Featured Education
Hear from featured speaker Stefanie Couch and other industry experts with practical education focused on today’s LBM business challenges.
Exhibit Hall
Connect with industry partners, discover new products and enjoy contests, prizes and more.
Member Connections
Spend time with Retail and Associate Members from across the region through BizCon events, meals and activities.
ATTEND
Attendee passes are available to retail lumber dealers, dealer guests and contractor customers. Suppliers and service providers participate as exhibitors. Students register separately.
WHO CAN ATTEND BIZCON NORTH?
Retail Lumber Dealers
Owners and employees of retail lumber yards may register to attend BizCon North. BLD members receive member pricing; non-members are also welcome.
Contractor Customers
Contractors who are customers of retail lumber dealers may attend. Contractors invited by a BLD member receive the invited rate; contractors attending without a member invitation use the standard contractor rate.
Dealer Guests
Spouses of dealer attendees and retired lumber dealers may register as guests.
Invited students and instructors may participate in the Day 2 Student Career Panel, Team Challenge and exhibition activities at no cost. A separate Student RSVP Form is required.
Companies that supply products or services to the LBM industry may not register as general attendees. Suppliers must exhibit to participate in BizCon.
SEMINARS & SPEAKERS
DAY 1 - TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2027
Date: Tuesday, January 19
Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: Arbor Lakes Room
Roundtable: Women in LBM - Connect & Collaborate
Moderator: Dena Cordova-Jack
THE CONVERSATIONS WE AVOID What We Don't Say...and What It Costs Us
Some conversations are easy.
And then there are the ones we rehearse in our heads, postpone until “the right time,” soften until the message disappears, or avoid altogether.
Whether it’s saying no, asking for help, addressing a difficult behavior, advocating for yourself, disagreeing with someone, setting a boundary, asking for an opportunity, or simply saying, “This isn’t working for me,” the conversations we avoid often have a cost.
Join Dena Cordova-Jack for a special Women in LBM Connect & Collaborate luncheon designed to bring women across the lumber and building materials industry together for learning, conversation, and connection.
Whether you're early in your career, a seasoned industry veteran, or somewhere in between, this session is designed for you.
Because sometimes the conversation we're most reluctant to have is exactly the conversation we need to have.
Lunch included. Come ready to learn, connect, collaborate...and maybe have a conversation you've been putting off.
Cost: $50 per person (member) / $75 per person (non-member)
Attendance Guidelines: This function is open to all female attendees. Advance registration is required – please indicate your intention to attend when registering. Limited seating available.
Date: Tuesday, January 19
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm
Location: Elm Creek Amphitheater
AI You Can Use Monday
Speaker: Stefanie Couch
A hands-on working session for the building industry.
Most AI sessions leave people impressed for an hour and unchanged on Monday. This one puts the tool in their hands.
Stefanie shows attendees how to use AI to research faster, turn rough notes into useful work, prepare for sales conversations, draft content, and follow up without starting from a blank page. Then the room tests it live.
Attendees build one repeatable workflow around work they already do, using a paid Pro AI account built for real work.
Bring a laptop. Leave with work done.
What Attendees Leave With:
- One repeatable AI workflow built during the session
- A prompt pack for research, planning, content, and sales follow-up
- A faster way to move from rough notes to a useful first draft
- Clear rules for safe AI use at work
- One next step to bring back to the team
Attendee Preparation:
- Bring a fully charged laptop and charger
- Set up a paid Pro AI account before the session. You may use the platform of your choice, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot, etc.
- Bring one nonconfidential task, document, or piece of public content to work on
Do not enter confidential, proprietary, regulated, or personally identifiable information into public AI platforms.
Bio: Stefanie Couch is a third-generation building industry leader, nationally acclaimed speaker, and the Founder and CEO of Grit Blueprint, the visibility and growth partner for the industry. She helps manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and builders stop being the best kept secret in their market through sharper brand strategy, stronger sales tools, useful media, and practical AI. She hosts The Grit Blueprint Podcast and Behind The Build on YouTube.
