LBM Advantage managment talks leadership

LBM Advantage, the lumber and building materials cooperative, held it's first internal management leadership conference.

The two-day event was held on Sept. 26-27 at City Winery in Montgomery, N.Y. The conference was attended by 26 managers from all departments throughout the company who participated in two days of networking and workshop training.

Training included “The Seven C’s of Leadership” led by motivational speaker and author, Regina Clark. 

Clark has a solid history as a human resources executive and previously launched a business academy for a large retail chain. She launched her own speaking and training business over 20 ago and has designed and delivered programs for Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Cummins, and NFL Films.

Her energetic style promoted an atmosphere of free discussion and kept the team engaged throughout, LBM Advantage said.

Participants at the conference discussed numerous topics including leadership versus management.

Managers also participated in self-assessments of their skill sets and formed groups to solve complex employee issues, discuss good communication styles, feedback, coaching, and reacting to change. 

To kick off the event and encourage communication between leaders who work in LBM Advantage’s four locations (New Windsor, NY.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Smithfield, N.C.; and Conroe, Texas) the managers enjoyed dinner at The Lakeview House on Orange Lake in Newburgh.

LBM Advantage said that it “believes wholeheartedly in the professional development of its management team.” 

Under the direction of Kellianne Lundgren, human resources director at LBM Advantage, the buying group plans plan to provide consistent in-person training to build teamwork and create effective leaders. 

“We have a very strong management team – the best we have fielded,” said LBM Advantage CEO Steve Sallah. “It was evident that our managers care about our membership, our company, and our employees.” 

As a follow-up to this year’s event, managers will submit desired topics for the next session, read the recommended material, and continue to build on what they learned.

LBM Advantage is based in New Windsor.