Community insulation

By Jay Tompt

These are good models, but the reality is that these examples are getting harder to find and even harder to replicate. Two organizations, BALLE (the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) and AMIBA (the American Independent Business Alliance), are focused on helping local businesses thrive, creating new models.

founder, was determined to make Woodland a destination for green building, stocking a wide selection of products, and recently opening a green showroom.

"We've always focused on the triple bottom line and building relationships with local green builders," Reese said.

ITH the economy still in doldrums and the cold winter months around the corner, I continue to be fascinated with insulation. Not the rebate-earning, energy-efficient, recycled-denim kind your customers will love you for, but the economic kind that will sustain your business through the lean times and propel the inevitable upturn to come.

There's little doubt that energy efficiency and green building will define the shape of this industry for decades to come, so it makes sense for every LBM dealer to bone up on these issues, stock and promote the products, train the staff, etc. But creating sustainable "economic insulation" requires deep community collaboration.

There are good examples of multigenerational, family-owned dealers that are well-placed in their communities, have staved off the "big boxes" and done well. even in hard times.

In the Rockies just outside of Denver, Co., sits Big Horn Building Materials, a big local supplier for the surrounding mountain towns and resorts. Founder Don Sather has been a big proponent of energy efficiency and green building, walking his talkthe store is fitted with solar panels and is involved with a local non profit studying the feasibility of wind power in the community. He was also one of the founding member of Summit Independent Business Alliance, (SIBA), an AMIBA affiliate.

"A few years ago, our community successfully fought off a new big-box chain and that really opening my eyes," Don told me. "One of the most important things about being involved in a local network is getting closer to local officials and educating them about the economic benefits of supporting locally-owned business versus national chains."

Strong relationships with other local businesses and SIBA's shop local campaigns have kept his business doing well, even though the economy overall has been weak, he added.

Woodland Building Supply, a nine-year-old dealer in Philadelphia, Pa., is another interesting model.

Larry Reese, president and co-

They joined Greater Philadelphia Sustainable Business Network, a BALLE affiliate, about a year ago. "It seemed like the natural thing to do," Reese said. "We've developed many more strong relationships with local builders, developers, and vendors and, to be honest, they've kept our business really busy over the last year."

Paula Burke of Burke's Hardware, a family-owned dealer with a 12-year history in Raleigh, N.C., told me a similar story. They recently joined their local network, Shop Local Raleigh, and were imediately impressed with the results.

"We participated in a Shop Local TV ad, and even though we've been in the communty for a long time, it was amazing how many people came into the store who'd never heard of us before!," she said.

They were motivated to join the network in part by the down economy, but mostly, she said, "because it was just the right thing to do, to support your community."

- Jay Tompt is managing partner of William Verde & Associates, a consulting firm dedicated to helping LBM and home channel retailers, distributors, and manufacturers become green leaders in their communities. He can be reached at info@williamverde.com or (4 I 5 ) 32 I0848.

R:rlrrrrs

BMC West parent Building Materials Holding Corp., Boise, Id., has secured a commitment for $83.5 million in exit financing in hopes it can emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy before the end of the year...

OG Valentine, Denver, Co., has been acquired by employees Dan and Jody Drake from the estate of Bruce Valentine, who died in February...

King's Ace Hardware, Billings, Mt., will build 20,000-sq. ft. store #3 by spring on 2 of 8 acres the company owns on the western end of town...

Granite Falts Hardware, Everett, Wa., has remodeled and converted to Ace Hardware ...

Ace Hardware opened an 8O00sq. ft. store in the former A-Boy Plumbing & Electric, Hazel Dell, Wa.; Mike and Denise Filbin, owners

Down to Earth Hardware & Supply opened in Sonora, Ca.; owners Murray Smith & Marilyn 'Bodle have operated Down to Earth Construction & Nursery, Groveland, Ca., for 30 years

Lowe's opened a new 117,000sq. ft. store Oct.23 in Paso Robles, Ca.; acquired a store site in Vallejo, Ca., and finally broke ground on the former Goodman's Luntber property in San Francisco, Ca., abandoned by Home Depot following an 8-year battle

Lowe's has tapped Johns Manville as its exclusive supplier of fiberglass insulation ...

Habitat for Humanity opened a 4,000-sq. ft. ReStore discount LBM outlet Oct. 3 in Kapolei, Hi. (John Ayat, store mgr.) ,..