Cost: Included as part of the BizCon Education Package.
Attendance Guidelines: This function is open to all attendees. Advance registration is required – please indicate your intention to attend when registering.
Date: Tuesday, January 19
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm
Location: Arbor Lakes Room
Owners & Managers Roundtable
Step away from the day-to-day and join fellow owners, executives, and managers for an interactive roundtable focused on the opportunities and challenges facing today's lumber and building material businesses. Rather than a formal presentation, this facilitated discussion encourages participants to share experiences, exchange ideas, ask questions, and learn from one another in a peer-to-peer setting.
Topics will be driven by the group and may include leadership, workforce development, profitability, succession planning, technology, sales, operations, and other timely industry issues. Whether you're looking for a fresh perspective on a current challenge or hoping to share an idea that's worked well for your company, you'll leave with practical insights and valuable connections from others who face many of the same decisions every day.
Cost: Included as part of the BizCon Education Package.
Attendance Guidelines: This function is open to all attendees. Advance registration is required – please indicate your intention to attend when registering. Limited seating available.
DAY 2 - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2027
Date: Wednesday, January 20
Time: 8:00 am – 9:15 am
Location: Hennepin Ballroom
From Invisible to Unmistakable
Speaker: Stefanie Couch
Stop being the best kept secret. Become the first call.
Good work does not sell itself. Clear proof does.
Too many building industry companies sound the same. Quality. Service. People. Buyers hear the same three claims from everyone. When they cannot see a difference, price takes over.
Stefanie shows leaders how to name what makes the company different, build executive and personal brands that put the right people in front of the company, and create the proof buyers look for before they call. She also covers where companies should be showing up, and what search engines and AI need to understand before a company makes the shortlist.
The goal is not more noise. It is to become the first call.
What Attendees Leave With:
- A test for spotting weak, generic brand language
- A clearer way to explain what makes the company different
- A better answer than “quality, service, and people”
- Why visible leaders shorten the trust gap
- What buyers, search engines, and AI need before a company makes the shortlist
- Three moves to start the week they get home
Following the presentation, stay for a short BONUS "Ask Me Anything" session (15-20 minutes)
Bring the question your team keeps circling.
Stefanie takes live questions on the building industry, next generation talent and leadership, business growth, AI, brand, visibility, marketing, sales, and general leadership. If it is in her lane, it is fair game.
No slides. No canned answers. Real answers from an operator. Useful next moves.
Bio: Stefanie Couch is a third-generation building industry leader, nationally acclaimed speaker, and the Founder and CEO of Grit Blueprint, the visibility and growth partner for the industry. She helps manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and builders stop being the best kept secret in their market through sharper brand strategy, stronger sales tools, useful media, and practical AI. She hosts The Grit Blueprint Podcast and Behind The Build on YouTube.
Cost: Included as part of the BizCon Education Package.
Attendance Guidelines: This function is open to all attendees. Advance registration is required to attend – please indicate your intention to attend when registering.
BLD Connection is committed to investing in the future of the lumber and building materials industry by inviting local high school and college students to experience BizCon firsthand.
Students begin their visit with a Student Career Panel, where dealer and supplier professionals share their career journeys, discuss the wide variety of opportunities available throughout the industry, and answer questions about careers in the LBM field. Following the panel, students participate in a fun, hands-on Crew Communication Challenge that reinforces the importance of leadership, communication, teamwork, and planning through an engaging team-building activity.
Afterward, students are encouraged to explore the exhibit hall, meet with exhibitors, and learn more about the products, companies, and career opportunities that make up our industry.
By introducing students to the people, products, and possibilities within the LBM community, BizCon helps inspire and develop the next generation of industry professionals.
Meridith Elliott Powell Expand
Date: Wednesday, January 20
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: Elm Creek Amphitheater
Sales Redefined: Dominate, Differentiate, Deliver
Sales Redefined: Dominate, Differentiate, DeliverSpeaker: Meridith Elliott Powell
Uncertainty changes everything. And the rules of selling lumber and building materials have changed. Commodity pricing swings, online distributors, and big-box pricing pressure.
