What happens when a CEO treats credit management as a core business strategy?

In this episode of LBM Talks Credit, Thea Dudley speaks with Mike Craven of Red River Lumber about building a culture where credit, sales, and leadership work in alignment.

They discuss:
• Navigating volatile markets and cash flow challenges
• Holding customers accountable without sacrificing loyalty
• Weekly AR strategy meetings
• Credit limit adjustments during deflation
• The biggest risks facing LBM dealers in 2026

If you’re in the lumber and building materials industry and want to strengthen your credit approach, this episode delivers actionable insight from the top.

Don't forget to check out our sponsor, Nuvo!

In this episode of LBM Talk Social Media, Sally is joined by Nancy Wischmeier, Vice President of Hopson Lumber, a fourth-generation, family-owned LBM dealer serving Missouri communities since 1880.

Together they discuss why authentic, people-focused content is outperforming highly polished promotions, how consistent reels are strengthening trust with both contractors and homeowners, and what happens when a professional LBM business pushes its comfort zone and has a little fun. A key takeaway: credibility and creativity are not mutually exclusive — and when you prioritize relationships, meaningful engagement and measurable results follow.

If you’re ready to stop overthinking social media and start building trust through authentic content, this episode is for you.

Check out our sponsor, ProVia!

AI adoption doesn’t fail because people don’t want to use it — it fails because they don’t know how.

In this episode, Thea Dudley is joined by Shane Soule, President of ProTec Panel & Truss, to explore what actually helps teams adopt AI in a practical, sustainable way. They discuss why vague encouragement doesn’t work, how leaders can provide better structure and coaching, and why AI should be rolled out like any other business system — with training, examples, and accountability.

This conversation is packed with real-world insights for leaders who want their teams to feel confident using AI, not intimidated by it.

Check out our sponsor, Nuvo.

Learn more about Claude.

Welcome to the last episode in our 2026 Dealer of the Year highlight series!

In this episode of LBM Talks Social Media, Sally Lacey talks with Adam Pettit, Marketing Director at Red River Lumber, about how lumber dealers can use social media to build trust, grow their brand, and see real returns.

They cover what types of content actually perform, how Red River Lumber balances organic and paid social, why employee-driven content matters, and how platforms like LinkedIn and YouTube can support sales and local SEO.

If you're interested in the other 2026 Dealer of the Year episodes, check out the previous two episodes with Peter Lumber Company (category: $10MM-$50MM) and Issaquah Lumber (category: $10MM+).

Learn more about our sponsor, ProVia.

We're one month into Q1 and the consensus seems to be that business is slow. A lot of dealers are scrapping for sales, which doesn't always bring in the best customers.

In this episode, Thea breaks down the top three forces that are shaping your AR, risk tolerance, and credit managers blood pressure in this first quarter of 2026. Tune in for data, trends, and advice to help you protect your company's cash flow.

See what our sponsor can do for you at nuvo.com.

Alex Armstrong is a 2023 40 under 40 member and the manager of Peter Lumber Company's Pitman location, a 2026 Dealer of the Year (category: $10MM-$50MM).

As the manager, Alex also creates content to promote his store on Facebook and Instagram.

In this episode, we discussed why Peter Lumber has different profiles for two of their locations, how they create authentic content, what it's like being chosen as a Dealer of the Year, and more.

Learn more about our sponsor sponsor Provia: https://www.provia.com/doors/

Today's guest is Shane Shoule, President of ProTec Panel & Truss.

After listening to Shane's session at LBM Strategies 2025, Thea reached out to have her own conversation on how to implement AI as a Credit Manager.

Tune into to learn ways to experiment and get comfortable with AI, how Credit Managers can use it, and when not to reply on AI.

Watch Shane's full session from LBM Strategies here: https://youtu.be/TEbXOT8kYS4

Welcome to LBM Talks Social Media, Dealer of the Year edition.
Chad Amble of Issaquah Lumber and Brenda Collons of Collons Communication, join this episode to discuss their recent efforts to expand the Issaquah name through digital channels that make sense.
Some topics discussed in this episode include how they manage six social media channels, their new podcast the "Lumber Lounge," the versatility of marketing, marketing strategy, and more.
Check out Issaquah Lumber on most social media channels, connect with Chad and Brenda on LinkedIn, and email sally@lbmjournal.com with any feedback.