow them to make better decisions in managing their business.

E-commerce platforms continued to evolve and offer customers new features and conveniences. Data analytics advancements provide distributors with real-time analysis of sales trends facilitating faster, better decision-making. Cloudbased computing adoption by distributors continues to increase as a means of securing increased security, resilience, scalability, and business continuity. The increasing threat of cyberattacks is a significant concern for distributors driving cloud adoption.

According to the most recent NBMDA Sales Trend Report based on a survey conducted of member distributors, the following ranked highest as the biggest surprises in late 2023: • Demand has held-up in light of weakened economic conditions • Continued strength in the commercial sectors • Major manufacturers with ongoing supply issues • Sales have been stronger than expected While the following ranked as the biggest challenges facing distributors: • Finding strong candidates to fill open positions • Managing higher cost inventory in the face of falling prices • Increased supply in the market leading to margin compression

are recommending that distributors carefully balance their workforce in 2024 without making too drastic of reductions as they predict an upswing in 2025 which distributors will need to be properly staffed to take advantage. Talent recruitment will remain tight into 2025 and thus, distributors need to take this into consideration in 2024.

Many distributors have sales trends that align with the residential construction sector, particularly single-family home building. Despite affordability constraints and ongoing elevated interest rates, residential construction is expected to lead the recovery for the U.S. economy coming out of 2024 and thus, the forward-thinking distributor is investing in their business now while also evaluating their supply chain risks.

Traditional distributor growth was characterized by cautious, geographic expansion into contiguous markets and extension of product offerings into complementary categories. But today’s distributors must get accustomed to seeing the emergence of competitors leveraging completely new business models, an even more rapid adoption of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and major shifts in how customers want to interact and transact. DM

• Higher operating costs Such challenges are not easy to navigate and are expected to follow distributors well into 2024. Additional factors likely to impact distributors in the coming year are accelerating digitization, expanding competition and heightened customer expectations.

NBMDA’s official economists from ITR Economics regularly analyze trends impacting the leading economic indicators

KEVIN GAMMONLEY has served as the Executive Vice President of the North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA) for more than 30 years.

identified by NBMDA as being most relevant to distributors.

Unfortunately, the majority of these indicators are predicted to be down in 2024. In light of these factors, NBMDA’s economists

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NBMDA Member Directory

Distributors A & M Supply Corp.

Pinellas Park, FL (727) 541-6632 www.a-msupply.com ADENTRA Concord, NH (603) 369-6004 adentragroup.com Advanced Hardware Supply, Inc. Boise, ID (208) 321-8089 www.advancedhardwaresupply.com Aetna Building Solutions Maywood, IL (815)968-0921 www.aetnaplywood.com Allegheny Plywood Company Inc Pittsburgh , PA (412) 621-6804 alleghenyplywood.com Alpine Plywood Corporation Milwaukee, WI (414) 831-4556 www.alpineplywood.com Amerhart Ltd. Green Bay, WI (920) 494-4744 www.amerhart.com Arthur Distributor Company Arthur, IL (217) 543-2166 Atlantic Plywood Corp.

Woburn, MA (781) 933-1932 www.atlanticplywood.com Bennett Supply Company Cheswick, PA (888) 236-6388 www.bennettsupply.com Bond Plywood, Inc. Ferndale, MI (800) 247-5966 www.bondply.com

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S U R FAC E A N D PA N E L . C O M

Brazos Forest Products Grand Prairie, TX (800) 777-7712 www.brazosfp.com

Fantastic Wood Coatings Ontario, CA (909) 391-9756 www.fantasticwoodcoatings.com

Liberty Hardwoods Inc Kansas City, MO (888) 908-0852 www.libertyhardwoodsinc.com

Cabinetparts.com Pompano Beach, FL (954) 428-3800 www.cabinetparts.com

Fessenden Hall Pennsauken Township, NJ (800) 220-2233 www.fessendenhall.com

Lumbermen's, Inc. Grand Rapids, MI (616) 538-5180 www.lumbermens-inc.com

Charles McMurray Co. Fresno, CA (559) 292-5751 www.charlesmcmurray.com

Formations Inc. Edmonton , AB (780) 893-7540 www.formations.ca

M S International Orange, CA (714) 685-7500 www.msisurfaces.com

Connecticut Plywood Corp.

