Nashville - The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) today announced its new leadership team installed on October 23 at the ProDealer Industry Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. At the association's annual meeting, the NLBMDA Board of Directors elected Chris Yenrick as the new chair of the association. Chris is president of Smith Phillips Building Supply in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and is replacing outgoing chair Chuck Bankston, president of Bankston Lumber in Barnesville, Georgia.

"I am privileged to serve as Chair of NLBMDA, following the many great lumber dealers before me. Our companies have very close ties and long histories with the communities we serve, so this local focus sometimes leads us to lose sight of national issues that can impact us close to home. The housing sector is recovering steadily and shows signs that it can return to being a leading engine for jobs and economic growth. Haphazard laws and over-regulation could easily jeopardize our momentum. In this fragile economic recovery it is of the utmost importance to have a watchdog in Washington, D.C. that promotes common sense legislation and regulation for our industry," said Chris Yenrick.

"I look forward to working through NLBMDA to increase the awareness and involvement of independent and national chain dealers to present a strong and united front to advocate for business conditions that will be conducive to our long term success. Lumber yards and our industry have a time honored tradition of serving a vital role in the American dream of home-ownership. NLBMDA is our voice to help preserve that role into the future."

As the president of Smith Phillips Building Supply, Chris Yenrick has served actively at the federal level with NLBMDA and regionally with the Southern Building Material Association. Established in 1880, Smith Phillips has a proud history of serving professional builders, remodelers, and homeowners in the North Carolina Piedmont area, with a headquarters operation in Winston-Salem and branch location in Statesville.

"I am excited to have Chris take the top position here at NLBMDA. His passion for the industry will certainly guide him as he pushes for a pro-business agenda over the next year. He knows how to make a great organization even better," said NLBMDA President Michael O'Brien. "I also want to recognize Chuck Bankston for the outstanding leadership and commitment he has provided to the association and his perseverance in moving NLBMDA forward as our members have moved into a housing recovery."

In addition to Chris, the other members of the 2013-2014 NLBMDA Executive Committee are:

-- Chair-Elect: J.D. Saunders, Economy Lumber, Campbell, CA

-- First Vice Chair: Scott Yates, Denver Lumber, Denver, CO

-- Second Vice Chair: Davis Boland, Boland Maloney Lumber, Louisville, KY

-- Treasurer: Linda Nussbaum, Kleet Lumber, Huntington, NY

-- Manufacturers & Services Council Chair: Roger Dankel, Simpson Strong-Tie, McKinney, TX

-- Federated Association Executives Chair: Rita Ferris, Northeastern Retail Lumber Association, Rensselaer, NY

-- Immediate Past Chair: Chuck Bankston, Bankston Lumber, Barnesville, GA

-- President: Michael O'Brien, NLBMDA, Washington, D.C.

The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) represents its members in the national public policy arena, with emphasis on efforts to 1) promote the industry and educate legislators and public policy personnel; and 2) assist legislative, regulatory, standard-setting and other government or private bodies in the development of laws, regulations and policies affecting lumber and building material dealers, its customers and suppliers. Founded in 1917, the association has over 6,000 members operating single or multiple lumber yards and component plants serving homebuilders, subcontractors, general contractors, and consumers in the new construction, repair and remodeling of residential and light commercial

Source: National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association