Wrorrslrrns/thrurlcrurrrs

F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co., Columbia Falls, Mt., is suspending the swing shift for one to two weeks each month; to keep planer production in line with the sawmill. some sawmill workers are working a second shift at the planer mill one week per month ...

Hampton ffiliates restarted its stud mill in Morton, Wa., Oct. 5 and the planer mill Oct. 19; the operations have been down since suffering severe storm damage last December

Simpson Timber, Tacoma, Wa., agreed to sell back 35 acres to the Port of Longview, Wa., for $3.15 million, after abandoning plans to build a sawmill on the site ...

Swanson Sales Group Co. moved into new offices Glendale. Or.

Structural Resource Group, Laguna Niguel, Ca., has been formed by Mark Scambray, exStandard Structures, as a manufacturers rep that works with engineers to spec clients' building materials. includine Standard's commercial EWP (w'Fw.structuralresourcegroup.com) ...

Longview Timberlands has begun accepting bids on more than 5,700 acres of forestland in Chelan County, Wa., to buy more timberrich parcels in western Washington and Oregon

Body guard's FSC-certified sidings, trim, fascia and mouldings have passed Chapter 12 California Building Code tests for under eave and soffit applications ...

P e nofin-P e rformanc e C o atin g s, Ukiah, Ca., has revamped its website at www.penofin.com

Universal Forest Products

Western Division, Windsor, Co., is now distributing Titan Wood's Accoya modified wood has in

Mary's River Lumber is seeking up to $225O00 from a special economic development fund to move select operations from Montesano, Wa., closer to Elma, Wa.

RedBuilt (formerly Weyerhaeuser's TrusJoist Commercial division), Boise, Id., has secured ICCES evaluations for its engineered wood products, confirming RedLam LVL (ESR-2993), Red-I joists (ESR-2994), and Red-L, Red-W Red-S, Red-M, and Red-H openweb trusses (ESR-1774) all meet IBC requirements

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BlueLinx Corp. now carries all Nichiha fiber cement products ..

Osmose has been granted a preliminary injunction limiting competitor Viance's marketing campaign against micronized copper wood presewatives

German Timber Promotion Fund is liquidating, after the German Constitutional Court deemed its marketing activities unconstitutional and in violation of entrepreneurial freedomi participating mills hope to one day establish a new organization to promote German wood products

Anniversaries: Pacffic Logging Conference, 100th Eagle Rooftng Products, Rialto, Ca.,2Ath ... Screw Products, Inc., Gig Harbor. Wa.. lOth ...

Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verfu dates ond locilions with sponsor before making plans to attend.

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U.S. Green Building Council - Nov. 11-13, GreenBuild 2009' Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Az.; (800) 795-1147

Washington Forest Protection Association - Nov. 12, annual meeting, Olympia, Wa.; www.wfpa.org.

APA-The Engineered Wood Assn. - Nov. 13-16, annual meeting & expo, Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, Fl.; (253) 565-6600.

Building Industry Show - Nov. 19-20, Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, Ca.; (909) 396-9993.

Intermodal Association of North America - Nov. 15-17, annual meeting & expo, Anaheim, Ca.; www.intermodal.org.

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Western Forestry & Conservation Association - Dec. 2'3, forest health seminar, Wilsonville, Or.; www.westernforestry.org.

Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association - Dec.2-3, estirnating workshop, Holiday Inn Central, Denver, Co.; Dec. 3, year-end party, Mile High Stadium at Invesco Field, Denver; (800) 365-0919.

Lumber Assn, of California & Nevada - Dec. 3, 2nd Growth holiday meeting, Sheraton, Cerritos, Ca.; (800) 266-4344.

Portland Wholesale Lumber Association - Dec. 4' holiday lunch, Embassy Suites-Portland Airport, Portland, Or.; (503) 283-0500.

Federated Insurance - Dec. 5, succession planning seminar, Universal City, Ca.; (8OO) 266-4344.

Western Forestry & Conservation Association - Dec. 10, biomass seminar, Springfield, Or.; www.westernforestry.org.

Western Hardwood Association - Dec. 10, board meeting, Portland, Or.; (360)835- I 600.

Los Angeles Hardwood Lumberman's Club - Dec. 12, Christmas party, Hyatt Regency, Huntington Beach, Ca.; ('714) 6713079.

Portland Hoo-Hoo Club - Dec. 17, holiday party, World Forestry Center, Portland, Or.; (503) 647-5Oll.

