FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2024
Press Contact:
Maria Saraceno-Ward
Marketing Manager LBM Advantage, Inc.
555 Hudson Valley Avenue, Suite 200, New Windsor, N.Y. 12553
msaracenoward@lbmadvantage.com
LBM Advantage Holds Successful Fifth Annual NextGen Leadership Conference
New Windsor, N.Y.
LBM Advantage, one of the nation’s leading lumber and building materials cooperatives recently concluded its highly anticipated fifth annual NextGen Leadership Conference at the Gaylord Rockies in Aurora, CO from April 28 through May 1. The event, sponsored by industry giants, Johns Manville and USG, brought together the brightest minds and current and emerging leaders from LBM Advantage member organizations and LBM Advantage staff.
The conference commenced with a vibrant welcome event at the Gaylord’s Top Golf Swing suites, setting the tone for an enriching experience. Attendees were treated to exclusive tours of Johns Manville’s cutting-edge technology center and USG’s innovative joint compound plants. These immersive experiences provided valuable insights into the manufacturing processes and technological advancements driving the industry forward.
Over the course of two days, students engaged in a diverse array of educational sessions covering key topics such as sales strategies, leadership development, marketing trends, human resources best practices, and in-depth product and market knowledge from Johns Manville and USG. A highlight of the event was a panel discussion moderated by Tom Molloy, LBM Advantage’s Executive Vice President of Building Products & Programs that featured several esteemed leaders: Advantage Chairman of the Board and National Accounts member, Richard Herrington of Herrington’s, Advantage Board Member and Vice Chairman of the Forest Products Committee, Matthew Piggott of MPC-Cashway Lumber, and Greg Goodale, LBM Advantage National Accounts Chairman and Vice President of Riverhead Building Supply. The panelists shared invaluable insights into maximizing the benefits of the cooperative model to drive organizational growth and success.
Other distinguished speakers at the conference included former Advantage Chairman of the Board, Jim Davis, Lynne Jensen-Nelson, renowned entrepreneur and founder of Conversion-omics Speakers and Consultants, Kellianne Lundgren, LBM Advantage’s Director of Human Resources, Adam Mark Area Manager, Client Development from Digital 2060, Kyle Flondor, USG’s Product Manager for Wallboard, and Tommy Knappich, Vice President and General Manager of Insulation Systems at Johns Manville.
NextGen is led by a Steering Committee that includes the following LBM Advantage members and coop staff: Kolby Dukes of Dukes Lumber in Delaware, Alex Moyer of A.D. Moyer Lumber in Pennsylvania, Adam Collins of S.W. Collins in Maine, 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. Chairperson Kolby Dukes states, “LBM Advantage’s investment in future leaders of independent dealers is so encouraging for our industry. Having the opportunity to learn, network, and grow is very valuable to me and the many other NextGen members!”
The LBM Advantage NextGen group 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 the industry’s premier independent LBM retailers. Its mission is to provide a competitive advantage for its members by leveraging their collective power. Advantage prides itself on offering transparency, flexibility, and regional expertise through its operation of four locations in New Windsor, NY, Grand Rapids, MI, Smithfield, NC, and Conroe, TX.
