Rising Star: Joshua Jalbert
Location: Hyannis, MassachusettsPosition: Sales Manager • Shepley Wood Products How did you begin your career in the LBM Industry? My father is a custom residential homebuilder, so you could say I was born into this industry. I began as most do on a framing crew, sweeping the floors for jobsite cleanup and always getting the […]
Why a Systems Approach Is Critical for the Building Envelope
The building envelope is both one of the most important and most complicated areas of a home’s construction, with many interacting parts, from products to design elements to the weather itself. This is why it’s crucial for you and your customers to look at the walls and roofs collectively, not just by individual product, to […]
After the Thaw: A Dealer’s Guide to Spring Repairs & Long-Term Home Performance
Essential post-winter repairs for durable, energy-efficient homes. Winter puts the homes built, maintained, and inspected by industry pros through one of the toughest challenges of the year. Snow, ice, and shifting temperatures can quickly reveal weaknesses in a structure’s envelope, threatening comfort, efficiency and durability. As spring approaches, the winter season leaves behind valuable insights […]
Transition Planning: The Third Certainty for Closely Held Business Owners
When is it time to start thinking about the transition of your closely held business? I once worked with a building materials dealer who always said he’d “get to transition planning someday.” Someday came fast. A health issue forced decisions that should have been made over years, not months. The business made it through—but the […]
When “Almost Complete” Isn’t Good Enough: Building Delivery Promises That Hold Up On The Jobsite
For most lumber dealers, delivery performance isn’t measured in percentages. It’s measured in momentum. A truck pulls in. Crews are staged. Then someone realizes a single critical component didn’t make it … a hanger, an engineered joist, an accessory that “should’ve been in the package.” In that moment, a delivery that was “95% complete” becomes […]
Upgrade Your Facility & ROI
The LBM industry is no stranger to the challenges that come with persistent labor shortages, increased product costs, and trying to do more for less. The question is: How can dealers weather the storm and move forward? In a nutshell, by improving operational efficiency. There are LBM facilities—lumberyards and distribution centers—across the country that could […]
Firing Line: Improving Gross Margins in the LBM Industry
Unfortunately, in the LBM industry, too many companies chase sales volume while quietly bleeding margin and subsequently net profit. Everyone loves talking about record sales numbers, truckloads going out the gate, and landing large projects. But when you peel back the numbers, profitability often tells a different story. As I’ve always stated…“top-line sales are for egos—it’s the bottom line that counts.” Improving gross margins isn’t about squeezing customers or […]
Rising Star: Danielle Johnson
Location: Chicopee, MAPosition: Market Development Manager • Benjamin Obdyke How did you begin your career in the LBM Industry? I’ve been a part of the building products industry for a number of years, but began working more closely with the LBM industry when I joined Benjamin Obdyke in 2021. I hadn’t been actively looking for […]
Firing Line: What the Patriots Dynasty Can Teach the LBM Industry About Winning
For the past 25 years, the New England Patriots haven’t just had a good run—they built one of the most dominant stretches of success professional sports has ever seen. Year after year, they were in the hunt (with the exception of 2020-2024). They didn’t simply “get hot” for a season or two. They became a “standard.” To fans, it looked like magic. To competitors, it […]
Cost Saving Telehealth for Employers, Their Employees, and Families
As employers continue to navigate rising healthcare costs, many are searching for solutions that support their teams without adding financial strain. HealthiestYou by Teladoc, available exclusively to NRLA members, offers an affordable, easy-to-use option that delivers meaningful value to both employers and employees. For only $10 per employee per month, companies can provide staff and […]