Northwestern Lumber Association

NORTHWESTERN LUMBER ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT ITS MEMBERS TO THE PEOPLE, PROGRAMS, PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES THAT WILL ASSIST THEM TO BE HIGHLY-FUNCTIONING, SALES-DRIVEN BUSINESSES.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NLA PROVIDES TARGETED PROGRAMMING FOR RETAIL LUMBER & BUILDING MATERIAL (LBM) DEALERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES IN THESE KEY AREAS: 1) OWNERS AND GENERAL MANAGERS WILL BE TRAINED IN THE CORE COMPETENCIES: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP, SUPERVISION, INVENTORY CONTROL, RISK MANAGEMENT, BUILDING CODES, REGULATORY MANDATES AND BUSINESS LAW. 2) SALES PERSONNEL (INSIDE AND OUTSIDE) WILL BE EDUCATED IN THE FOLLOWING CORE COMPETENCIES: PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE, SALES TECHNIQUES, CUSTOMER SERVICE, ESTIMATING, NEGOTIATIONS, AND BASIC FINANCIAL MARGIN MANAGEMENT. 3) YARD PERSONNEL WILL BE EDUCATED IN THE FOLLOWING CORE COMPETENCIES: SAFETY, PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE, PRODUCT HANDLING, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. 4) FINANCIAL & H.R. PERSONNEL WILL BE EDUCATED IN THE FOLLOWING CORE COMPETENCIES: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, COMPLIANCE ISSUES, SAFETY MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS LAW. ACCOMPLISHED: IN 2021-22, 15 IN-PERSON CLASSES WERE HELD WHILE 2 CLASSES WERE CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF ATTENDANCE. TWO (2) OWNER/MANAGER ROUNDTABLES WERE WERE HELD. ADDITIONALLY, A WOMEN IN LBM VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE CONTINUED ITS WORK/MEETINGS AND MET THREE (3) TIMES ONLINE. NLA ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE MID-AMERICA LUMBERMENS ASSOCIATION TO OFFER A QUARTERLY INDUSTRY UPDATE/NEWS/PANEL DISCUSSION CALLED LBM MARKET WATCH. THIS WAS HELD THREE (3) TIMES VIRTUALLY IN 2021-22. WE ALSO HOSTED NUMEROUS WEBINARS AND ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAMS.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTNLA PROVIDES BUSINESS SOLUTIONS FOR MEMBERS IN THESE KEY AREAS OF THEIR BUSINESS: OPERATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCES, SALES-MERCHANDISING-MARKETING, MANAGEMENT. ACCOMPLISHED: DURING THE CURRENT YEAR, NLA PUBLISHED A PRINTED MAGAZINE AND DIRECTORY, PROVIDED ONGOING SERVICES SUCH AS LEGAL SERVICE, BANKCARD PROGRAM, 401(K) MULTIPLE EMPLOYER PROGRAM AND REGULAR SURVEYS SUCH AS BUSINESS MANAGEMENT OPERATIONAL COMPARSION SURVEY. WE OFFER MANUALS FOR OSHA AND DOT COMPLIANCE AS WELL AS HUMAN RESOURCE MANUALS AND GENERAL BUSINESS FORMS/STATIONARY. IN 2021-22, NLA RELEASED ITS 2ND CONSECUTIVE WAGE & BENEFIT SURVEY WITH ALMOST 100 PARTICIPATING COMPANIES.TRADE SHOWS/CONFERENCESTHE ANNUAL TRADE SHOWS RETURNED IN THE WINTER OF 2022 WITH EXPO NORTH (MN), EXPO NEBRASKA AND EXPO IOWA. THE WISCONSIN LUMBER DEALER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ALSO RETURNED. ALTHOUGH ATTENDANCE WAS DOWN TO THE LINGERING AFFECTS OF COVID-19, THE SHOWS WERE WELL ATTENDED AND SUCCESSFUL AND WILL RETURN IN 2023.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRSNLA KEEPS ITS MEMBERSHIP INFORMED ABOUT PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY ISSUES INTRODUCED IN EACH STATE'S LEGISLATURE, FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY ISSUES, AND ISSUE CALLS TO ACTION WHERE APPROPRIATE. ACCOMPLISHED: 2021-22 FOCUSED ON COTNINUING TO OPERATE SAFELY WITH COVID-19 STILL LINGERING. MEMBERS WERE SENT HEALTH/SAFETY GUIDELINES/UPDATES.