From the Editor

Without a doubt the labor shortage is the biggest issue facing dealers that I talk to for our monthly dealer profile stories.

Over the past five years, I’ve seen our conference grow in strength and scope through the quality of content as well as the networking opportunities with LBM dealers, managers, salespeople, HR directors, and so on.

Since 2016, LBM Journal has promoted the LBM Century Club as our salute to the many 100-year-old businesses we’ve met over the years.

While LBM Journal serves as an information source for lumber and building supply dealers and hardware retailers to learn about manufacturers’ offerings, it’s also where manufacturers turn to learn of the challenges that dealers (their biggest customers) are facing.

If you've ever wanted to know more about recruiting, hiring, and holding on to top-tier talent at your LBM business, chances are your research has brought you to Rikka Brandon.

Congratulations again to each of our winners, and thank you to everyone who participated in the nomination process. It is truly a pleasure to share these stories.

If you haven’t yet heard, Rick Davis and I have launched The LBM Sales Podcast, though we both agree that there’s much more to it than sales.

As the staff here at LBM Journal prepared for our annual LBM Strategies conference last month, I couldn’t help but notice how the importance of company culture stood out in many speakers’ presentations.

As I interviewed Sunny Bowman for the cover story on Dakota County Lumber here in my home state of Minnesota, the conversation often came back to one simple, yet incredibly important action that most Minnesotans aren’t exactly known for doing well—talking about issues.

As I ease into the Editor’s chair here at LBM Journal, I’m grateful for the connections I’ve made in this industry. I strive to continue to tell their stories, and hopefully connect more LBM dealers together in the process.