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MLA Lumber Industry News Express
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Here's the new issue of the Mid-America Lumbermens Association online newsletter. We'll send a new issue every two weeks to let you know what's happening in the industry, at your MLA, and in the world that affects your business. We welcome your opinions and ideas. If you have information you'd like to share with other members, we'd be happy to include it in our next issue. We welcome both personal and industry-related news - members would love to hear your news and views - so don't hesitate to email us with information.
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Do You Have a "Lumberyard Dog"?
We know that many MLA members have a four-legged greeter at their lumberyard – sometimes two! If you have this type of loyal employee, we want to feature them in our newsletter.
Send photos to: [email protected]. (Be sure the files are smaller than 5 MB, or they’ll be rejected by our system.) Tell us the pet's name and how long they’ve been “employed” at your yard. We’re looking forward to sharing this fun information!
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Fall Fling Promises to Wow!
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This year marks the 15th anniversary for the MLA Fall Fling, and plans are underway to change the format and make this the best one ever. You won’t want to miss this event, filled with opportunities for meaningful conversations with other dealers and an unprecedented line-up of outstanding speakers!
We’ll meet with members of the Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association (MSLBMDA) in Kansas City at the Kansas City Marriott/Country Club Plaza on October 4-6, 2017 – less than three months away! A special rate has been secured to keep your participation affordable. Meeting jointly with members of a neighboring regional association enables us to offer an exciting range of activities and bring more dealers together for interaction and camaraderie.
Early arrivals will enjoy a welcome reception at Boulevard Brewery, followed by the ever-popular dine-around event, where suppliers host small groups of dealers at Kansas City eateries. The program then kicks off on Thursday afternoon with several featured speakers, including Kansas gubernatorial candidate Ed O’Malley. The day wraps up with a joint reception/banquet with keynote speaker, Kevin Hancock, Hancock Lumber, Casco, Maine.
The meeting continues on Friday with several high caliber speakers including Tony Misura, President of Misura Group, a recruiting firm focused on the building industry; Craig Webb, of ProSales magazine; and Troy Harrison, The Sales Navigator. Another well-known industry speaker has been invited, and we hope to announce his participation very soon.
Please watch for complete information. In the meantime, mark your calendar and save the dates – October 4-6, 2017! Sharpen your leadership skills as you learn from the best and brightest educators in the LBM industry!
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Time to Consider the MLA MEP
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MLA has offered a “group” MLA 401(k) plan for members for more than two years. It is saving participating dealers on their fees and offering a great benefit to reward their loyal employees. If you haven’t taken a serious look at this program, now would be a good time. Find out why smart dealers are making the move to the MLA program. Call the MLA Hotline at 800-747-6529, or click here to learn more.
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Cash Flow Management Can Kill a Business... or Make it Thrive
Is lack of cash flow holding you back from growth ambitions or legacy planning? Start with a clean balance sheet and high performing A/R. Learn how to tighten your credit processes and transform delinquent A/R into healthy cash flow. If you have your sights set on growth, legacy or better quality of life, now is the time to bring discipline to your A/R so you can realize the bounty of good cash flow. Read more!
Source: The BlueTarp Team, July 18, 2017
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Member News
Huttig Appoints West Region Vice President… Huttig Building Products, Inc. (Huttig), a leading domestic distributor of millwork, building materials and wood products, today announced the appointment of Kevin Brennan as West Region Vice President. Mr. Brennan most recently served as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Feeney, Inc. Prior to joining Feeney, Mr. Brennan was Senior Vice President of Pro Sales for CPG Building Products and Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for TimberTech LTD.
Source: Huttig PR, July 10, 2017
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Lumber News
Is True Value About to be Bought Out? Are the rumors true? A Bloomberg report on Monday had the industry talking, raising the prospect of a sale for True Value Company. According to sources who spoke to Bloomberg and asked not to be identified, the co-op is currently in talks with an investment bank and is, for lack of better terms, exploring its options. And it may be considering a sale that would value the company at $800 million. Read more.
Source: HBS Dealer, July 11, 2017
Connecticut Product Warranty Bill Vetoed… On July 7, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy (D) vetoed legislation that would have negatively affected consumer warranties for windows, roofing, and siding in the state. S.B. 821 would have required window, roofing and siding manufacturers offering consumer warranties to make a determination on claims within 30 days and cover all labor and replacement costs. The veto is good news for Connecticut dealers. NLBMDA worked with the Northeast Retail Lumber Association in opposition to the bill, and sent a letter to Gov. Malloy asking him to veto S.B. 821. In its letter to Gov. Malloy requesting a veto of the legislation, NLBMDA noted that the 30-day requirement was extremely short and placed an unreasonable burden on manufacturers.
Source: NLBMDA, July 10, 2017
Thea’s Mailbag: Handling Extended Terms… I can't think of another industry where it is acceptable/expected/optional to negotiate extended terms, preferably before the sale. But let's be honest, some of those customer's negotiate those terms AFTER the sale (and when I say "negotiate," what I really mean is they just change the rules). Read more.
Source: ProSales, July 10, 2017
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Exempt Employee on Intermittent Leave - Pay Hourly?
Question:
We have an employee who is out on FMLA leave and now has been cleared to come back to work on an intermittent basis. Due to his serious health condition, he will be placed on intermittent FMLA leave. The employee was a salaried manager and now will only be able to work around 20 hours per week. Do we still need to pay him his entire salary or can we break that salary down into an hourly rate? See answer here.
This service provided courtesy of Federated Mutual Insurance Company, your association's recommended insurer.
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The Last Word
“
A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, and has you see what you don’t want to see, so you can be who you have always known you can be.”
-Tom Landry
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