Plainville, CT (860) 953-0060 www.connply.com

Frama-Tech LLC Navarre, FL (800) 622-9663 www.framatech.com

MacMurray Pacific San Francisco, CA (415) 552-5500 www.macmurraypacific.com

Dakota Premium Hardwoods, LLC Waco, TX (512) 389-9773 www.dakotahardwoods.com

GMS Canada Vaughan, ON (905) 669-1898 www.watsonbuildingsupplies.com

Manhattan Laminates/ Roberts Plywood Deer Park, NY (212) 255-2522 www.manlam.com

Darant Distributing Corp.

Denver, CO (303) 289-2220 www.darant.com

Grander Georgetown, TX (346) 662-2280 www.granderdistributing.com

Direct Supply, Inc. Grand Rapids, MI (616) 245-4415 www.directsupplyinc.com

Hood Products Distribution Company Hattiesburg, MS (601) 296-4817 www.hooddistribution.com

Distributor Service, Inc. Carnegie, PA (412) 279-7824 www.distributor-service.com Dixie Plywood and Lumber Savannah, GA (912) 447-7032 www.dixieply.com E. Roko Distributors Burnaby, BC (604) 360-5391 www.eroko.com

Horizon Forest Products Raleigh, NC (919) 719-0877 www.horizonforestcabinet.com International Plywood & Lumber Miami, FL (305) 884-0860 www.discountplywood.com Jasper Industrial Supply Jasper, IN (812) 482-1636 www.jasperindustrial.com

E.B. Bradley Co./West Coast Laminating Vernon, CA (323) 585-9917 ebbradley.com

L&R Sales Worchester, MA (800) 252-8671 www.landrsales.com

FAMIS Inc Miami, FL (305) 638-8810 www.famisinc.com

LeNoble Lumber Company Inc. Long Island City, NY (718) 784-5230 www.lenoblelumber.com

Marathon Hardware Mississauga, ON (905) 607-8665 www.marathonhardware.com McFadden's Hardwood & Hardware Inc. Oakville, ON (800) 268-0942 www.mcfaddens.com McKillican International, Inc. Edmonton , AB (780) 453-3841 www.mckillican.com MJB Wood Group, Inc. Cedar Hill, TX (972) 401-0005 www.mjbwood.com Nashville Plywood, Inc. Nashville, TN (615) 320-7877 www.nashvilleplywood.com National Wood Products, Inc. Salt Lake City, UT (801) 977-1171 www.nationalwood.com Ohio Valley Supply Company Cincinnati, OH (513) 853-3301 www.ovsco.com

NBMDA Member Directory

Wurth Louis and Company Brea, CA (714) 529-1771 www.louisandcompany.com

Brookside Veneers Ltd Cranbury, NJ (609) 409-1311 www.veneers.com

Darlington Veneer Company Darlington, SC (843) 393-3861 www.darlingtonveneer.com

Plywood Company of Fort Worth, Inc. Fort Worth, TX (817) 371-2977 www.plywoodcompany.com

Wurth Wood Group Charlotte, NC (704) 887-7921 www.wurthwoodgroup.com

C.A. Technologies Wagner Group Louisville, CO (303) 438-5707 www.spraycat.com

Decospan Menen, Belgium (917) 573-6775 www.decospan.com

Yorke Towne Supplies LTD. Richmond Hill, ON (905)762-1200 www.yorketowne.com

Canusa Wood Vancouver, BC (236) 878-5391 www.canusawood.com

Decotone Surfaces Garwood, NJ (616) 446-1403 www.decotonesurfaces.com

Century Components Sugarcreek, OH (330) 852-3610 www.centurymade.com

Deerwood Fasteners Conover, NC (800) 951-2222 www.deerwood.com

Chemcraft, Inc. High Point, NC (336) 847-4320 www.chemcraft.com

Designs of Distinction by Brown Wood Inc. Lincolnwood, IL (773) 852-2665 www.brownwoodinc.com

Richelieu America Ltd. Ville Saint-Laurent, QC (800) 619-5446 www.richelieu.com Roddis Lumber & Veneer San Antonio, TX (210) 226-1426 www.roddislumber.com

