LBM Advantage NextGen gathers in Charlotte
LBM Advantage, one of the nation’s leading lumber and building materials cooperatives held its fourth NextGen Leadership Conference at the Omni Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The event took place April 30 through May 3 with National Gypsum, the provider of Gold Bond, ProFrom, and PermaBASE brands, sponsoring the event.
Attendees of the conference were next generation owners and future leaders from LBM Advantage member organizations, along with LBM Advantage staff members, who have been slated for professional development opportunities.
The comprehensive agenda included tours of National Gypsum’s technology center and plant and two days of educational workshops and roundtables focused on communication, hiring, products, lumber futures, and sales.
Presenters included Tom Molloy, LBM Advantage executive vice president of Building Products & Programs; Kellianne Lundgren, LBM Advantage director of human resources; Mark Dumain, LBM Advantage lumber and futures analyst; and Matt Richards, LBM Advantage senior manager-national accounts.
Other presenters included Pamela Jett, an internationally recognized communications expert, and industry sales expert, Bradley Hartmann.
Attendees also enjoyed social activities and spent time networking with their peers to problem-solve issues and devise plans for ongoing communication and programs.
Clara Collins of S.W. Collins Company in Caribou, Maine was selected to take part in a “Construction Leadership” podcast hosted by Bradley Hartmann that will air in the next few weeks.
NextGen is led by a steering committee that includes the following LBM Advantage members and cooperative staff:
- Kolby Dukes of Dukes Lumber in Delaware,
- Taylor Carroll of Rice Lumber in Vermont,
- Rebecca Dengler of Sequin Lumber in Michigan,
- Andy Umbel of G&W Lumber in Maryland,
- and Daniel Bricker, LBM Advantage panel products manager.
“NextGen by LBM Advantage has given me an opportunity to grow as a young leader through building relationships with vendors, education from experts within the LBM industry, and strong support from my peers,” said Kolby Dukes, chairperson. “I walk away from the NextGen conference energized and better equipped to lead our team so that we can better serve our customers and our community.”
The LBM Advantage NextGen group said that it welcomes up-and-coming leaders, leaders that are new to management roles, and future owners with the intent of helping them become accomplished leaders that preserve the future of independent lumberyards.
LBM Advantage is a member-owned forest products and building materials cooperative comprised of premier, independent LBM retailers.
The LBM buying group operates locations in New Windsor, New York; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Smithfield, North Carolina; and Conroe, Texas.
