LBM Academy builds excellence for lumber dealers

Do it Best graduated their inaugural class of LBM Academy yesterday, equipping nearly 50 home center and lumberyard employees from across the country with proven techniques to more effectively drive sales with their pros and contractors.

“Our #1 goal is to help our members sell more in an increasingly complex market – so they’re prepared for whatever comes their way,” said Do it Best VP of Lumber and Building Materials Russ Kathrein. “We created our LBM Academy to address those changing needs to empower the next generation of LBM leaders. With guidance from industry veterans, consultants, and vendors, along with our in-house experts, we’re sending this group back to their yards with the knowledge they need to take their operations to the next level.”

Do it Best has a long history of offering LBM-oriented training programs to its members, but in launching the LBM Academy, the company was driven to provide a curriculum that would help yard owners with career development for newer staff while strengthening the retention of key team members. The newly designed format was created to take advantage of the training and collaboration opportunities available at its new headquarters. Coursework over three intensive days of training included a leadoff session by noted construction industry consultant Bradley Hartmann. He was followed by group presentations and activities, as well as breakout tracks on lumber and building materials 101, kitchen, bath & flooring, construction science, and lumberyard management.

“I’m extremely proud of everyone who fully engaged in LBM Academy,” added Kathrein. “Whether they were newer to our industry or are more experienced members who have recently stepped into new roles, each participant left here with a fresh set of tools to take back to their businesses to grow their sales.”

Dates for the 2024 LBM Academy will be announced soon and it’s expected that the class will fill up quickly.   

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About Do it Best

Based in Fort Wayne, IN, Do it Best is the only US-based, member-owned comprehensive and fully integrated hardware, lumber, and building materials buying cooperative in the home improvement industry. With annual sales of nearly $5 billion, Do it Best serves thousands of member-owned locations across the United States and in more than 50 other countries. For more information, visit doitbestonline.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

For more information:

Taylor Feighner, Ferguson Advertising
260.428.1174
taylor@fai2.com