Northwestern Lumber Association (NLA) announced that it will rebrand as BLD Connection effective October 1, 2023.
As announced earlier this month, NLA and the Mid-America Lumbermens Association (MLA) merged to create one of the largest building material trade associations in the industry. In doing so, a rebranding was proposed and approved by the Board of Directors. This initiative addresses the changes in geography that the Association has experienced since its inception in 1890 and considers the best way to highlight the value proposition that the Association brings to its members.
Northwestern Lumber Association President, Cody Nuernberg said of the rebrand, “Northwestern Lumber Association has a rich history, and through the rebranding process we felt it was important to honor our history in the lumber industry while recognizing that our industry and the businesses of our membership has evolved over time. Our members sell and provide building materials in addition to lumber. Plus, with our recent merger our organization has expanded in size and reach as well. The value that the Association brings to our members is connection. Our network supports the entire building material and lumber industry and expands beyond the Upper Midwest – which was once the Northwestern territory of our country. Our new name, BLD Connection, uses an abbreviation that cleverly doubles as an acronym. BLD is an abbreviation for the word “build” and BLD stands for Building Material & Lumber Dealers. Adding “BLD” to the word “Connection” makes it more than a name. It is our call to action, engaging members to “build connection”!
NLA Chairman of the Board Lynn Trask noted, “For the past year and with the help of Mercury Creative Group, our team, the board, and numerous task force groups dug deeper into our brand, our offerings, our mission and our goals for the future. It became apparent that a refresh was needed and that the time was right to make a change. We are excited to write the next chapter of our Association’s history.”
At the heart of the rebrand is the organization’s commitment to “building a stronger community” – a message that will shine through in every offering provided by the Association moving forward. In addition to adjusting messaging, BLD Connection is excited to enhance its current offerings including its annual educational programming and its annual events. The organization will also launch a new website and member database/portal on October 2, 2023, to give members increased access to the organization, its team and their peers.
About BLD Connection
BLD Connection is a leading regional trade association representing building material dealers and suppliers in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Upper Michigan and Wisconsin. BLD Connection exists to advance the building material and lumber industry in the Midwest and strengthen its members through education, networking, advocacy and resources.To learn more, please visit www.bldconnection.org.