Suppliers

Sierra Forest Products / Upper Canada Forest Products Mississauga, ON (630) 231-0450 www.ucsforestgroup.com

Accuride International Santa Fe Springs, CA (909) 645-7420 www.accuride.com

Spokane Hardware Supply, Inc. Spokane, WA (800) 888-1663 www.spokanehardware.com

AGT Antalya, Turkey 0242 249 1717 www.agt.com.tr

Texas Wood Supply Donna, TX (956) 464-6331 www.texaswoodsupply.com

Alvic USA Auburndale, FL (863) 875-2458 www.alvicusa.com

Virginia Tile Holdings, LLC Kansas City, KS (913) 573-0516 www.virginiatile.com

Arauco North America Inc. Markham, ON (416) 994-5441 www.arauco-na.com

Web-Don, Inc. Charlotte, NC (704) 375-0250 www.web-don.com

Axalta Coating Systems High Point, NC (336) 802-4716 www.axaltawoodcoatings.com

White Wood Distributors Winnipeg, MB (204) 982-9475 www.w-group.ca

Berenson Corp.

Buffalo, NY (716) 833-3100 www.berensonhardware.com

Willis Supply Co. Ltd. Tracy, CA (289) 775-5814 www.4willis.com

Birchland Plywood Limited Thessalon , ON (587) 434-1319 www.birchlandplywood.com

Wurth Baer Supply Co. Vernon Hills, IL (847) 913-2237 www.baersupply.com

Blum Inc. Stanley, NC (704) 827-1345 www.blum.com

Chemetal Easthampton, MA (413) 529-0718 www.chemetal.com

Diamond Vogel Orange City, IA (712) 360-2064 www.diamondvogel.com

Clarke Veneers and Plywood Jackson, MS (601) 366-0331 www.clarkeveneers.com Columbia Forest Products Greensboro, NC (800) 637-1609 www.columbiaforestproducts.com Commonwealth Plywood Whitehall, NY (518) 499-0099 www.cpiwhitehall.com Comtrad Strategic Sourcing Mississauga, ON (716) 341-1876 www.comtrad.ca Corob North America Charlotte, NC (980) 254-6299 www.corob.com CyCan Industries / Quality Aerosols Woodstock, GA (678) 494-1112 www.cycanindustries.com

Dongtai Hardware Precision (Hong Kong) Limited Hong Kong 86 757 25332283 www.dtcdtc.com

NO RTH AM E RICAN B U I LDI NG MATE RIAL DI STRI B UTIO N AS SOCIATIO N

Plunkett Distributing Fort Smith, AR (479) 782-2190 www.plunkettdistributing.com

Egger Wood Products LLC Linwood, NC (844) 977-0053 www.egger.com EGR Inc Ontario, CA (909) 732-0313 www.stylelite.net Evolve Interiors and Exteriors Solutions LLP Mumbai, India 91 22 2630 0686 www.evolveindia.co FGV America, Inc. Reseda, CA (714) 257-5317 www.fgvamerica.com C O N T I N U E D O N PAG E 1 6 8

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NO RTH AM E RICAN B U I LDI NG MATE RIAL DI STRI B UTIO N AS SOCIATIO N

NBMDA Member Directory C O N T I N U E D F R O M PAG E 1 6 7

Flexible Materials, Inc. Jeffersonville, IN (812) 280-7000 www.flexwood.com

Hartson-Kennedy Cabinet Top Marion, IN (765) 668-8144 www.hartson-kennedy.com

Formica Corp.

Cincinnati, OH (513) 786-3065 www.formica.com

Helmitin, Inc. Toronto, ON (416) 239-3105 www.helmitin.com

FormWood Industries, Inc. Jeffersonville, IN (812) 284-3676 www.formwood.com

Hettich America L.P. Buford, GA (800) 777-1772 www.hettich.com

Franklin International Columbus , OH (614) 445-1244 www.franklininternational.com