It's harder to get in front of the builder. Harder to stand out from the competition. And harder to keep your team motivated when every deal feels like it comes down to price.
Let's face it - selling building materials has gone through a major change and if your team is still selling the way they did five years ago you're leaving margin and market share on the table. To compete against bigger players with bigger marketing budgets, your team has to evolve how they sell, not just how hard they sell.
Join business growth strategist and Hall of Fame keynote speaker Meridith Elliott Powell for this high-energy, highly interactive session built specifically for independent dealers and suppliers — where she shares the techniques your team needs to dominate, differentiate, and deliver.
What Attendees Leave With:
- A clear read on how the building materials marketplace has shifted
- Techniques to open doors with builders and contractors who already think they know their options
- The right questions to ask that shorten the sales cycle, protect margin, and turn a price conversation into a value conversation
- Strategies to build trust and credibility fast
- Your personal plan of action you can implement easily and effectively
Bio: Meridith Elliott Powell is a Hall of Fame Speaker, Million Dollar Speaker, award-winning author, and former C-Suite executive who knows firsthand what it takes to turn disruption into opportunity. With more than 25 years of business leadership experience, Meridith has built her career on helping organizations and leaders learn to thrive in uncertainty. Her obsession with one word — change — inspired her groundbreaking research and her proven system, ASK for CHANGE, a methodology designed to turn fear into fuel and uncertainty into
competitive advantage.
Cost: Included as part of the BizCon Education Package.
Attendance Guidelines: This function is open to all attendees. Advance registration is required – please indicate your intention to attend when registering.
Meridith Elliott Powell Expand
Date: Wednesday, January 20
Time: 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Location: Elm Creek Amphitheater
Sales Redefined: How AI is Changing How We Sell and How Your Customers Buy
Speaker: Meridith Elliott Powell
AI is changing everything - including how you sell.
Builders and contractors used to call the yard, ask a few questions, and trust the relationship. Now they're comparing pricing before they ever pick up the phone. AI-powered tools are helping big-box chains and online distributors predict what a contractor needs before the contractor even asks and quote faster than your counter can.
But the truth is - AI is NOT the biggest threat to your sales. Your reaction to it is.
Success today isn't about the technology, it's about redesigning how your team sells so it matches how builders and contractors are actually deciding.
Join Hall of Fame Speaker and business growth strategist Meridith Elliott Powell for this high-energy, research-driven keynote where she reveals the proven framework to help independent dealers and suppliers not just survive AI's impact on selling — but come out ahead of the competitors who think it's already given them the edge.
Because AI is changing how your customers buy, but it doesn't have to change who they buy from.
What Attendees Leave With:
- Understand how AI has already changed the buyer's journey
- Close the speed gap
- Sell value where speed and data can't win the deal alone
- Rebuild the sales conversation for buyers who show up already informed
- Create a sales culture that keeps pace with how fast buying behavior is shifting
Bio: Meridith Elliott Powell is a Hall of Fame Speaker, Million Dollar Speaker, award-winning author, and former C-Suite executive who knows firsthand what it takes to turn disruption into opportunity. With more than 25 years of business leadership experience, Meridith has built her career on helping organizations and leaders learn to thrive in uncertainty. Her obsession with one word — change — inspired her groundbreaking research and her proven system, ASK for CHANGE, a methodology designed to turn fear into fuel and uncertainty into
competitive advantage.
Cost: Included as part of the BizCon Education Package.
Attendance Guidelines: This function is open to all attendees. Advance registration is required – please indicate your intention to attend when registering.
INCLUDED EVENTS & EXHIBIT HALL
ADVANCE RSVP REQUIRED: These events are included with your BizCon registration, but your spot is not automatically reserved. During registration, select Attending for each event you plan to attend.
Join us as we kick off BizCon 2027! Hear updates from the BLD Connection team, get an introduction to what’s ahead, and learn what to expect throughout the event. We look forward to welcoming you and starting BizCon together!
NEW for 2027 – Kick Things Off with the Booth Crawl Party!
