LBM Advantage sees record attendance
LBM Advantage reached record attendance at its more recent Annual Buying Show & Shareholders Meeting.
Held last month in Orlando, Florida, hit its highest member attendance with 800 of their 1400 locations represented, the LMB cooperative reported.
During the event, Chairman Richard Herrington of Ed Herrington, Inc. and Vice-Chairman Chris O’Neill of Kellogg Supply Company presented LBM Advantage President and CEO Stephen Sallah with a plaque to commemorate his service to the cooperative.
Sallah plans to retire this summer after 16 years with the organization. Under Sallah’s leadership, LBM Advantage has grown from 425 members to 1400, through two mergers and southern, southwestern, and western expansion.
The event kicked off with three educational sessions that provided insight into new 2024 building product codes, successfully participating in the multi-family housing market, and taking control of digital marketing assets.
The multi-family housing presentation was led by a panel of industry experts that included Ryan Ozbun, director of sales for Quaker Windows and Doors; Jeff Bratton, director of sales-national accounts at American Gypsum; Mark Shook, national account manager at Prowood; Brad Emmert, president of Timberland Lumber; Hank Keel, vice president of purchasing at Home Builders Supply Company; and Nolan Levine, vice president at Fallsburg Lumber.
The session on marketing was presented by Adam Mark of 2060 Digital, a marketing firm that is well-versed in the LBM industry.
At Advantage’s annual Shareholders Meeting, attendees were provided with financial updates, an overview of the industry and the co-op now and moving forward, and information on the co-op’s membership which now includes over 520 independent dealer members with 1400 locations in 46 states.
“Our Annual Buying Show is the Super Bowl of events for LBM Advantage,” said Tom Molloy, LBM Advantage EVP of Building Products and Programs, “We aim to provide our members and our vendor partners with the opportunity to learn and conduct business face-to-face in a fun, social setting.”
LBM Advantage has already begun planning its 2025 event that will take place at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida from March 10-12, 2025.
The cooperative operates four locations in New Windsor, New York; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Smithfield, N.C.; and Conroe, Texas, offering national programs with regional expertise.
