[Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the deadline extension for the discounted hotel rate.]
In today’s challenging LBM environment, it is imperative for organizations to run a tight ship by keeping costs down and maximizing efficiency. That’s why the 2019 ProSales 100 Conference organizers revealed that the focus of its preconference workshops will be on lean strategies.
The preconference workshop, which will be held on March 6 (from 1:30 pm to 4:45 pm) at the Westin Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX, enables attendees to learn from experts who will provide insight into creating a successful lean LBM operation. The following four sessions are offered in the workshop:
“Lean 101: Basics of 5S”
In this workshop attendees will learn definitions, tools, application, and examples of what it means to run a lean LBM operation, based on the 5S pillars of a lean strategy. This workshop is offered from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.
“Millwork/Door Shop Lean Strategies”
Attendees will learn applications of lean strategies applied to millwork/door shops. This workshop is offered from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.
“Truss/Wall Panel Lean Strategies”
This workshop covers applications of lean strategies for truss/wall panel plants. The workshop is offered from 3:15 pm to 4:45 pm.
“Lumber Yard/Distribution Center Lean Strategies”
Anyone interested in learning about how to apply lean strategies to their lumber yards or distribution centers, should attend this workshop. It is offered from 3:15 pm to 4:45 pm.
Conference organizers recommend registering early to secure your spot, as the room blocks for the discounted hotel rate usually sell out. Attendees who register by February 13, will receive the discounted hotel rate of $229 per night, which is $166 less than the regular hotel price. Also, if you register by tomorrow, you’ll get your conference ticket at the reduced price of $699 (full conference rate is $849).
The event will enable attendees to learn from and network with experts, senior leaders, and peers about a variety of key LBM topics.
The keynote presentation will be delivered by Timothy Papandreou, founder of Emerging Transport Advisors. Papandreou provides strategic guidance to companies, investors, and governments on the active, shared, electric, connected and automated transport transition.
As the former strategic partnerships manager at Google X and Waymo, Papandreou collaborated with teams to prepare the commercialization of the company and launch the world's first fully self-driving ride hail service, while being fully immersed in automation technology and its implications for the broad economy. As Chief Innovation Officer for San Francisco’s transportation agency, Timothy led teams to deliver high profile initiatives including the U.S. Smart City Challenge, the Strategic Work Plan which met its 50% sustainable mode share goal 3 years early, major multimodal and mixed-use redevelopment partnership projects, and launched the Mayor’s Vision Zero traffic safety program.
Papandreou’s keynote presentation will focus on how the revolution in active, shared, electric and automated transport of people and things will remap the LBM channel’s future in construction’s value stream.
Other speakers at the event will offer strategies and solutions to help senior-level LBM professionals carve out a path for growth, as well. Some of the topics covered at the event include the following:
Off-site Construction
The second keynote, “Sudden Impact,” focuses on off-site manufacturing processes and their implications for the LBM channel (presented by Margaret Whelan, CEO and founder of Whelan Advisory; and George Casey, CEO of Stockbridge Associates).
Process Innovation
As labor challenges increase in severity, your business will depend on process innovation to create efficiencies, lower costs, and meet customers’ expectations. Learn from leaders in technology and supply chain dynamics on how to approach automation and how their operations will evolve in the session "How to Supercharge the Channel and Delight Customers" (speakers: Cody Behles, assistant director of innovation and research support at FedEx Institute of Technology, The University of Memphis; and Josh Shabtai, director of lab productions at Lowe’s Innovation Labs).
Tariffs
The session “Tariff Tactics” offers LBM leaders a look ahead for work-arounds, new deals, and restored predictability at both the product and sub-product level of pricing, supply capacity, options, and procurement expense (speaker: Marisa DiNatale, senior director of Moody’s Analytics).
Economic Outlook
Understand the residential construction’s current state and where it’s most likely heading, based on exclusive market-by-market valuation, supply, and demand predictive models in the session "Economic Outlook" (speaker: Mark Boud, senior vice president and chief economist at Metrostudy).
Additional Sessions
Additionally, an executive panel and an M&A panel will bring senior executives to the stage to address the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the LBM industry. And the session “60 Ideas in 60 Minutes” will offer a fast-paced collection of the best ideas in LBM operations, sales, marketing, technology, personnel, and leadership (speaker: Craig Webb, president of Webb Analytics).
Additional pricing and registration information can be found here. For more information about the event, visit ProSales 100 Conference.
