LBM Talks

What does extending credit look like from the supplier's side of the transaction? Thea Dudley welcomes Frank Workman of Dealer Supply & Lumber Company (VictorBuilt) to discuss how suppliers evaluate creditworthiness, manage risk, and navigate changing relationships with lumber dealers. Frank shares his perspective on industry consolidation, the financial benefits of taking early payment di...

Three SMMs walk into LBM Strategies... and they start yapping. In this special episode of LBM Talks Social Media, Sally Lacey sits down with returning guests Ella Dianich of Issaquah Lumber and Sadie Hoyt of Dakota County Lumber at LBM Strategies 2026. They discuss creating content at industry events, the awkwardness of asking people to be in content, and striking a balance between your content ca...

Everyone in an LBM business has a hand in credit, whether they realize it or not. From yard employees loading orders to executives making financial decisions, credit conversations happen throughout the company. In this episode, Thea Dudley shares how credit professionals can tailor their communication to different departments, navigate disagreements, and build partnerships instead of creating conf...

In this episode of LBM Talks Social Media, Sally shares everything she plans to film at LBM Strategies 2026 and the thinking behind her content shot list. She walks through her plans for thought leadership interviews, employee introductions, entertaining reels, attendee videos, and a long-form lumberyard tour. Along the way, she discusses how to balance evergreen content with event promotion, adap...

Thea Dudley is joined by Trent Johnson of Red Book Lumber Data to look at the LBM market through a credit lens. They discuss how rising lumber prices, consolidation, sawmill closures, purchasing power, and changing market conditions are affecting credit decisions across the industry. Trent also shares what the data is showing from 2026 and the trends LBM credit professionals should be watching as...

Dakota County Lumber President and CEO Sunny Bowman joins Sally to talk about how the lumberyard built its social media presence and the role it now plays in the company’s brand, culture, and sales efforts. Sunny shares why DCL prioritizes Instagram, how the team creates entertaining content without taking employees away from their jobs, and why the company recently expanded its strategy with a se...

How involved should sales be in collecting money? In this episode of LBM Talks Credit, Thea Dudley talks with SunPro Vice President of Sales Jason Butterfield about sales reps’ role in collections, tying commissions to customer payments, and the challenges that arise when selling and collecting overlap. They also discuss why credit and sales need to work together—and where each department’s respon...

Do social media managers need to be chronically online to stay relevant? In this solo episode, Sally explores the relationship between scrolling, trends and strategy. She discusses why keeping up with every viral moment isn't necessarily the key to better content, how to use trends more intentionally, and the difference between passively consuming content and actively studying what works. She...

Why do we avoid talking about money with customers when money is a fundamental part of doing business? In this episode of LBM Talks Credit, Thea Dudley tackles the past-due conversation nobody wants to have. She shares five steps for approaching customers directly, understanding what’s holding up payment, setting expectations, offering a way forward, and following up. Having the conversation may b...

Talbert Building Supply ’s “The Office” parody videos have become some of the company’s most engaging content on Facebook and Instagram. Sally talks with Talbert marketing specialist Jason McGhan about how the series came together, why keeping it unscripted helps employees’ personalities come through, and how it fits into a larger shift toward more people-focused content. They also discuss showcas...

After more than 20 years with Merit Distribution Group, Lea Callahan has learned a few things about relationships, risk and finding your voice in credit. In this episode of LBM Talks Credit, Callahan joins Thea Dudley to discuss her path from AP filer to credit manager, adapting as the company expanded into new markets, and the importance of building trust with customers, sales and leadership. The...

How does ChatGPT’s social media advice compare to the experience of someone managing social media every day? Sally Lacey puts it to the test by answering 10 social media strategy questions before revealing ChatGPT’s answers. She covers hashtags, posting times, LinkedIn links and video, trends, underperforming content, posting frequency, recycling successful posts, and more. Sally shares what she’s...

