All-Star Executive Board Including Leaders from Do-It-Best/True Value, Hillman Canada, Signify, and Rona Spearheads Revolutionary Talent Initiative
The building materials industry has reached a watershed moment with today鈥檚 launch of the Building Materials Careers Association of North America (BMCANA), a groundbreaking nonprofit organization dedicated to making the sector North America鈥檚 most desirable career destination by 2030. Led by an unprecedented coalition of industry executives, BMCANA addresses the critical talent shortage facing the $800+ billion dollar building materials industry through innovative digital solutions and strategic employer development.
Industry Veterans Champion Transformative Vision
The association鈥檚 executive board reads like a who鈥檚 who of building materials leadership, bringing together decades of combined expertise and market influence:
鈼� Marianne Thompson, Executive Vice President of Transformation and Integration at Do-It-Best/True Value
鈼� Scott Ride, President of Hillman Canada
鈼� Adam Malolepszy, Senior Vice President at Signify
鈼� Bernie Gauthier, Vice President of Retail Operations at Rona
鈼� Andrew Gladstone, Vice President of Sales at M-D Canada
鈼� Donna Gerrits, recently retired Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Alexandria Moulding
鈼� Paul Huffman, Executive Director of Talenthunt
鈥淭he building materials industry has been the backbone of North American construction and innovation for generations, yet we鈥檝e struggled to communicate our incredible career opportunities to the next generation of talent,鈥� says association President Paul Huffman. 鈥淏MCANA represents a fundamental shift in how our industry approaches talent attraction and retention.鈥�
First-of-Its-Kind Digital Hub to Revolutionize Industry Recruitment
At the heart of BMCANA鈥檚 strategy is an innovative digital platform designed to bridge the gap between exceptional career opportunities and untapped talent pools. The association鈥檚 ambitious goal of driving 10,000+ monthly job board engagements by 2026 reflects the scale of transformation needed to address industry-wide workforce challenges.
The comprehensive initiative focuses on five strategic pillars:
Talent Attraction and Awareness: Dramatically increasing visibility of building materials careers among diverse talent pools, including working professionals, new graduates, and career changers.
Employer Excellence and Development: Equipping companies with cutting-edge tools, training, and best practices for talent attraction, acquisition, onboarding, retention, and employee development.
Advocacy and Industry Promotion: Serving as a unified voice to promote policies and initiatives that enhance the industry鈥檚 reputation and attractiveness.
Professional Innovation Network: Connecting industry leaders, emerging talent, and strategic partners across North America. This collaborative ecosystem drives innovation and professional growth in the building materials sector through shared knowledge, best practices, and cross-company mentorship.
Digital Hub Innovation: Creating a centralized platform that connects talent with employers while providing valuable industry resources and guidance.
Addressing Critical Industry Needs
The building materials sector faces mounting workforce pressures as experienced professionals retire and the career aspirations of younger generations gravitate toward other industries. BMCANA鈥檚 formation comes at a crucial time when building activity remains robust, yet companies struggle to find and keep qualified candidates across all skill levels.
鈥淥ur industry offers incredible diversity鈥攆rom advanced manufacturing and logistics to sales, marketing, and executive leadership,鈥� notes industry veteran and BMCANA Executive Board Member Donna Gerrits, 鈥淏MCANA will showcase these opportunities while helping employers become destinations of choice for top talent.鈥�
Multi-National Scope and Nonprofit Foundation
BMCANA is pursuing nonprofit registration across North America, reflecting the association鈥檚 commitment to addressing talent challenges throughout North America鈥檚 integrated building materials marketplace. This comprehensive geographic approach ensures maximum impact across the region鈥檚 interconnected supply chains and markets.
The association鈥檚 funding model combines membership dues, corporate partnerships, and grant opportunities to ensure sustainable operations while maintaining its mission-driven focus on industry advancement.
Building the Future Together
As BMCANA launches its operations, the organization emphasizes collaboration between employers and talent as the key to sustainable industry growth. Through advocacy, innovation, and community building, the association aims to transform perceptions while providing practical solutions for workforce development challenges.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just about filling job openings鈥攊t鈥檚 about building careers, communities, and the future of our industry,鈥� added BMCANA Board Executive Scott Ride. 鈥淏MCANA represents our collective commitment to ensuring the building materials sector thrives for generations to come.鈥�
About BMCANA The Building Materials Careers Association of North America (BMCANA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making the building materials industry North America鈥檚 most desirable and respected career destination by 2030. Through advocacy, innovation, and a first-of-its-kind digital hub, BMCANA empowers employers and talent to build the future together.
