Why Is Our Industry Still Typing Data?
Frederic Pare, Co-Founder, Cienapps Software Suite
Freya Hannah, Business Development North America, Cieblink
Kevin Martin, Business Development Manager, Cienapps
Wednesday, November 5 | 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. | Regency Ballroom
Manual data entry is holding our industry back. It leaves us vulnerable in a fast-paced market and leads to challenges in organization and efficiency due to the diverse products we manage. Other distribution channels have embraced a better path forward — a Product Information Management (PIM) system. Implementing a PIM will improve customer service, ease our technological transition, and attract skilled talent to rejuvenate the industry. Without a PIM, we risk ongoing problems like inaccurate orders and missed deadlines.
We’ll dig into what it will take to create a universal platform for suppliers to upload standardized catalogs, making it easy for customers to access and configure resources. Unlike other industries that have embraced PIM solutions, the building sector remains fragmented. A centralized digital library will provide real-time updates from suppliers, ensuring smooth communication from distribution to end users. Standardized data will also enable us to leverage AI technology, integrating across ERPs and allowing users to take pictures of SKU orders and configurable orders like doors, drawers, and even 2D/3D renderings for real-time collaboration.
Working together, we can deploy these technologies to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and drive innovation across the building material distribution channel.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the critical role of industry-wide connections for success in woodworking.
- Learn how a shared PIM system streamlines operations and enhances data flow among stakeholders.
- Recognize the financial impact of digitalization, with insights into EDI, PIM, and CPQ solutions driving profitability.
Meet Frederic Pare
Frederic Pare is a visionary leader and successful software developer in the building industry since 2009. As a co-founder of Cienapps Software Suite, he plays a pivotal role in driving innovation within the sector. The platform he helped create enables seamless communication between end users and distribution channels in the building industry. Cienapps Software has been very successful in Quebec Ontario and is now being offered to a global audience. Frederic listens closely to market needs and develops tools aimed at fostering success. Currently, he is working on a Product Information Management (PIM) module designed to gather real-time data in a standardized format, equipping the industry for a successful transition into the technology era.
Meet Freya Hannah
Freya Hannah is a seasoned professional with 15 years of experience in local, regional, and national distribution, as well as global mill sales in both residential and commercial sectors. She is known for her commitment to developing competitive strategies within the industry. In her role at Cieblink, Freya contributes to creating a global standardized digital library that allows suppliers to upload critical data for distributors and end users to access in real time. She recognizes the industry's slow adoption of technology, which poses a risk to the future stability of the building sector.
Meet Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin is a business development manager and solution advisor at Cienapps, where he helps woodworking and kitchen cabinet manufacturers optimize operations with Cienapps ERP and connect through Cieblink. With over 8 years in woodworking, a bachelor’s degree in management, and experience in construction project management, he combines technical expertise with business insight to deliver practical, growth-focused solutions. Passionate about innovation, Kevin is dedicated to guiding manufacturers toward greater efficiency, profitability, and collaboration.
Creating a Smarter, Data-Driven Future for Sampling
Dean Triester, Founder and Chief of Sales, Haystack
Michael Kiethley, Chief Technology Officer, Haystack
Wednesday, November 5 | 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. | Crystal Ballroom
The floor covering and building material industries have a blind spot: samples. They drive sales, but they’re the least tracked asset in the entire supply chain. They create expense and logistics headaches from manufacturers to distributors to showrooms. And when you don’t know where a sample is, you’re leaving sales on the table – or floor.
This session will show how data and technology are finally ready to solve this long-standing problem. We’ll dive into how untracked samples create hidden costs, how other industries have unlocked ROI through data, and explore a new solution to bring the same transformation to flooring and interiors. The session will close with an invitation to be among the first to take part in an industry-wide shift.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the hidden costs and blind spots in untracked sampling in the building materials industry
- Learn how data and modern technology can create new standards and ROI opportunities
- Explore solutions (Orbit) designed to solve this long-standing industry problem
Meet Dean Triester
Prior to founding Haystack, Dean spent over two decades at Sampling International, a leading provider of physical sampling solutions for flooring, textiles, window treatments and more. That hands-on experience directly informed his vision for Haystack—bridging physical and digital with scalable, AI-powered tools that solve real-world problems for building product brands.
Meet Michael Kiethley
With over three decades of experience, he is a seasoned technology and business executive known for driving transformative change and delivering impactful business outcomes on a global scale. His career is defined by leadership in business strategy, innovation, and a consistent record of building and guiding high-performance technology teams.
