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 discounts, and why new customers can present some of the greatest credit risks. The conversation also covers cash flow management, credit terms, and the importance of doing your due diligence before extending credit.

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 calendar and posting on the fly.

They also tackle an important question: how does one get more creative? Stay tuned to find out.

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 conflict. She explains why effective credit management requires more than enforcing policies. It takes clarity, consistency, confidence, and an understanding of what matters to the people you're working with.

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, adapt ideas for different social media platforms, and take advantage of opportunities to batch content when colleagues and industry professionals are together in person.

Thea Dudley is joined by Trent Johnson of Red Book Lumber Datato 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 they head into 2027.

Dakota County LumberPresident 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 separate CEO social media presence.

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 responsibility should begin and end.

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 also reflects on her own social media habits and the challenge of balancing what's trending with what actually fits your brand, audience and goals.

Mentioned articles:

1) https://futuresocial.beehiiv.com/p/why-being-chronically-online-isn-t-actually-good-for-social-pros

2) https://www.prettylittlemarketer.com/blog/using-pop-culture-in-marketing

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 be uncomfortable, but waiting only limits your options.

For more resources, visit lbmjournal.com.

Reach out to Thea with requests at theadudley@charter.net.

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 showcasing customers and jobsites, balancing humor with professionalism, and experimenting to find what works on social media.

Watch one of the parody videos: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1K9b7EaqJB/

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.

They also discuss making tough credit decisions, knowing when to push back and why standing your ground starts with knowing your facts and being prepared to make your case.

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 learned from managing social media platforms and where real-world experience lines up with AI’s advice.

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 collection agencies, from good documentation and realistic expectations to knowing when it’s time to escalate. Plus, hear her “four-call rule,” why waiting too long can hurt your chances of getting paid, and how to find the right collection partner for your business.

Connect with Debbie

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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-scenes moments, and where AI fits into the future of content creation.

If you enjoy hearing how other social media managers think, plan, and create, this conversation offers plenty of practical ideas and fresh perspective.

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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 often leads to better long-term results than searching for the "perfect" candidate.

Get in touch with Rodney at (972) 232-2488 or RSchwab@proalt.com.

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 Sally on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallytraxler/

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 picking up the phone is still one of the most effective ways to improve cash flow and strengthen customer partnerships.

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 working, what's become more difficult, and why intentionality matters more than ever.

Connect with Sally on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallytraxler/?skipRedirect=true

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 valuable skills.

Sean also shares the story behind The Head of Credit, his mission to make credit education more accessible, and why developing the next generation of professionals is critical for the future of the industry.

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 authenticity outperforms polished corporate messaging, how leaders can build influence by sharing real experiences, and why meaningful conversations matter more than follower counts.

Whether you're looking to grow your network, strengthen your personal brand, or simply feel more confident sharing your perspective online, this conversation offers practical insights and inspiration to get started.

Check out Amber's book, "Whole Human Leadership": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1NV85PB