ProDealer Industry Summit 2026

ProDealer Industry Summit is an educational forum run by HBSDealer and EnsembleIQ for lumber and building material dealers, distributors and wholesalers and their suppliers, combining industry sessions with the ProDealer of the Year and NextGen Leaders recognition events.

ProDealer Industry Summit 2026

ProDealer Industry Summit runs October 5–7, 2026 at The Westin Michigan Avenue, Chicago.

What it is

The organizer describes the Summit as "an exclusive, live educational forum" for growing lumber and building product dealers, distributors and wholesalers, and the manufacturers who supply them. It is run by HBSDealer (Hardware+Building Supply Dealer) with EnsembleIQ. The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) is a partner on the awards program.

Who can register

Registration is limited to LBM dealers, and every registration is vetted before the event. Manufacturers, suppliers and service providers can attend only as sponsors or exhibitors. NLBMDA members, including members of its federated partner associations, register at a member rate, and rates rise on-site.

How the three days run

• Mon Oct 5: registration from 11:00 AM–3:00 PM, then an opening networking reception at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 5:00–7:00 PM. An LBM Executive Dinner follows, by invitation only.
• Tue Oct 6: the main program in the Great Lakes Ballroom. Sessions include an award-winning dealer panel, AI for decision-making, a U.S. economic forecast, a Washington policy briefing, and the "Declarations of Independents" series of short talks on technology, ecommerce, recruiting, marketing and showrooms. The day continues with peer roundtables, the Golden Hammer Community Service awards at lunch, and the ProDealer of the Year Dinner.
• Wed Oct 7: a short morning, closing with the Breakfast & NextGen Awards, 8:30–10:30 AM.

Exhibit time is built into the breaks. Attendees are encouraged to visit exhibitor booths during the breakfasts, the coffee break, lunch and the Tuesday evening reception.