Get ready to hear from the leaders and innovators driving new thinking across the lumber and building materials industry.
LBM Expo 2025 is set to bring together some of the brightest minds and most influential voices in the lumber and building materials industry. This year’s event, taking place December 10-11 at Mohegan Sun’s Earth Expo & Convention Center, will feature an exceptional lineup of speakers—innovators, thought leaders, and industry veterans—who will share their insights on the trends, challenges, and opportunities driving the LBM sector forward.
Zach Williams
Venveo
AI, Market Forces & Long-Term Thinking: How Lumber Dealers Are Winning Today
Discover how lumber dealers are using AI to outpace the competition and build long-term market dominance. In this engaging session, Zach Williams of Venveo will show you how to harness AI-powered systems to drive smarter decisions, streamline marketing and sales, and create sustainable growth. You’ll learn how to plug into a simple yet powerful two-step loop—data in, AI-driven action out—to gain more control, attract more customers, and turn your yard into a market leader. Walk away with actionable strategies to turn today’s digital trends into tomorrow’s competitive edge.
Wednesday, Dec. 10 | 8 to 9:30 a.m. | Ticketed Event, $25 per person (includes light breakfast)
Location: Earth Ballroom A
Grant Farnsworth
The Farnsworth Group
How Industry Dynamics & Customer Attitudes Are Impacting Purchase Behaviors
Grant Farnsworth of The Farnsworth Group will share fundamentals that are impacting contractor and homeowner behaviors toward project activities and product purchases. Understanding customer attitudes enables your business to better respond to concerns that may be an opportunity or hurdle for sales.
Thursday, Dec. 11 | 8 to 9:30 a.m. | Ticketed Event, $25 per person (includes light breakfast)
Location: Earth Ballroom A
Noah Humberton
APA—The Engineered Wood Association
How to Specify Engineered Wood
Join Noah Humberston, PE of the APA—The Engineered Wood Association, as he identifies the basic types of engineered wood products (EWP) and their properties. Review the material characteristics and proper design and specification of WSP, SCL, CLT, and glulam beams.
Wednesday, Dec. 10 | 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: TBD
Better Understanding of SCL and I-Joists
Noah Humberston, PE of the APA—The Engineered Wood Association will review features and benefits, significant characteristics, and appropriate applications of EWP. I-joist topics will include vertical load transfer, joist hanger connections, double joist assemblies, allowable holes/notches, and web stiffeners. Content is largely based on APA’s Form Z725: Performance Rated I-Joists (PRI) Design and Construction Guide.
Thursday, Dec. 11 | 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: TBD
Spreo Capital
Unlocking Growth with Strategic Financing Options
NRLA has partnered with Spreo Capital to bring NRLA members a powerful financing program to help you better serve your builder customers—without any financial risk to your business. In this session, Spreo Capital will walk you through how the program works and how it can strengthen both your customer relationships and your bottom line.
Dec. 10 & 11 | 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: NRLA Booth (#335)
Chris Kennedy and Kristina Hebert, MA+KE
Your Showroom Strategy: Designing for Growth, Sales, & Customer Experience
In a competitive market, your showroom is more than a display space—it’s a key driver of sales, customer engagement, and brand differentiation. Whether you aim to boost revenue, educate buyers, or stand out from big-box stores, a well-designed showroom gives your business an edge.
In this session, architects Chris Kennedy and Kristina Hebert of MA+KE Architects will share insights from 75+ real-world projects. They’ll explore how to overcome renovation challenges, use design to influence customer behavior and staff performance, and balance physical products with technology.
Attendees will gain practical strategies to improve their showroom—whether through a full remodel or small updates—unlocking opportunities for upselling, stronger customer loyalty, and long-term growth.
Learning Objectives:
Discover design tactics that drive upselling and empower staff.
Identify common barriers to showroom improvements and how to overcome them.
Understand how design influences sales, customer engagement, and branding.
Learn to integrate product displays with technology for a seamless experience.
Dec. 10 | 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Location: Education Zone
Dena Cordova-Jack, Cordova-Jack Consulting & Sam Brownell, Stratus Business Advisors
Panel Discussion: Building Strong Yards: Succession, Leadership & Culture for Long-Term Success
Discover how strengthening culture, operational KPI focus, and succession readiness combine for long-term success.
Dec. 11 | 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Location: Education Zone
The lineup of speakers at LBM Expo 2025 promises to deliver insight, inspiration, and innovation for every corner of the lumber and building materials industry. From thought leaders redefining best practices to experts offering actionable strategies for growth, this year’s presenters embody the forward-thinking spirit that drives our industry ahead. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your business, explore new technologies, or connect with peers who share your passion for building better, the LBM Expo is your opportunity to learn from the best. Don’t miss the chance to hear these industry voices live—register today and be part of the conversation shaping the future of LBM.
To learn more about LBM Expo 2025, and to register to attend the show, visit LBMExpo.com.
About the NRLA
The NRLA is a 1,100-member association representing independent lumber and building material suppliers and associated businesses in New York, New Jersey, the Mid-Atlantic, and six New England states. Throughout our 130-year history, NRLA has provided leadership, support, and community for lumber and building material dealers throughout the Northeastern United States. NRLA is an industry leader in education, legislative and regulatory reform, and member programs and services. We also produce the industry’s largest regional trade show, LBM Expo. For more information, go to nrla.org.
About LBM Expo
The Lumber and Building Material Expo (LBM Expo) is the only industry expo where all facets of the distribution channel are represented. Retail lumber dealers in the Northeast are afforded the opportunity to interact with manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors of lumber, building materials, and related technologies. For more information, go to lbmexpo.com.
