Bringing a career of broad experience, Dave Davis became President and CEO of the Spahn & Rose Lumber Company in 2017. He previously served as Corporate Vice President, Supply Chain at the Bostwick-Braun Company, Vice President, Merchandising & Marketing for the Aubuchon Company, and Vice President, Sales & Marketing at the True Value Company. Throughout his career, Dave has strategically helped organizations and their people be all they can be. Dave and his wife, Donna, have seven children and eight grandchildren and live in Dubuque, Iowa.
2023
As a fourth-generation addition to the Builders’ General roster, TJ began his career as a teenager filling summer help needs in the yard and warehouse, later moving to driver and sales. After graduating from college with degrees in Business and Drama, TJ leaned on both skill sets to assist his ever-evolving career as a branch manager at multiple locations, and then as sales manager for their LBM sales and cabinet teams. Builders’ General celebrated its 90th anniversary last October. In 1931, the Shaheen family emigrated from the country of Lebanon and founded Builders’ General in Cranford, NJ. Today, the company operates seven locations within NJ. TJ is the executive vice president, an officer, and a board member for Builders’ General. He is also an active board member trustee for the NJ Building Materials Association (NJBMDA), and serves on the legislative, education, and convention committees on behalf of the NJBMDA and the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA).
Thea Dudley started out working with her subcontractor Dad, and shortly thereafter realized that manual labor was not for her. So, she moved into the power seat of the business — granting credit and collecting the money. She has spent her 30+ year career working for manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, contractors, and subcontractors by leading credit teams, aiding accounts payable, and bringing order to cash processes. She currently serves as Suppli’s first Brand Ambassador, is a founding member of Women of LBM, Levelset ProAdvisory Panel, numerous credit associations, and National Insulation Contractors Exchange. She writes a credit Q&A Column and Webex series for LBM Journal. Thea works with credit departments across the country to secure healthy AR management and proactive credit and collection practices.
Ted Rieple is the managing partner and founder of 1stWEST Mergers & Acquisitions. The company currently maintains operations in the US, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Having founded 1stWEST M&A in 2008, Ted’s experience includes the completion of over $1 billion in M&A transactions around the globe. Prior to 1stWEST M&A, Ted was president & CEO of Strategic Distribution Inc., and Diversey Chemicals North American operations. Ted graduated from St. Mary’s University and is a U.S. Army veteran who was assigned to the Staff Judge Advocate (JAG Corps).
Rick Davis is the contributing sales editor to LBM Journal and regarded by many as the leading sales trainer and consultant in the LBM industry. He has been the owner of Building Leaders, Inc. for 20 years and trained tens of thousands of salespeople in our industry. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and applies his studies in economics and psychology to deliver scientific measurement of sales performance and the power of influence that produce predictable future results. His presentations are ones you won’t want to miss.
Rick’s introduction to the LBM industry began in 1990 with Building Material Retailer magazine, and continued with the launch of LBM Journal in 2003. Since then, Rick and a team of hardworking, high performing publishing pros have built LBM Journal into the leading national media brand serving the LBM distribution channel. With degrees in English and marketing, Rick is passionate about delivering insights and information to help readers run their businesses better and smarter.
John D. Wagner is a managing director for 1stWest Mergers & Acquisitions, which has transacted $1.5 billion+ in deal values and has a specialty practice in the distribution and LBM sectors. John is also the M&A columnist for LBM Journal. He has served as a sell-side and buy-side advisor on dozens of M&A deals reaching back to 1999. John is the author of 24 books and 2,600+ articles that have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and many other outlets. His most-popular book is M&A Basics For People in a (BIG)Hurry!.
Jim graduated from Kings College in 1976 and conducted his post-graduate studies at The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. He held a variety of management positions prior to becoming president of Enterprise Computer Systems in He left the company in 1999 to found an Internet software company which was later sold. From November 2001 until the successful sale of the company in February 2023 he was chief executive officer of New South Construction Supply. He is now the managing member of New South Real Estate Partners, Sobeck Investments, and Sobeck Holdings. Jim is the author of The Real Business 101: Lessons from the Trenches, a collection of business tips he learned (mostly the hard way) in his over 45 year business career. He has been a lecturer for Clemson University’s MBAe program and he also has mentored several MBAe students. Jim has been married to Cindy since 1978, and they have three adult children and five grandchildren.