Forget quietly wandering the trade show floor. We're launching the Exhibit Hall with an all-new Booth Crawl Party on Day 1 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm - a high-energy networking experience designed to get everyone moving, meeting, and making connections from the moment the doors open.
As attendees arrive, they'll receive a bag and set off to explore the exhibit hall. Every exhibitor is encouraged to have something waiting at their booth - whether it's company swag, a promotional item, an individually wrapped treat, candy, a prize drawing ticket, or another fun giveaway. Think of it as a business version of trick-or-treating with a networking twist. (No unpackaged food items allowed unless purchasing from the hotel.)
Along the way, attendees can enjoy food stations, beverages, interactive Zones, and plenty of opportunities to meet exhibitors in a relaxed, social atmosphere. By the end of the evening, they'll have discovered new products, collected some fun surprises, and identified the companies they want to return to for more in-depth conversations during Day 2.
The BizCon Exhibit Hall is where connections come to life. As the heart of the conference, it's more than just a trade show - it's where dealers, suppliers, manufacturers, and industry partners come together for two days of networking, product discovery, interactive activities, food and beverages, contests, prizes, and meaningful business conversations.
The Exhibit Hall reopens on Day 2 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (closed from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm for the Membership & Awards Lunch), providing dedicated time for meaningful conversations, product demonstrations, business discussions, and building stronger supplier relationships.
To elevate the experience, the exhibit floor includes four new interactive Zones:
- Refuel Zone (Food): Features an assortment of finger foods at the Day 1 Booth Crawl and scheduled “food drops” throughout Day 2 to keep energy high and encourage attendees to return to the center of activity at different intervals.
- Refresh Zone (Beverage): Offers continuous coffee, soda, water, and hosted or cash bar service across both days, serving as a natural gathering point for informal networking.
- Challenge Zone (Games): A fun, competitive space where attendees can test their skills through quick games and challenges for a chance to win prizes. Challenges change on Day 2 so you can play and enter to win both days.
- Solutions Zone (Ideas): A collaborative idea space where attendees respond to questions, share insights, and learn from peer-driven solutions across the industry.
EXHIBIT HALL ZONE PRIZES - Each of the four interactive Exhibit Hall Zones features its own prize drawing, giving you even more reasons to explore the floor throughout the event. Simply scan the QR code at each Zone to enter. Winners will be announced during the Final Happy Hour on Day 2 but do not need to be present to win.
CHALLENGE PRIZES – Think you've got what it takes? Test your skills in the Challenge Zone with three different guessing games and interactive contests. Submit your entries by QR code for a chance to win. Winners are announced at the end of each day, and the challenges change on Day 2 so you can play all over again! Must be present to win.
$1000 GRAND PRIZE – “CRACK THE CODE” SPONSOR GAME - New for 2027, the Crack the Code Sponsor Game transforms your Exhibit Hall experience into an interactive challenge. Visit all sponsor booths to collect clues, solve the mystery phrase, and submit your completed game card.
Even if you don't crack the code, you'll still have a chance to win! Visit the required number of sponsor booths and you'll be entered into a $250 Participation Prize drawing. Successfully crack the code (guess the phrase) and you'll earn an entry into the $1,000 Grand Prize Drawing! Both prizes will be awarded during the Final Happy Hour on Day 2. Must be present to win.
Celebrating Our Members, Our Industry, and Our Success
Take a break from the exhibit hall and join fellow attendees for a signature BizCon gathering celebrating the people and partnerships that make the LBM industry strong. The exhibit hall will pause during lunch, allowing everyone an opportunity to relax, enjoy a delicious meal, reconnect with colleagues, and hear important updates from BLD Connection.
Following lunch, we’ll recognize outstanding members of our industry through the presentation of the Dealer of the Year and Supporter of the Year awards—honoring those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, leadership, and support within the LBM community.
This special gathering is a chance to celebrate accomplishments, strengthen connections, and recognize the individuals and companies helping move our industry forward.
TICKETED EVENT: While there is no additional cost to attend this event and it is open to all attendees, advance registration is required so we can plan appropriately for meals.
