Gingrich, Zelman To Speak On Housing Outlook; Curtis, Keim Lumber To Be Honored At NLBMDA and Home Channel News ProDealer Industry Summit

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and renowned housing analyst Ivy Zelman, will be among the all-star roster of speakers at the 2008 ProDealer Industry Summit Oct. 1-3, hosted by the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) and Home Channel News (HCN), at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, Va. Now the only top-to-top educational and networking LBM conference, the summit features educational sessions focused on critical issues including the economic outlook for the housing industry, preparing for the next phase of the green revolution, boosting supply chain efficiency and improving credit operations. Home Channel News is also proud to honor Curtis Lumber as ProDealer of the Year and Keim Lumber as Independent ProDealer of the Year at the 2008 ProDealer of the Year Awards Dinner hosted during the summit on the evening of Oct. 2.

Chantilly, Va. (PRWEB) October 1, 2008 -- Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and renowned housing analyst Ivy Zelman, will be among the all-star roster of speakers at the 2008 ProDealer Industry Summit Oct. 1-3, hosted by the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) and Home Channel News (HCN), at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, Va.

The 2008 ProDealer Industry Summit marks an exciting milestone for the LBM industry as the NLBMDA Industry Summit and HCN ProDealer Conference merge. Now the only top-to-top educational and networking LBM conference, the summit features educational sessions focused on critical issues including the economic outlook for the housing industry, preparing for the next phase of the green revolution, boosting supply chain efficiency and improving credit operations.

Home Channel News is proud to honor Curtis Lumber as ProDealer of the Year and Keim Lumber as Independent ProDealer of the Year at the 2008 ProDealer of the Year Awards Dinner hosted during the summit on the evening of Oct. 2. Now in their 12th year, the ProDealer of the Year Awards commend excellence in the LBM industry.

"Ballston Spa, N.Y.-based Curtis Lumber deserves recognition as a major ProDealer that has shown the ability to grow," said Ken Clark, editor in chief of Home Channel News. "The company recorded an 11 percent sales increase on the HCN Top 500 Industry Scoreboard and is looking to capture long-term benefits through its acquisition of Gregory Supply."

Holmes County Ohio-based Keim Lumber has been in the building materials industry for nearly 100 years. With double-digit growth in 2007, Keim brought in sales of $51 million - ranking them No. 170 on the HCN Pro Dealer Top 350.

"Keim lumber thanks Home Channel News for the 2008 Independent ProDealer of the Year Award," said fourth generation Keim Lumber Vice President Robbie Keim. "Keim Lumber is grateful for God's guidance through the years and for the dedicated and talented staff (God) has given us. Keim Lumber looks forward to continued growth in the professional building industry."

Home Channel News is the leading news and analysis magazine for the home improvement/LBM industry serving the marketplace since 1975. The newsmagazine focuses on pro dealers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers and buying co-ops selling lumber, building materials, hardware and home improvement products. Home Channel News is published by Lebhar-Friedman, Inc. http://www.homechannelnews.com

The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association represents more than 8,000 lumber and building material companies with over 400,000 employees, 20 state and regional associations, and the industry's leading manufacturers and service providers. NLBMDA's member companies are the suppliers of builders in every state across the U.S. http://www.dealer.org

For information on the 2008 ProDealer of the Year Awards Dinner or the ProDealer Industry Summit please visit www.ProDealer.com or contact Hilary Cohen, Event Manager, at hcohen@lf.com, Tel: (212) 756-5036.

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