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November 2024
Northwestern Lumber Association and Mid-America Lumbermens Association are now BLD Connection. Read About Our Transformation!
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BLD Connection News
Registration Now Open for BizCon North & South—Register Early for a Chance to Win $250!
BLD Connection is excited to announce that registration for BizCon North and BizCon South is now open! These must-attend events bring together LBM dealers & suppliers, industry leaders, and contractor customers for engaging seminars, exhibits with cutting-edge products, and powerful networking opportunities. With exciting new features like the Contractor Panel, Innovation Speed Showcase, and new contests with big prizes, the BizCons are set to be bigger and better than ever in 2025. Don’t miss out—secure your spot today and experience it all firsthand!
Corporate Transparency Act & Beneficial Ownership Filing: Do You Need to File?
Earlier this year, the Corporate Transparency Act was enacted to prevent and combat illicit activity such as money laundering, tax fraud, and terrorist financing. The law aims to stop individuals from hiding their ownership of U.S. companies to facilitate illegal activities.
Following a series of legal challenges, it has been determined that the Corporate Transparency Act is legal and over 30 million small businesses in the United States are now required to file a Beneficial Ownership Report with FinCEN.
New FMCSA Rule Mandates CDL Downgrades for Drug Violations
NLBMDA
Starting Nov. 18, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse II regulation will require state driver licensing agencies to downgrade a truck driver's commercial driver license (CDL) if the driver fails a drug or alcohol test and is placed on "prohibited" driving status.
BLD Connection has officially moved to our new office! Please update your records for any future correspondence.
New Address (effective now): 10700 Old County Road 15, Suite 200 Plymouth, MN 55441
Articles & Publications
Key Factors That Make a Lumberyard/Building Center More Valuable
Bob Harris, True North Mergers & Acquisitions
I have advised many lumberyard and building center owners when they are ready to exit their businesses and am often asked to provide an opinion of value. The value of one business over the other can be far different even when they are similar in revenue size. Here are the key value drivers that owners of lumberyard/building centers should consider addressing prior to selling their businesses:
Years ago, the lumber dealer I was working for was growing quickly – and promoting people just as quickly. One year, for example, I brought on a new assistant general manager, a dispatcher, a yard manager, and a second shift supervisor, all in a span of four months.
For me, the fun part is breaking them in. In the 1990’s my favorite buzzword was MBWA: Management By Walking Around. That particular year, I was doing nothing but running.
We are a small office with a hybrid remote/in-office work arrangement. We are trying to boost employee morale and get employees to come into the office more often. Are we allowed to celebrate employees’ birthdays? We were thinking something simple like having everyone get together in the conference room to have cake whenever it’s someone’s birthday.