The Exhibit Hall experience concludes with a Final Happy Hour (4:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Day 2) - a celebratory closing reception featuring hosted beer and wine service and a fun snack drop or two. It’s designed as a final opportunity to reconnect, wrap up conversations, and end the conference on a high-energy, positive note, complete with final prize announcements, including the $1000 Grand Prize.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Stefanie Couch
Founder & CEO, Grit Blueprint
Some of the best companies in the building industry are still the hardest to find.
They have the track record. They have the relationships. They do good work. But the market cannot choose what it cannot see.
Stefanie Couch built Grit Blueprint to change that. As Founder and CEO, she leads a team that helps manufacturers, distributors, dealers, builders, and the people leading them turn years of earned trust into clear messages, useful content, stronger sales tools, and a brand buyers can find and remember.
Stefanie is third generation in the building materials world. She understands technical products,long sales cycles, dealer networks, local reputation, and teams that do not have time for marketing that does not sell.
Her work is built for action. Clarify the message. Put real leaders in front of the brand. Show the proof. Give sales better tools. Use AI to move faster without giving away judgment, voice, or trust.
Stefanie is a keynote speaker, strategist, and media host. She hosts The Grit Blueprint Podcast and Behind The Build on YouTube. On stage, she gives leaders words, tools, and next moves they can use when they get home.
If buyers cannot find you, they cannot choose you. If AI cannot understand you, it cannot recommend you.
Meridith Elliott Powell
Award Winning Author & Speaker
Meridith Elliott Powell is a Hall of Fame Speaker, Million Dollar Speaker, award-winning author, and former C-Suite executive who knows firsthand what it takes to turn disruption into opportunity. With more than 25 years of business leadership experience, Meridith has built her career on helping organizations and leaders learn to thrive in uncertainty. Her obsession with one word — change — inspired her groundbreaking research and her proven system, ASK for CHANGE, a methodology designed to turn fear into fuel and uncertainty into competitive advantage.
Dena Cordova-Jack
Cordova-Jack Consulting
Dena Cordova Jack is a trailblazer who’s been through the fire.
With 30-plus years in the LBM industry, holding leadership roles at Georgia-Pacific, Boise Cascade, Foxworth-Galbraith, and Kodiak Building Partners, Dena Cordova Jack has walked the walk. She’s seen the best and worst of corporate leadership and lived to tell the tale (with receipts). As the founder of Cordova Jack Consulting which focuses on organizational development, she's now the facilitating force behind BLD’s Women in LBM initiative. She’s helping women lead boldly, ditch perfectionism, and take their seat.
EXHIBIT
More options. More flexibility. Based on exhibitor feedback, we've introduced lower-priced Value Booths and Standard Booths for 2027! Looking for even more visibility? Consider one of our premium Zone Booths, strategically located around the Exhibit Hall's new interactive activity areas where attendees will naturally gather throughout the event.
WHO CAN EXHIBIT?
Companies that supply products or services to retail lumber and building material dealers are welcome to exhibit at BizCon North. Suppliers and service providers must exhibit to participate and may not register as general attendees.
BLD membership is not required to exhibit. Members receive discounted booth pricing and access to select booth placement and sponsorship opportunities.
Exhibiting is required to sponsor BizCon North.
VALUE
8' x 10'
$1,100 Member
$1,600 Non-Member
Includes 2 Networking Passes
STANDARD
8' x 10'
$1,350 Member
$1,850 Non-Member
Includes 2 Networking Passes
ZONE
8' x 10'
$1,500 - $1,750
Members Only
Includes 3 Networking Passes
Click on this link for the current floorplan with available booths. Note - The floorplan updates will be posted online daily. Booth requests will be honored on a first come, first served basis. BLD reserves the right to deny booth requests based upon placement too close to a competitor. For these reasons, please ensure you select several booth options you’ll be happy with.
