Report from Kansas

From Vesta Lee Lumber to Washington, D.C.

NLBMDA CHAIR JIM BISHOP LOOKS FORWARD TO THE 2022 PRODEALER INDUSTRY SUMMIT

Ken Clark Editor in Chief

Upon the death of his father in 1977, Jim Bishop left Kansas State University to come home to run the family business: Vesta Lee Lumber & Hardware in Bonner Springs, Kan.

He’s had a memorable run ever since.

“The thing that I like about my job is that we make our customs happy. When we help build their house, and they get into that house—that’s a great feeling. If you’re a funeral director everybody comes to you with a broken heart. Here, we’re making all our customers happy.”

Bishop’s involvement in lumber associations began shortly after he entered the business.

“The Lumbermen’s association offered health insurance at that time, and it was a really good deal,” he remembers. “The savings were twice as much as the cost of my membership.”

Times have changed, but Bishop’s involvement in state and national associations has not. He is the current chair of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, planning to convene in Washington, D.C., March 29-April 2 for the ProDealer Industry Summit.

“The key to the NLBMDA is that we don’t just report on what happens in Washington, D.C., we are part of making it happen,” he said. “We’re out in front, talking to the Department of Commerce, talking to the Biden Administration, talking to Congress and their staff, and making it happen.”

Bishop has personally testified before lawmakers on occasions: in opposition to cumbersome paperwork requirements connected to sustainable lumber; and more recently as a witness for supply chain issues affecting housing and the building industry. (It's worth noting: tariffs were reduced shortly after the hearings.)

Another regulatory victory for the NLBMDA was in opposition to the OSHA vax-or-test mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees.

“That was a huge win for us,” he said, acknowledging assists from other groups.

Bishop, who at industry events often breaks out an antique badge from the 1902 Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma Association of Lumber Dealers Annual, appreciates the history of the industry, and takes pride in helping to advance the cause of pro dealers in Washington, D.C.

Toward that end, it helps to develop connections on both sides of the aisle. He pointed to U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, a Republican, who Bishop described as “very good;” and also Representative Sharice Davids, a Democrat who has “been on our side” on multiple issues.

“We have to keep fighting for all the lumberyards, no matter how big or how small,” he said. “We all have similar challenges.”

Bishop’s badge of honor: from the 1902 Missouri, Kansas & Oklahoma Association of Lumber Dealers Annual.

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PRODEALER INDUSTRY SUMMIT

MARCH 29-APRIL 2, 2022, WASHINGTON, D.C. WWW.PRODEALER.COM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NLBMDA, WWW.DEALER.ORG CONTACT: AMY PLATTER GRANT agrant@ensembleiq.com, PDIS DIRECTOR OF SPONSORSHIPS

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Levi Smith, CEO, Franklin Building Supply Cally Fromme, VP of communication and culture, Kodiak Building Partners Steve Sallah, CEO, LBM Advantage Wendy Whiteash, EVP of culture, US LBM Holdings Tom Cost, owner, Killingworth True Value Brad McDaniel, owner, McDaniel’s Do it Center Joe Kallen, CEO, Busy Beaver Building Centers

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