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Dean DeHoog is the director of manufacturing for Standard Building Systems, a US LBM company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His extensive experience and unique journey informs his powerful perspective on the industry's strengths and current challenges. Dean shares his own approach to management and gives insight into the US LBM culture.
Reggie Stoltzfus, owner and president of Dutchcraft Truss in Minerva, Ohio, shares his experience as a component manufacturer (CM)and member of the Ohio House of Representatives. Reggie discusses why he chose to serve in government and became an advocate for small businesses and CMs across his state, while highlighting the value building relationships with elected officials can bring to your business.
Jason Ward, vice president of human resources for California TrusFrame LLC, shares best practices for hiring new employees, creating a positive workplace culture, and understanding applicable HR-related regulations. Jason has 19 years of HR experience, and in his current role leading CTF’s overall HR strategy he offers great insight into how to successfully onboard new employees and instill a sense of loyalty. He also provides tips for enhancing your hiring process and explores common pitfalls to avoid.
Scott Arquilla, former co-owner, vice president, and COO of Best Homes, Inc., shares how his family got started in the homebuilding industry and the unique challenges they faced operating in the Chicago market. Scott discusses why he got involved in SBCA and what prompted him to join the Board of Directors in 1997. While SBCA president in 2003, his truss plant burned to the ground. He reflects on what he would have done differently to both prepare for and recover from the disaster and offers advice to component manufacturers.
Dave Mitchell is the general manager and Zach Shepherd is the operations manager at Engineered Building Design (EBD) in Washington, Iowa. Dave and Zach discuss how they are evolving EBD to grow while still retaining a loyal customer base in a competitive market. They also share their insights into EBD's business model and internal culture, as well as what success will look like in five years.
Joe Hikel and Steve Stroder discuss their reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and how they're leading their businesses through the various challenges they've faced in recent weeks. Joe is the CEO and President of Shelter Systems Limited and Steve Stroder is the CEO and President of California TrusFrame. They provide insights into how the remainder of 2020 will look and how their companies will be impacted by what they are learning today.
Mike Ruede and Scott Ward discuss the various challenges the COVID-19 Coronavirus has created for their businesses and what they are doing to overcome them. Mike is the COO of A-1 Roof Trusses in Fort Pierce, Florida, and Scott is an owner at Southern Components located in Shreveport, Louisiana. Listen as they share insights, best practices and their outlook beyond this pandemic.
Gene Frogale is the president of Annandale Millwork & Allied Systems in Winchester, Virginia, and Jeff Taake is the vice president of manufacturing and commercial sales at Mead Lumber Co. with component operations throughout the upper Midwest. Listen as Gene and Jeff relate on how their organizations have reacted to COVID-19 and their outlooks for the immediate future in the component manufacturing industry post-COVID-19.
Mike Bugbee, part owner of Oregon Truss in Salem, Oregon, shares his perspectives on the evolution of the component manufacturing industry through the lens of his long career at Simpson Strong-Tie. He explains how his relationships with early pioneers in component manufacturing helped influence today’s industry, and how his sales approach can help component manufacturers expand their markets today.
Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam Mass Timber Corporation, explains what CLT is and how it's made. He also shares what prompted the original development of CLT and what is driving its current adoption in North America. In addition, Hardy explores how the 2021 model codes will expand CLT construction and potentially create more market opportunities for component manufacturers.
Quality control and quality assurance are both important parts of the component manufacturing process, but what are they? How are they different? And how can they work together to make your manufacturing process better? Listen in as Jess Lohse and Molly Butz from SBCA staff talk through the QC and QA processes, answer the tough questions, and shed some light on the specifics of SBCA’s Digital QC and SBCRI’s Independent 3rd Party Inspection programs.
Art Schmon, a partner at Forest Economic Advisers, shares his perspective on wood-framed floor systems. Art discusses how floor system framing options have evolved over the years and the market pressures that have driven those changes. He also provides insight into what he expects will happen with I-joist and floor truss market share in the near future and the opportunities he sees for component manufacturers.
Margaret Whelan is the CEO and Founder of Whelan Advisory LLC, a boutique investment bank that provides tailored services to housing companies that are looking to raise capital or pursue an M&A transaction. Her firm has advised several innovative companies in the industry including Entekra, Raney, Trumark, ResiBuilt, and Innovative Construction Group. She discusses how modular framing is creating a shift in the construction industry and how this could affect component manufacturers (CMs). She also provides insight into the opportunities for CMs and her perspective on how these innovations will shape the future of framing.
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed many teams to dive headfirst into working remotely whether they were ready or not. However, the last decade has increasingly seen companies and employees drawn to the flexibility remote work can bring to the table. From managing daily communication and collaboration, to ensuring your team members have the hardware, software, speed, and access they need to be productive and efficient, join members of SBCA’s IT Committee as they share their best practices for building successful remote teams.
Articles
In May, SBCA was contacted by a component manufacturer (CM) member who recently had over $6,000 fraudulently stolen.
Over the course of the year I have used this column to highlight the development of SBCA’s multi-year strategic plan.
These unique truss configurations require special design considerations
What The Truss Company did to recover once Washington re-opened for business
A teacher finds value in adding truss math to her curriculum
Communication is always key in relationships, on a team, and especially when running a business where both team and relationships are the foundation.
On July 1, SBCA’s Strike Force 5 launched a new social media campaign: “Be Essential.”
This week, Ken Timmins and Justin Binning with American International Forest Products provide an overview of the past week’s lumber market activity, and answer listener-submitted questions about the European Lumber Market's influence in North America, if they are seeing component manufacturers change their lumber buying strategy as a result of the tight lumber market, and what a typical day looks like for a lumber trader.
Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus on Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
When you hire a veteran there are certain skills and characteristics you can count on: leadership, teamwork, respect for authority, perseverance, and the ability to handle stressful situations.
When used effectively, a small investment of time in developing your social media presence will improve employee relations and entice job seekers.
A small investment of time in these hiring tools will go a long way to entice new job seekers and provide a place for them to readily find and easily apply for opportunities at your company.
After careful consideration and consultation with many loyal exhibitors and attendees, the SBCA Executive Committee has made the difficult decision to cancel BCMC 2020 due to significant concerns regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
This week, Ken Timmins and Justin Binning with American International Forest Products provide an overview of the past week’s lumber market activity and the overall economy, and answer listener-submitted questions about inventories at re-load facilities, transportation issues, and if component manufacturers may see a sharp decline in lumber costs toward the end of the year, similar to the lumber market in 2018.
Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus on Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.