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Seattle Hoo-Hoo Club - Jan. 5, crab feed, Wild Rover Restaurant. Kirkland. Wa.l (425) 883-277'7

Arizona Home & Garden Show - Jan. 8-10, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Az.; (87'7) 663-6186.

Colorado Springs Home Building & Remodeling Show - Jan. 8-10, Norris-Penrose Event Center, Colorado Springs, Co.; (8OO) 374-6463.

Portland Build, Remodel & Landscape Show - Jan.8-10, Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Or.; (800) 374-6463.

Remodeling & Decorating Show - Jan. 8-10, South Town Expo Center, Sandy, Ut.; (8 l8) 571-9012.

Do it Best - Jan. 13-15, winter conference, Orlando, Fl.; (260) 748-5300.

Seattle Remodeling Expo - Jan. 15-17, Washington State Convention Center. Seattle. Wa.; (800) 3'74-6463.

Western Pallet Assn. - Jan. L6-19, annual meeting, Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, Rancho Mirage, Ca.; (360) 335-0208.

International Builders Show - Jan. 19-22, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nv.; (800) 368-5242.

Black Bart Hoo-Hoo Club - Jan. 20, industry night, Broiler Steakhouse, Redwood Valley, Ca.; (707) 621-4852.

Humboldt Hoo-Hoo Club - Jan.2l, crab freed, Elks Lodge, Eureka, Ca.; (7 O'7 ) 832 -9039 or (707 ) 443 -'7 024.

Guardian Building Products - Jan.24-26, market, Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, Nv.; (800) 569-4262.

Lumber Association of California & Nevada installed Laurie Vance, The Mill Yard, Arcata, Ca., as president during its October 22-23 convention at U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego, Ca. (see photos, p. 42-34). She succeeds Steve Patterson, Central Valley Builders Supply, Woodland, Ca., who remains on the board.

Other new officers are lst v.p. J.D. Saunders, Economy Lumber, Campbell, Ca.; 2nd v.p. Richard McArthur, Ojai Lumber, Ojai, Ca., and treasurer Steve Fleiner, Reno Lumber, Reno, Nv.

Augie Venezia, Fairfax Lumber, Fairfax, Ca., was re-appointed government affairs chair, and executive director Ken Dunham was elected corporate secretary.

Directors include David Thom, Bruce Bauer Lumber, Mountain View, Ca.: John Neel. Reliable Wholesale

Lumber, Huntington Beach, Ca.; Jim Turrentine, Cargotec, Galt, Ca.; Chris Thoman, Simpson Strong-Tie, Brea, Ca., and Ty Pforsich, Moss-Adams, Santa Rosa, Ca.

The 2nd Growth group holds its holiday meeting Dec. 3 at Sheraton, Cerritos, Ca.

Two days later, Federated Insurance is sponsoring a succession planning seminar in Universal City, Ca.

Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers' Association welcomed 2010 president Dena Cordova, Foxworth Galbraith Lumber, Colorado Springs, Co., at its Oct. 1-3 fall conference at the Invemess Hotel & Conference Center, Englewood, Co. President-elect is Dennis Gardner, ProBuild, Midvale, Ut.; immediate past president Bryan Hutchison, Hutchison Lumber, Pine, Co.; secre-

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Justin Hoese, Alpine Lumber, Frederick. Co.. and national director Scott Yates, Denver Lumber, Denver, Co.

Other directors include Walter Foxworth, Foxworth Galbraith Lumber, Dallas, Tx.; Richard Goodman, Harbert Lumber, Grand Junction, Co.; Steve Ker, Max Ker & Son Lumber, Idaho Falls, Id.; Scott Good, Greybull Building Center, Greybull, Wy.; Mike Kimrey, American Building Specialties, Denver, and Glenn Wurst, ilevel, Albuquerque, N.M.

Mike Butts, LBM Solutions, will lead a blueprint reading and estimating workshop Dec. 2-3 at Holiday Inn Central, Denver.

Dec.3 is also the annual year-end party of the Colorado Wooo Council, at the Mile High Stadium at Invesco Field. Denver. Co.

National Lumber &

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Material Dealers Association installed Daniel Fesler. c.e.o.. Lamperts, St. Paul, Mn., as its new chairman at its recent conference. He succeeds Paul Hylbert, ProBuild (Please turn to page 45)