- Booth Details:
- Single booth size is 8' x 10' (8 feet deep, 10 feet wide unless in a flipped double booth at the end)
- Pipe and drape on back and sides unless otherwise requested (8’ back drape, 3’ side drape)
- One 8’x 30” skirted table
- Two chairs
- One wastebasket
- One company ID sign
- Exhibit Hall Details:
- Two exhibit halls and pre-function space will be used for the trade show. Booth prices vary based upon your booth location selection.
- All exhibit space is carpeted with high ceilings.
- Other Booth Inclusions:
- One Dealer Reference Manual (DRM) per 8 x 10 booth (2 booths = 2 DRMs, etc.)
- AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS ONLY!
- DRMs will NOT be available to hand out at the event. Due to our new production schedule, they will be shipped in May.
- Contact/mailing details for DRMs will be collected onsite at the BizCon.
- Pre-conference list of attendees will be provided via email about one week before the event (per BLD policy, no attendee emails will be included on the list.)
- Badges:
- Value and standard booths come with up to 2 free networking passes/badges (includes exhibit hall activities, receptions and lunch – does not include education).
- Zone booths come with up to 3 free networking passes/badges.
- Additional networking passes beyond what comes free with the booth are $50 per person.
- Passes that include the education package are $150 per person.
- If attending the Women in LBM roundtable, that is an additional $50 per person.
- One Dealer Reference Manual (DRM) per 8 x 10 booth (2 booths = 2 DRMs, etc.)
Tuesday, January 19
- 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm BOOTH SET-UP
- 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm EXHIBIT HOURS / BOOTH CRAWL PARTY
Wednesday, January 20
-
- 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EXHIBIT HOURS (closed from 12 pm – 1 pm for lunch)
- 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm DISMANTLE / TEAR DOWN
Loading & Unloading
The Marriott has several main level conference center doors to move your products in. They also have an elevated loading dock on the lower level if needed. They do not have a forklift or pallet jack available so please plan accordingly by providing your own if you require it. Freight assistance can also be arranged through Cenaiko Expo Inc, our exhibit services provider.
Parking
Parking around the hotel and conference center is ample and free.
Submitting the booth agreement/contract is an indication that you have read and agree to the terms in the BLD Connection Exhibitor Regulations.
ELECTRICITY & Wi-Fi– Complimentary Wi-Fi is included in the exhibit hall, lobby area, and seminar rooms. Electricity is NOT included with your booth and must be ordered separately through the facility. All electrical must be ordered directly through Encore with Marriott – BLD does not handle any electrical orders. Electricity link coming soon.
Important exhibitor links
- Full BizCon North Agenda
- Current Exhibit Hall Floorplan
- Booth Types & Pricing
- BLD Connection Exhibitor Regulations
- Exhibitor Services / Cenaiko Expo Inc.
🚨 Attendee List Scam Alert
Third-party vendors may reach out and fraudulently offer to sell our event's attendee list. This is a very common scam in the events industry. Please note that we do not sell or share our attendee information with any outside parties. If you receive unsolicited communications offering such lists, do not respond. Engaging with these messages may lead to further unwanted solicitations.
- SHIPPING/FREIGHT SERVICE - If shipping directly to the Marriott, send packages to: Minneapolis Marriott Northwest, 7025 Northland Drive N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428. Name of YOUR Company/Recipient RE: BLD Event on January 19-20. Shipments can be received 2-3 days prior to the event. Large packages may incur a fee. Please visit the BLD registration desk onsite to inquire about your package(s) upon arrival. Packages being shipped out after show must have arrangements completed with the carrier prior to pick up.
- EXHIBITOR SERVICES – Need additional décor, carpet, etc. that doesn’t already come with your booth? Or need a freight service? Click this link to use our Exhibitor Services Provider - Cenaiko Expo Inc. - for assistance. Contact Hilary Dahlen | 763-755-8111 | hilary@cenaiko.com with questions on the Exhibitor Services.
- Inclusion Reminder – Booths come with a skirted table, two chairs, waste basket and ID sign. The exhibit hall floor is carpeted at this venue.
