More than 200 LBM professionals gathered in person for LBM Strategies Conference 2021 Oct. 12-15 in Boston.
The attendees, who represented leading LBM dealers and distributors from throughout the U.S., gathered to learn, connect, and get back to work armed with practical, tactical solutions to today’s toughest business challenges.
Two new events kicked off LBM Strategies 2021. First, was a tour of two National Lumber locations in nearby Mansfield, Massachusetts. More than 100 conference attendees visited National Lumber where they toured the yard, offices, moulding and millwork facilities, and warehouse. Following the tour, attendees took part in a 90-minute Women in LBM Workshop, in which topics included how to increase diversity and inclusion in the LBM industry, and how to identify leadership traits in women.
Like years before, the following day and a half were filled with presentations from front-line LBM operators and employees sharing real-world experiences and proven successes from their companies. Speakers representing LBM companies from across the country addressed issues urgent to the industry including topics ranging from making a company a Best Place to Work, pricing strategies, technology tips, operational excellence, mergers and acquisitions, and much more.
As always, the connections made between attendees that allow our industry to grow and thrive are at the heart of LBM Strategies. Each day was filled with networking opportunities, meals, cocktail receptions, and private dinners where quality, in-person relationships are forged, and fresh connections established.
LBM Strategies has established itself as the premier high- level educational and networking conference serving our industry, consistently attracting more dealers and distributor attendees than any competing event, and 2021’s conference in Boston was no exception. Here are what some attendees had to say:
“I enjoyed meeting other dealers that were working on similar initiatives to what we are doing as well as those that are a little further along on the life cycle of continuous improvement.”
“The event provided a credit manager the ability to look at other areas of the company business to help model, build, and develop my purpose in my company. The format allowed time to enjoy the city we were in. Excellent experience.”
“Most valuable was the opportunity to sit in on sessions and network with those around us, switching up tables each time.”
“I love Boston. The speakers were almost all excellent, covering timely topics.”
“The tour was great and provided some feedback to take back home. The location was great!”
“The chance to make new contacts and get new ideas are invaluable. Continuous improvement is important!”
An annual tradition at LBM Strategies, the LBM community honored LBM CENTURY CLUB members. THE LBM CENTURY CLUB was created to recognize dealers who’ve been in business for more than 100 years. There’s no cost to join this exclusive club—managing to survive and thrive for more than a century is the price of admission.
A total of 188 companies belong to the Century Club, and combined they’ve been in business for 23,481 years. Century Club members who were in attendance in Boston were recognized:
Henry Poor Lumber | est. 1908 | 103 years |
Mid-Cape Home Centers | est. 1895 | 126 years |
Sanford & Hawley, Inc. | est. 1884 | 137 years |
Morsches Builders Mart | est. 1871 | 150 years |
Gilcrest/Jewett Lumber | est. 1856 | 165 years |
Hancock Lumber | est. 1848 | 173 years |
Those six companies have all attended prior LBM Strategies Conferences.
LBM CENTURY CLUB members attending the annual conference for the first time were invited onstage and honored with a plaque. At this year’s conference, those LBM dealers included:
Marcus Lumber | est. 1920 | 101 years |
Krempp Lumber | est. 1918 | 103 years |
Preston Feather | est. 1915 | 106 years |
Arnold Lumber | est. 1911 | 110 years |
Keim | est. 1911 | 110 years |
The 11 companies recognized on stage at LBM Strategies 2021 have a combined 1,486 years of serving their communities.
Also recognized at this year’s conference, are LBM Dealer of the Year recipients. The Dealer of the Year program awards four companies each year that are continually moving the needle for the LBM industry.
LBM Dealer of the Year, revenues of less than $10 million:
Krempp Lumber | Jasper, Ind.
LBM Dealer of the Year, revenues of $10-$50 million:
Hamilton Building Supply | Hamilton, NJ
LBM Dealer of the Year, revenues of $50-$100 million:
Zuern Building Products | Slinger, WI
LBM Dealer of the Year, revenues of more than $100 million:
Keim | Charm, Ohio
(Note: for the first time ever, there was a tie for one position: Ganahl Lumber of Anaheim, California was also a Dealer of the Year at the $100 million-plus level.)
For the first time, the LBM Strategies Conference recognized the companies that were included in the first-ever LBM Journal 100, our listing of the top 100 LBM dealers by revenue. Unlike other rankings of top dealers which include estimates of company revenues, the LBM Journal 100 relies on companies who want to be considered for the listing to submit their revenue. If you think your company deserves a spot on the list, watch LBMJournal.com this spring, when we’ll begin compiling data for the 2022 LBM Journal 100.
Attendees from 22 of the LBM 100 companies were in attendance:
No. 97 ITC Millwork | Stallings, NC
No. 89 Hamilton Building Supply | Hamilton, NJ
No. 87 Dakota County Lumber | Farmington, MN
No. 77 Townsend Building Supply | Enterprise, AL
No. 75 Goldsboro Building Supply | Goldsboro, NC
No. 69 Yoder’s Building Services | Fairplay, SC
No. 68 The Lester Group | Martinsville, VA
No. 67 Arnold Lumber | West Kingston, RI
No. 63 Cassity Jones Lumber | Longview, TX
No. 60 Wilson Lumber | Huntsville, AL
No. 56 Zuern Building Products | Slinger, WI
No. 50 TAL Holdings | Vancouver, WA
No. 49 Your Building Centers | Williamsport, PA
No. 38 Hayward Score | Pebble Beach, CA
No. 35 Koopman Lumber | Whitinsville, MA
No. 33 Keim | Charm, OH
No. 30 Hancock Lumber | Casco, ME
No. 28 Mill Creek Lumber | Broken Arrow, OK
No. 23 Sunpro | Orem, UT
No. 17 National Lumber | Mansfield, MA
No. 11 The Parr Company | Hillsboro, OR
No. 6 Kodiak Building Partners | Highlands Ranch, CO
96% of attendees surveyed after the conference indicated that they were highly likely to recommend LBM Strategies Conferences to other LBM industry professionals. 65% of those surveyed said that they are either already registered or definitely plan to attend next year.
Registration is opening soon for LBM Strategies 2022, to be held October 12-14 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center.