ProDealer Industry Summit - Lumber & Building Materials 2026
Event Date
October 5–7, 2026
Location
Chicago, IL
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe ProDealer Industry Summit is the lumber and building materials (LBM) sector's premier national gathering, hosted jointly by the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) and HBSDealer. The ProDealer Industry Summit is a three-day educational and networking forum to promote the growth of lumber and building product dealers, distributors, wholesalers, and manufacturers who supply them. The 2026 edition carries the theme "Discover What It Means to Be a Next-Gen LBM Dealer."
The Summit is built for LBM dealers, distributors, and wholesalers, along with the manufacturers and service providers who supply them. As NLBMDA president and CEO Jonathan Paine has described it, "This is truly a conference for dealers, created by dealers." Registration is reserved for qualified LBM dealers, while vendors participate through sponsorship or exhibiting.
Attendees come to sharpen strategy amid shifting market conditions. In an era of supply chain volatility, regulatory shifts, evolving technology and customer expectations, the ProDealer Summit serves the industry as a forum to navigate macroeconomic headwinds and shape tactics and strategy. Between keynote sessions, panels, awards, and structured networking, it offers a concentrated opportunity to connect with peers and industry leaders and bring actionable takeaways back to the business.
Show Highlights
The 2026 program blends education, recognition, and networking. Signature elements include:
- Networking Reception — an opening reception at a Chicago venue to connect with peers in a relaxed setting.
- Speakers & Panels — sessions on today's most relevant LBM topics, from housing economics to technology and leadership.
- ProDealer Awards Dinner — honoring the year's Independent and national ProDealer of the Year recipients. Ferguson Lumber Corporation of Veedersburg, Indiana has been named the 2026 Independent ProDealer of the Year by the NLBMDA and HBSDealer magazine.
- Next-Gen Breakfast — spotlighting the second annual Next-Gen Leaders, rising professionals recognized for dedication, passion, expertise, and leadership.
- Exhibitor booths, a Silent Auction, and more.
Voices confirmed for the 2026 stage include Mike McDole (Firing Line LBM Advisors), John Marshall (AI Growth Partners), Curtis Dubay (U.S. Chamber of Commerce), Grant Leavitt (Marcus Lumber Company), Jennifer Zuern (Zuern Building Products & Design Center), Rand Jenkins (Mountain Mojo Group), Thomas Cafaro (Arnold Lumber Company), Christian Ruf (Uncommon Elite), and Kristin Andrews (Mans Lumber & Home).
Registration
Registration for the 2026 ProDealer Industry Summit is open, but attendance is restricted to qualified LBM dealers; all registrations are vetted prior to the event. Manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers must sponsor or exhibit to attend.
Pass rates:
- Member: $399
- Non-Member: $499
Rates increase as of September 1. To qualify for the member rate, your organization must be a member in good standing (including NLBMDA At-Large Dealer members or members of an NLBMDA Federated Association Partner) and renewed for 2026.
Cancellation: Requests must be submitted in writing and received by September 4, 2026. Refunds are processed 3–6 weeks after the conference and are subject to a $50 administrative fee; all sales are final after September 4, 2026, though substitutions are permitted. Register via the official site's "Register Now" link.
History
The ProDealer Industry Summit is an annual event hosted jointly by the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association and HBSDealer (an EnsembleIQ brand). The NLBMDA, founded in 1917, has over 6,000 members operating lumber yards and component plants supplying homebuilders, subcontractors, general contractors, and consumers in new construction, repair and remodeling.
The Summit rotates among U.S. cities. Recent editions have been held in Washington, D.C. (2022), Savannah, Georgia (October 8–11, 2024), and Louisville, Kentucky (2025), before moving to Chicago for 2026. As per tradition, the event has featured a Lumber Dealers Political Action Committee (LudPAC) fundraiser, a ProDealer of the Year Awards ceremony, and networking events to encourage the sharing of ideas and the building of relationships. In 2025 the program added the inaugural Next-Gen Leaders recognition, which returns in 2026 for its second year.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the 2026 ProDealer Industry Summit?
The 2026 Summit takes place October 5–7, 2026, at The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago, located at 909 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611.
Who can attend the ProDealer Industry Summit?
Registration is open only to qualified LBM dealers, distributors, and wholesalers, and all registrations are vetted before the event. Manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers must sponsor or exhibit in order to attend.
How much does registration cost and how do I sign up?
The member rate is $399 and the non-member rate is $499, with rates increasing as of September 1. You can register through the official ProDealer website's Register Now link, and members must be in good standing and renewed for 2026 to receive the member rate.
Where should I stay, and is there a group rate?
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago is the host hotel and offers an exclusive ProDealer group rate of $279 per night plus taxes and fees. Reservations must be made by Monday, September 14 to guarantee the group rate.
What are the highlights of the event?
The program features keynote speakers and panels, a networking reception, the ProDealer Awards Dinner honoring the Independent and national ProDealers of the Year, and a Next-Gen Breakfast recognizing rising industry leaders. There are also exhibitor booths and a silent auction.
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