SPONSOR
Put your company in front of more than 400 building materials professionals, including dealer owners, managers, and decision-makers. Sponsorship opportunities support education, food and beverage, exhibit hall activities, prizes, and other BizCon experiences.
Exhibiting is required to sponsor BizCon North.
Increase Brand Visibility
Reach
Decision-Makers
Drive Booth Traffic
Sponsor Inclusions:
- Company logo featured on the event website
- Company listing in the onsite show program, with booth highlighted on the exhibit hall floorplan
- Recognition on general onsite signage and function-specific signage (where applicable)
- Bright sponsor sign displayed at your booth
- Bright sponsor ribbons for booth representative badges
- Participation in BLD’s exhibit hall new engagement activity “Crack the Code” designed to drive additional traffic to participating sponsor booths.
$1000+ Sponsorship Inclusions:
In addition to the above inclusions, sponsors at the $1000 level or above will also receive:
- Priority logo placement in conference materials and onsite signage
- Verbal recognition during the Welcome Address Kick-Off on Day 1 and the Membership & Awards Lunch on Day 2
- Dedicated sponsor spotlight on BLD social media prior to the conference
- Premium clues for the “Crack the Code” exhibit hall game, which will result in attendees seeking your booth out first (and more) to solve the puzzle faster and easier.
Featured Speaker Sponsorship Inclusions:
In addition to the ALL inclusions above, any company that purchases a Featured Speaker sponsorship will also receive premier promotional benefits, such as naming rights - their company/brand sharing ALL correspondence in relation to the featured speaker/seminar leading up to the event and onsite. Plus, they will have the opportunity to introduce the speaker at the sponsor session(s), allowing up to 2 minutes for promotion of their own company.
Artificial Intelligence Seminar Sponsor – Featured Speaker, Stefanie Couch
Sponsor this forward-focused educational session and interactive workshop exploring how artificial intelligence can help LBM professionals improve efficiency, streamline everyday tasks, enhance customer experiences, and support smarter business decisions. Led by nationally recognized marketing expert and LBM industry-respected speaker Stefanie Couch, this session will provide practical strategies attendees can apply immediately within their businesses.
Brand & Visibility Seminar Sponsor – Featured Speaker, Stefanie Couch
Support an engaging educational session focused on helping LBM professionals strengthen their brand presence, communicate their value, and stand out in today's competitive marketplace. Led by nationally recognized marketing expert and LBM industry-respected speaker Stefanie Couch, this session will provide practical insights into building stronger customer recognition and creating meaningful market connections.
FEATURED EDUCATION SPONSOR BUNDLE - STEFANIE COUCH
Own the spotlight as the exclusive sponsor of two high-impact educational sessions featuring nationally recognized marketing expert Stefanie Couch. This premium opportunity includes sponsorship of both Stefanie’s Artificial Intelligence Seminar and Brand & Visibility Seminar at BizCon North, providing your company with exclusive recognition across two valuable education experiences designed to help LBM professionals adapt, grow, and succeed.
Available only if sessions have not been sold individually.
Exclusive Benefits:
- Exclusive naming rights for both Stefanie Couch sessions – no additional sponsors permitted
- Premium brand placement on advance and onsite promotions related to both sessions
- Opportunity to introduce Stefanie Couch at each session and provide a brief 2-minute overview of your company and offerings to attendees
Student Career Panel & Team Challenge Sponsor
Help introduce students to exciting career opportunities within the LBM industry through an interactive career panel and hands-on activity/team challenge. Your sponsorship helps cover refreshments for the students and materials for their activity.
Women in LBM Connect & Collaborate Roundtable Sponsor
Support this impactful networking event designed to connect, inspire, and empower women throughout the LBM industry. Led by Dena Cordova Jack.
Owners & Managers Roundtable Sponsor
Align your brand with meaningful conversations among industry leaders as owners and managers (and key decision makers) discuss challenges, opportunities, and best practices.
Sales Seminar Speaker Sponsor
Help bring valuable sales education and strategies directly to LBM professionals looking to strengthen their teams and grow their businesses during the Day 2 morning and afternoon sales seminars led by Meridith Elliott Powell.