Holland Southwest Int. Houston, TX (713) 644-1966 www.hollandsw.com

Fulterer USA, Inc. High Point, NC (336) 431-4646 www.fultererusa.com

Hutton Forest Products Cambridge, ON (519) 620-4374 www.hfpi.com

Garnica Plywood Logroño, La Rioja 34 941 51 23 53 www.garnica.one

ICP Group Andover, MA (978) 623-9980 www.icpgroup.com

Gemini Industries El Reno, OK (405) 345-2015 www.geminicoatings.com

IMG International Markets Group Chico, CA (530) 892-1972 www.imgsourcing.com

General Finishes East Troy, WI generalfinishes.com

John Boos & Company Effingham, IL (217) 347-7701 www.johnboos.com

Genesis Products Inc. Goshen, IN (419) 344-7514 www.genesisproductsinc.com Grass America Inc. Kernersville, NC (336) 996-4041 www.grassusa.com Great American Spaces Grand Rapids, MI (877) 553-9945 www.greatamericanspaces.com Halo Woods, LLC Carlsbad, CA (877) 600-8310 www.halowoods.com

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S U R FAC E A N D PA N E L . C O M

Karran USA Vincennes, IN (866) 452-7726 www.karran.com Kessebohmer USA Inc. Wilmington, NC (910) 338-5080 www.cleverstorage.com King Plastic Corporation North Port, FL (941) 493-5502 www.kingplastic.com Kitchen Kompact, Inc. Jeffersonville, KY (812) 282-6681 www.kitchenkompact.com

Knape & Vogt Company Grand Rapids, MI www.kv.com LE Surfaces Austin, TX (616) 293-6170 www.lesurfaces.com Lexington Manufacturing Minneapolis, MN (763) 722-9796 www.lexingtonmfg.com M.L. Campbell Cleveland, OH (216) 566-2104 www.mlcampbell.com Maine Plywood USA Bingham, ME (207) 620-6180 www.multiplyplywood.com Meganite Solid Surfaces Ontario, CA (800) 836-1118 www.meganite.com Michigan Maple/Bally Block Co's.

Petoskey, MI (231) 347-4170 www.butcherblock.com Milesi Wood Coatings Glendale Heights, IL (224) 434-7990 www.milesi.us Mirka USA Twinsburg, OH (800) 843-3904 www.mirka.com MIRLUX Premium Panel Eugene, OR www.mirluxpanel.com Mohawk Finishing Products Hickory, NC (828) 319-2747 www.mohawk-finishing.com Murphy Plywood Eugene, OR (541) 461-4545 www.murphyplywood.com

NewStar Adhesives, Inc. Weston, MA (855) 497-0800 www.newstaradhesives.com Olon Industries, Inc. Georgetown, ON (905) 877-7300 www.olon.com Onbord Doors and Processed Panels Inc. Mississauga, ON (905) 564-2327 www.proply.com Peter Meier Inc. Kernersville, NC (336) 336-7774 www.petermeier.comindex.asp Quin Global Omaha, NE (402) 731-3636 www.quinglobal.com REHAU Industries LLC Leesburg, VA (888) 734-2810 na.rehau.com Rev-A-Shelf LLC Jeffersontown, KY (502) 499-5835 www.rev-a-shelf.com Richmond International Forest Products Glen Allen, VA (804) 747-0111 www.rifp.com Richwood Industries Inc. Makers of PolyBak Grand Rapids, MI (616) 243-2700 www.richwoodind.com Rincomatic Villamalea, Albacete, Spain 0034 967 486 010 www.rincomatic.com Rockford Process Control, LLC Rockford, IL (815) 847-7940 www.rockfordprocesscontrol.com

