RENSSELAER, New York – The American Building Materials Alliance is proud to announce the appointment of Rod Wiles, vice president of human resources at Hammond Lumber Company, as chair of the Federal Legislative Committee. With 38 years of experience at Hammond Lumber Company, Wiles brings exceptional industry expertise and a proven track record of leadership to this vital role.
Since stepping into the role, Wiles has swiftly led the adoption of a comprehensive legislative agenda for 2025 that focuses on critical issues impacting the lumber and building materials industry. Under his leadership, ABMA has also set the dates for its annual Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., on April 7-8, ensuring timely and effective representation of the industry’s interests on Capitol Hill.
Wiles has held numerous leadership positions in the LBM industry, including serving on the board of the Retail Lumber Dealers Association of Maine, chairing its legislative and safety committees, and serving as its president. He has also contributed to the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association as a member of the board of directors, the executive committee as chairperson, and various other committees.
Under Wiles’ leadership, ABMA’s 2025 legislative priorities are focused on strengthening the LBM industry and addressing key challenges:
Legislative priorities:
Main Street tax package: Advocating for policies that support businesses in the LBM industry, including provisions such as bonus depreciation, immediate expensing, and estate tax reform.
Credit card rees: Addressing the impact of rising transaction costs on businesses.
Workforce development: Expanding training opportunities to build a skilled workforce.
Regulatory priorities:
CDL licensing: Supporting industry-specific training to address driver shortages.
Crane certification: Advocating for certifications tailored to building materials operations.
Salaried overtime: Promoting manageable overtime regulations for businesses in the LBM industry.
Monitoring key issues:
OSHA heat illness and injury prevention: Tracking changes and their impact on operations.
Corporate Transparency Act: Monitoring compliance requirements for businesses in the LBM industry.
Tariffs: Observing developments that may impact material costs.
A key component of ABMA’s federal advocacy efforts, Advocacy Day provides ABMA members with the opportunity to meet directly with lawmakers, share industry insights, and advocate for policies that enable growth and success in the LBM industry.
“I am honored to step into this role as chairperson of ABMA’s Federal Legislative Committee,” said Wiles. “ABMA is a powerful voice for the lumber and building materials industry. By adopting a comprehensive 2025 agenda and securing dates for Advocacy Day, we’re ensuring that our industry’s priorities remain front and center in the federal policy conversation.”
The ABMA, established in August 2021, is a coalition of unified voices advocating on behalf of the lumber and building materials industry at the federal level. ABMA represents LBM dealers and associated businesses across 17 states and Washington, D.C., including Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.
ABMA’s mission is to advance, shape, and influence policy across all branches of government. Working directly with Congress, the White House, and federal agencies, ABMA strives to ensure that the legislative and regulatory process benefits the LBM industry. The organization is powered by the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association and the Construction Suppliers Association.