Seminar Break Service Sponsor
Keep attendees refreshed between and during educational sessions by sponsoring the beverages served during scheduled seminars and breaks on Day 1 or Day 2.
Breakfast Items at Day 2 Kick-Off Morning Seminar Sponsor
Welcome attendees to Day 2 by sponsoring light continental breakfast items served before and during the kick-off morning educational session. Seminar led by Stefanie Couch at North and Kaiser Yang at South. (Speaker sponsorship is separate – this is just for the breakfast items.)
Booth Crawl Finger Food Station Sponsor
Located in the exhibit hall Refuel Zone, your brand would be featured at one of the most highly trafficked areas of the opening night experience. Keep attendees fueled as they explore the exhibit hall during the Day 1 Booth Crawl Party.
Booth Crawl Non-Alcoholic Beverage Station Sponsor
Located in the exhibit hall Refresh Zone, this sponsorship provides high visibility as attendees gather, network, and quench their thirst with non-alcoholic beverages throughout the evening at the Day 1 Booth Crawl Party (soda, water, etc.).
Booth Crawl Bar Sponsor
Located in the Exhibit Hall Refresh Zone: Kick off the exhibit hall on Day 1 with premium visibility sponsoring the Booth Crawl Party, where attendees explore the exhibit floor while enjoying hosted bar service.
Exhibit Hall Snack Drop Sponsor
Located in the exhibit hall Refuel Zone: Each time-released snack drop creates attendee anticipation and multiple moments of visibility/sponsor recognition throughout Day 2.
Exhibit Hall Non-Alcoholic Beverage Station Sponsor
Located in the exhibit hall Refresh Zone, this high-traffic beverage destination is where attendees refresh and recharge throughout Day 2. Includes coffee, soda, water, etc.
Exhibit Hall Happy Hour Bar Sponsor
Located in the exhibit hall Refresh Zone: Close out the conference on Day 2 and get premium visibility sponsoring the final networking event on the exhibit floor featuring hosted bar service.
Membership & Awards Lunch Sponsor
Support BLD’s annual membership update and industry awards celebration as attendees gather for lunch and recognition on Day 2.
Zone Prize Sponsor
Refuel Zone Prize Sponsor
Sponsor the featured zone prize drawing in the Refuel Zone and give attendees another reason to explore the exhibit hall.
Refresh Zone Prize Sponsor
Sponsor the featured zone prize drawing in the Refresh Zone and connect your brand with a fun attendee experience.
Challenge Zone Prize Sponsor
Sponsor the featured zone prize drawing in the Challenge Zone and bring extra excitement to this interactive exhibit experience.
Solutions Zone Prize Sponsor
Sponsor the featured zone prize drawing in the Solutions Zone and support attendee collaboration and idea sharing.
Session Prize Sponsor
Sponsor prizes awarded during educational sessions and meal events to encourage attendee participation.
“Crack the Code” Grand Prize Game Sponsor
Sponsor the ultimate attendee cash giveaway and become part of BLD’s biggest engagement-driving activity.
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Bag Sponsor
Provide the official event bags used during the Day 1 Booth Crawl Party. Your branded bag travels home with attendees, extending your visibility beyond the event.
Lanyard Sponsor
Provide the official conference lanyards worn by attendees, ensuring your brand is visible throughout the entire conference experience.
Wi-Fi Connection Sponsor
Keep attendees connected by sponsoring the conference Wi-Fi experience.
General Conference Support Sponsor
Support the overall success of the conference while gaining recognition as a valued BLD partner.
Flexible sponsorship option for companies wanting additional visibility.
HOTEL
Minneapolis Marriott Northwest
7025 Northland Drive N.
Brooklyn Park, MN
(763) 536-8300
Rate
$144 / night
When booking, mention "BLD Connection" to receive group rate.
Cut-Off Date
December 28, 2026
THANK YOU TO OUR BIZCON NORTH SPONSORS
Questions?
Please reach out to Director of Events, Jodie Fleck, CMP at jodie@bldconnection.org or (763) 595-4058.