NBMDA Member Directory

Timber Products Company Springfield, OR (541) 744-4223 www.timberproducts.com

Wilsonart LLC Temple, TX (864) 430-0188 www.wilsonart.com

Federated Insurance Owatonna, MN (800) 533-0472 www.federatedinsurance.com

Salice America Inc. Charlotte, NC (800) 222-9652 www.saliceamerica.com

Titus Precision Columbia City, IN (260) 248-5205 www.titusplus.com

Winksy International Ajman, UAE 971521614262 www.winksyinternational.com

Moblico Kansas City, MO (855) 662-5426 www.moblico.com

Shelter Forest International Portland, OR (503) 450-0900 www.tigerply.com

U.S. Futaba Chesapeake, VA (757) 549-0036 www.usfutaba.com

Woodstock Supplies Sarasota, FL (800) 505-1145 www.woodstocksupplies.com

Nuvo South San Francisco, CA (415) 272-3552 www.nuvo.credit

Sivam Coatings S.p.A. Bareggio (604) 345-0269 www.sivam.it

Ultrapan Coral Springs, FL (754) 702-2632 www.synergythermofoils.com

SiYi America Houston, TX (917) 200-7925 www.siyiamerica.com

Uneeda Enterprizes, Inc. Spring Valley, NY (845) 875-6260 www.uneeda.com

Specialty Laminates Cambridge, ON (519) 221-3470 www.specialtylaminates.com

Uniboard Canada Laval, QC (708) 541-8343 www.uniboard.com

States Industries Eugene, OR (541) 688-7871 www.statesind.com

Unilin, division panels Oostrozebeke, Belgium 32 56 66 7021 www.unilinpanels.com/en

Sugatsune America Inc. Carson, CA (630) 519-4104 www.sugatsune.com

USply Medley, FL (305) 722-6622 www.usply.net

Sureteco (Dollken) Brampton, ON (610) 823-8171 www.na.doellken.com

Vauth-Sagel USA LP High Point , NC (336) 861-0740 www.vauth-sagel-usa.com

Tafisa Canada Dorval, QC (514) 780-1324 www.tafisa.ca

Veneer Technologies Inc. Newport, NC (252) 223-8025 www.veneertech.com

Tecnotabla, LLC St. Petersburg, FL (727) 365-4853 www.proteak.com

VT Industries, Inc. Holstein, IA (712) 368-4381 www.vtindustries.com

Teknaform Bolton, ON (469) 273-0033 www.teknaform.com

Weyerhaeuser MDF Columbia Falls, MT (406) 892-6180 www.woodbywy.com

Service Providers Acuity Insurance Sheboygan, WI (920) 458-9131 www.acuity.com

DMSi Software Omaha, NE (402) 330-6620 www.dmsi.com

Prokeep New Orleans, LA (504) 210-8086 www.prokeep.com Sales-i Chicago, IL (847) 868-8175 www.sales-i.com

Allvan LaVergne, TN (615) 459-2511 www.allvancorp.com Combilift USA Greensboro, NC (877) 266-2456 www.combilift.com

Profit2 Overland Park, KS (913) 579-9215 www.profit2.com

Sampling International Irvine, CA (800) 933-5232 www.samplinginternational.com

NO RTH AM E RICAN B U I LDI NG MATE RIAL DI STRI B UTIO N AS SOCIATIO N

Roseburg Forest Products LP Roseburg, OR (870) 866-1052 www.roseburg.com

Unified Purchasing Group South Jordan, UT (801) 784-8774 www.upg.org Xpress Global Systems Chattanooga, TN (423) 822-2013 www.xgsi.com

Epicor Westminster, CO (770) 518-5429 www.epicor.com

330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60611 TELEPHONE: 888-747-7862 or 312-321-6845 FAX: 312-644-0310 EMAIL: info@nbmda.org WEBSITE: www.nbmda.org

PROFESSIONAL STAFF: EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT: Kevin Gammonley MEMBERSHIP & OPERATIONS MANAGER: Megan Turckes SENIOR SALES MANAGER: Scott Narug MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER: Sean Dillon

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North American Building Material Distribution Association Connects the Most Innovative and Strategic Wholesale Distributors NBMDA members ... n

Include the leading wholesale distributors and their supplier partners

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Operate from 800+ distribution centers located throughout the U.S. and Canada

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Distribute specialty building materials for interiors including wood panels, surfacing materials, cabinet hardware, finishes and related woodworking production supplies.

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Serve a customer base comprised of independent building material, and kitchen and bath dealer as well as firms that serve production companies involved in cabinetry, architectural woodwork, stock woodwork, store fixtures, solid surface fabricating, plastics fabricating, general and specialty woodworking industries.

NBMDA provides ... n

Facilitated opportunities to strengthen trading partner relationships

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Education and training across the spectrum of distribution management topics

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Insights into the leading trends and best practices that impact distributor productivity and profitability

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Benchmarking to allow distributors insight into how they compare to industry averages and the industry’s top distributors

www.nbmda.org