NAWLA Calendar of Upcoming Events

Member Benefits

Join the trade association dedicated to serving your unique needs. NAWLA, whose wholesaler members' combined annual sales exceed $30 billion, is dedicated to enhancing professionalism and efficiency throughout the lumber and building materials distribution channel and to the responsible use of forest resources. NAWLA and it’s members are synonymous with Professionalism, Honesty, Integrity and Innovation.

A brief look at some of the many benefits of NAWLA membership:

Networking -
At various meetings throughout the year, NAWLA member can closely network with both U.S. and Canadian lumber wholesalers, manufacturers, transportation companies and numerous other industry affiliated entities. NAWLA meetings are a great way to meet potential customers\suppliers and allow for superb networking opportunities. Annual Meetings, Regional Meetings, Executive Conference and our super-successful NAWLA Traders Market^® provide an ideal venue to find sources supply and to meet industry peers.

NAWLA 10 Groups -
Since NAWLA introduced the idea of 10 Groups to its membership, it has opened up a whole new area of networking on a more intimate level. The 10 Group concept has is to provide a mechanism which permits individual wholesaler member owner/managers to maintain an informal, continuing relationship with ten or so owners of other non-competing, similar-sized NAWLA companies in different parts of the country. Representatives from over 70 companies are currently involved in NAWLA 10 Groups.

Education -
NAWLA offers a number of educational seminars and programs for our members employees at literally any level.

• For those that are relatively new to the lumber and building materials industry, or for whom some basic information would help them in their new career, the NAWLA Wood Basics Course is offered (in cooperation with Oregon State University). This 4-day course takes the participant from the seedling to the tree, through all wood products, wood alternative products, sales, marketing, transportation, logistics, mill and forestry tours.
• For more experienced mid-level management, the University of Industrial Distribution (U.I.D.) is available. This 4-day program is held in conjunction with Purdue University in cooperation with more than 28 other wholesale associations. The UID is a cafeteria type school that allows the managers to select from more than 36 different classes and concentrate on particular subject areas that are of importance to them.
• To assist sales people in becoming more effective in sales, two courses are offered, a one and a half day Sales Training Workshop (also available to hold at your business site) and a self-paced, mentor guided Sales Training Course. This course provides the opportunity for the sales person to enhance their selling skills in the lumber and building materials industry.
• NAWLA was pleased to introduce the first ever Buyers School in 2006. This 3.5-day school is designed to arm purchasing managers and buyers with the tools they need to garner a competitive edge and be more successful. The school covers Supply Chain Management, The Essential Elements of Organizational Negotiations, Inventory Management, Hedging, Industry Specific Transportation, Logistics, and Ethics.
• The NAWLA Executive Management Institute (E.M.I.) addresses the training needs of business owners and senior managers, addressing topics including evaluating financial performance, implementing organizational change, managing through influence and sales/ marketing and the value chain. This 5-day, highly prestigious course is offered in conjunction with Southern Methodist University, Cox School of business, one of the top ten business graduate schools in the United States.
• As timely / current events and issues are identified ("hot topics"), the Education Committee and Information Services Committees team up to bring them to your attention via a series of one hour "Webinars" making you aware of what’s happening in the industry and can make informed decisions on how to deal/ capitalize on topics of interest.

There is great value in keeping you and your employees educated and up to date on information directly affecting them in their positions. A better educated employee means a more productive and valuable employee. Education is the key to success!

Business Services -
NAWLA members have access to a variety of services, including Profit Surveys, Salary Surveys, Caliper Human Strategies (H.R. consulting), ForesTel, Inc. (discounted long distance phone rates), and much, much more.

NAWLA
North American Wholesale Lumber Association
3601 Algonquin Road, Suite 400, Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008
Telephone: 847-870-7470 Toll Free: 800-527-8258 Fax: 847-870-0201
E-mail: info@nawla.org