In just about one month, dealers from across the United States will head west to attend the NLBMDA/LBM Institute 2007 Industry Summit in Las Vegas. As I think about this meeting, I feel a strange mix of excitement and sadness. I am excited about this year's Industry Summit because of its educational sessions and interesting speakers, and because it gives me an opportunity to meet with old friends and peers as well as make new ones. On the other hand, I am sad to be leaving my post as chairman of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association. I am, however, glad to be leaving you in the good hands of our chair-elect and my good friend, Harold Baalmann of B&B Lumber in Wichita, Kan.
