INNOVATION

COHORT

Fall 2026

September 29-October 1, 2026
Nashville/Gallatin Area, TN

SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE LBM INDUSTRY

September 29-October 1, 2026 | Nashville/Gallatin Area, TN

Join Our Innovation Cohort to Explore Emerging Technologies
and Drive Industry Growth

Are you ready to move the lumber and building materials industry forward? A dynamic new cohort of independent lumber dealers is forming and bringing together forward-thinking professionals like you to:

SHARE IDEAS: Connect with peers, discuss challenges, and brainstorm innovative solutions.

LOOK OUTSIDE THE BOX: Explore successful strategies and technologies from other industries.

ADAPT & ADOPT: Discover and implement new and emerging technologies relevant to our sector.

STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE: Position your business for long-term success in a rapidly evolving landscape.

DETAILS

WHO: Hand-selected industry leaders

WHEN: September 29 to October 1, 2026

SESSION LOCATION: Simpson Strong-Tie Training Center (1585 Airport Rd, Gallatin, TN 37066)

HOMEBASE HOTEL: The Inn at Opryland, A Gaylord Hotel (2401 Music Valley Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37214)

COST: Participants to book their own flights and hotel

AGENDA: Schedule set in CST and subject to change.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29:

  • By 4:00PM CST: Arrive at Hotel

  • 5:00PM: Meet for drinks and networking

  • 6:15PM: Walk to dinner

  • 6:30PM: Dinner at Old Hickory Steakhouse, Sponsored by Genetiq

    • Old Hickory Steakhouse at Gaylord Opryland (2800 Opryland Drive Nashville, TN 37214)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30:

  • 6:30AM: Breakfast at Hotel (On Your Own)

  • 7:45AM: Depart for Training Center (Meet in Hotel Lobby to Uber together)

  • 8:30AM: Arrival, Coffee & Framing the Room

  • 9:00AM: Session 1: "How I Built That" — Live Tool Show and Tell

  • 10:15AM: Morning Break

  • 10:30AM: Session 2: The Future of AI in LBM ERPs — Guest Session with GenetiQ

  • 11:30AM: Lunch (Dedicated Break)

  • 12:30PM: Session 3: Simpson Strong-Tie Manufacturing & Distribution Tour

  • 1:30PM: Session 4: Upstream Lessons — Stealing from Tier-1 Manufacturing

  • 2:15PM: Session 5: AI Governance, Security & Change Management

  • 3:15PM: Afternoon Break

  • 3:30PM: Session 6: Unlocking Dormant POS Data & Becoming the Builder's OS

  • 4:30PM: Wrap Up & Travel to Hotel

  • 5:30PM: Walk to Dinner (Meet in Hotel Lobby)

  • 5:45PM: Dinner at Ravello, Sponsored by Simpson Strong-Tie

    • Ravello at Gaylord Opryland (2800 Opryland Drive Nashville, TN 37214)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1:

  • 6:30AM: Breakfast at Hotel (On Your Own)

  • 7:45AM: Depart for Training Center (Meet in Hotel Lobby to Uber together)

  • 8:30AM: Coffee & Day 1 Reflections

  • 8:40AM: Cohort Workshop: Wall-Size Order Lifecycle Friction Mapping

  • 9:40AM: Session 7: Solving the Friction Map

  • 10:40AM: Morning Break

  • 10:55AM: Session 8: Off-Site Components & Value-Add Services

  • 11:35AM: Closing Sprint: 90-Day Commitments & Accountability Pairs

  • 12:00PM: Wrap Day 2, Next Steps, Lunch To-Go

  • Depart

PRINTABLE PDF AGENDA

ACTION STEPS

  • REGISTER & PRE-SURVEY

    RSVP to attend and reserve the date on your calendar.

    Email Sunny Bowman at sunny@dakotacountylumber.com to save your spot.

    Take the Pre-Survey to help inform the content of the Cohort!


    Can’t attend? Don’t worry, we’ll have more cohorts in the future!

  • BOOK HOTEL

    Reserve your room at the home base hotel: The Inn at Opryland, A Gaylord Hotel

    Backup Hotel Options include:
    - Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nashville-Opryland by IHG: Booking link
    - Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center: Booking link


    Attendees cover hotel fees on their own. Shuttles and transportation will be provided for the group.

  • BOOK FLIGHT

    The best airport for flights is Nashville International Airport (BNA).

    Please plan to arrive in TN by
    4:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, September 29 and depart as you would like after
    noon on Thursday, October 1.

    Attendees cover flight fees on their own.

  • GET COHORT READY!

    Pack your bag and get ready to engage!

    Dress code is business casual during the day and business/dressy for dinners.

    Nashville/Gallatin area temperatures during the event are highs in the mid-70s°F to low-80s°F and cooler nights in the upper 50s°F

QUESTIONS: Email sunny@dakotacountylumber.com with questions or to set up a time for a call to learn more