What can credit managers learn from someone who has sat on both sides of the collections process? Thea Dudley welcomes Debbie Nute, author of  Framework for Success in Construction Collections , who spent 15 years as a construction credit manager before starting and running a nationwide collection agency for 25 years. Debbie shares what credit professionals should know about working with collectio...

In this episode, Sally Lacey welcomes freelance social media manager  Ella Dianich  to discuss her experience creating content for Issaquah Lumber. Ella shares how she learned the lumber industry, why many of her best content ideas happen on the fly, and how she approaches Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook differently. Together, they discuss building employee buy-in, capturing authentic behind-the-s...

Hiring a great credit professional requires more than finding someone with the right experience. In this episode, Thea Dudley welcomes recruiter Rodney Schwab to discuss how the hiring market has changed and what employers should be looking for when building their credit teams. They cover outdated hiring expectations, evolving technology, company culture, flexibility, and why hiring for potential...

In this solo episode, Sally Lacey shares how she approaches content planning for LBM Journal across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. She discusses repurposing editorial content, choosing the right content formats, measuring performance, and adapting the strategy over time. Tune in for a candid look into the thought processes and strategy behind LBM Journal's social media content. Follow...

AI can automate reminders, send emails, and organize past-due accounts, but it can't replace the conversations that build trust and solve problems. In this episode of  LBM Talks Credit , Thea Dudley and regional credit manager Jill Escoto discuss why strong relationships remain one of the most valuable tools in collections. They explore where automation helps, where it falls short, and why pic...

Managing social media today requires organization, creativity, adaptability, and the ability to develop original ideas across multiple platforms. In this episode of LBM Talks Social Media, Sally shares her candid experience as a social media manager in 2026. From changing algorithms and evolving audience expectations to content systems, collaboration, and creative workflows, she shares what's...

Credit is changing, but not in the ways many people expect. In this episode, Thea Dudley welcomes Sean Stevens , founder of  The Head of Credit , to discuss the future of the credit profession. They explore why credit leaders need to think beyond collections, how credit departments can become revenue drivers, what AI can and can't do, and why judgment remains one of the profession's most v...

In this episode of  LBM Talks Social Media , Sally Lacey sits down with Amber Little , Chief Human Resources Officer at Nations Best Holdings , to discuss how authentic content can create meaningful professional connections. Amber shares how she transformed personal reflections and journal entries into LinkedIn posts to connect with professionals across industries. Together, they explore why authe...

Credit management is becoming more challenging as economic uncertainty, rising costs, tariffs, and tighter lending conditions put pressure on businesses across the lumber and building material industry. In this episode of LBM Talks Credit, Thea Dudley welcomes Sid Malladi , CEO of Nuvo , to discuss the biggest trends shaping trade credit in 2026. They explore why credit teams are carrying more ris...

In Part 2 of Sally Lacey's conversation with Dakota County Lumber marketing specialist Sadie Hoyt, the two discuss the realities of social media management beyond algorithms and content strategy. They explore burnout, creativity, loneliness, content calendars, AI, and why building community matters for marketers who often work independently. It's an honest conversation about the challenges...

From the Labrador Retriever to the elusive Unicorn, every sales team is made up of familiar personalities. In this fun, solo episode of  LBM Talks Credit , Thea Dudley breaks down the 10 sales rep personalities that show up in the lumber and building materials industry and beyond. It's a lighthearted look at the quirks, habits, and chaos that make the credit-sales relationship both challenging...

What’s working on social media right now? In this episode of LBM Talks Social Media, Sally Lacey chats with Dakota County Lumber marketing specialist Sadie Hoyt about the realities of being a solo marketer in the LBM industry. From Instagram carousels and LinkedIn strategy to shadow bans, creator-style content, and building company culture online, this is an honest conversation between two markete...

Sales reps and credit managers have a complicated relationship, and in this episode, Thea Dudley says the quiet parts out loud. From incomplete paperwork and unauthorized terms to “just this once” policy exceptions, Thea breaks down the biggest frustrations credit departments face when working with sales teams in the lumber and building materials industry. Sponsored by Nuvo .