Operate Like a Ninja: Outsell, Outserve, and Outsmart the Competition
Yuki Conlon, President, JAST Media
Thursday, November 6 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Regency Ballroom
So you need to grow your sales in 2026. But you’re running a lean sales and customer support crew, you have limited (if any) bandwidth for marketing, and you’re losing sales to bigger competitors who can beat you on price or inventory.
We’ll unpack practical “ninja” tactics to snag inbound demand, accelerate quotes, and turn first orders into repeatable reorders - without more staff or waiting for an ERP upgrade. We’ll show you what your customers (current and prospective) are actually saying about buying from you, and who your hidden decision makers are that are ripe to activate.
Expect live tear-downs of real distributor strategies and their results, surprisingly easy ways to streamline quoting, and un-jamming bottlenecks that are limiting new business. Walk out with renewed confidence, a KPI cheat sheet, and concrete action plan for building materials distributors and manufacturers to grow 2026 sales—scrappy, smart, and immediately actionable.
Learning Objectives:
- Hard data about what contractors, installers, and A&D customers want. And what you think they want, but they don’t
- Hidden strategies to level up materials sales, simply, cheaply, and quickly
- Scrappy, smart action plans that your team can start running today
Meet Yuki Conlon
Yuki Conlon is president of JAST Media, a recognized leader in digital marketing and management systems for manufacturers, distributors, and service providers in the construction materials market. During her 15 years in the tech space, she built solutions that support sales teams at every step of the supply chain. Yuki has worked with global brands like Harley-Davidson, Honda, Stihl, and John Deere at the national, regional, and dealer level. Under her leadership, JAST Media has become the go-to partner for custom-built solutions in the construction materials space, delivering tailored B2B and B2C systems that drive measurable sales results. Her team helps clients challenge outdated industry norms, and build systems that strengthen supply chain partnerships, expand customer reach, and compete with confidence in today’s rapidly changing marketplace.
From Founder to Future: Navigating Business Transition Beyond the Deal
Michael Lehman, CEO and Founding Partner, Premier Path Wealth Partners
Scott Mashuda, Co-founder and Managing Director, REAG
Thursday, November 6 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Crystal Ballroom
Exiting a business is not just a transaction; it’s a life-defining moment. This session is designed for accomplished founders and executives preparing for succession and ownership transition. Together, we’ll unpack the hidden complexities of selling a business, from maximizing enterprise value to navigating family dynamics and preserving legacy. You’ll walk away with actionable insights from experts who guide owners through these decisions every day and connect with peers facing the same transformative journey.
Learning Objectives:
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Exclusive Expertise – Gain insider perspectives from industry experts on what truly drives a successful transition — financial, operational, and personal
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Beyond the Valuation – Protect identity, family harmony, and legacy — not just the enterprise value
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For Founders at a Crossroads – A curated experience for accomplished entrepreneurs who want to protect what they’ve built, maximize outcomes, and move confidently into the next chapter
Meet Michael Lehman
Michael Lehman is the CEO and Founding Partner of Premier Path Wealth Partners. Before launching Premier Path, Michael ran an advisory group at Merrill Lynch for 12 years and at Wells Fargo before that. Michael brings over 25 years of comprehensive experience to the firm and has developed a unique perspective in working with families, business owners, and executives. Michael has established and continues to grow a robust financial services firm built on the principle of understanding his clients’ unique needs and concerns to simplify their financial lives. Michael is acknowledged as a seasoned professional who seeks the latest, most advanced knowledge and techniques to address the sophisticated needs of high-net-worth clients and companies’ retirement plans. Michael earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Rider College, where he majored in Decision Sciences and was a scholarship wrestler. Committed to sharing his time and knowledge, Mike is a Stand Up for Financial Literacy founding member. He lives with his wife, Nina, an art teacher, and their two daughters in Basking Ridge. They enjoy exploring, traveling with the family, and volunteering for various charitable causes.
Meet Scott Mashuda
Scott Mashuda is responsible for REAG's growth and strategic vision. He has more than 25 years of mergers & acquisitions and business valuation experience. Scott has represented both public and private companies in matters of sale, purchase, valuation, and restructuring. His achievements include chairing the M&A Source in 2023, receiving the 2021 M&A Source Champions Award for his professionalism and dedication to the industry, earning the 2024 M&A Source Service Award for his service as Outgoing Chair, being named a "40 Under 40" top M&A service provider by The M&A Advisor in 2013, and contributing to the future of finance as an adjunct professor at Duquesne University's Palumbo Donahue School of Business.