Don't Miss SFPA's Midyear Meeting

May 14-15!

May 2, 2008

Green Movement, Raised Floors Focus of Upcoming Meeting

Thinking green and showing people how to “rise above the flood” represent two ways the wood products industry can preserve and grow its market share. The real beauty of both concepts lies in the fact that they also benefit homeowners. The Southern Pine Council will focus on both areas when it meets during SFPA’s Midyear Meeting May 14-15 in New Orleans.

Several speakers will bring SPC members information on green building and related issues, beginning with ProSales Editor Craig Webb, who will speak on “The Business of Green” during the opening session (see the April 18th issue for additional details). SFPA staff members Eric Gee, director of EXPO and forest resources, and Russell Richardson, director of industrial markets, will provide an overview of the green movement. On the second day, Don Taylor of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will discuss certification and audits and how they work; and Dave Bubser, the U.S. region manager for Smartwood, a Rainforest Alliance program, and Jason Metnick, director of market access and product labeling for SFI Inc. (Sustainable Forestry Initiative), will conduct a panel discussion about implementing certification systems.

Don joined PwC’s Sustainable Business Solutions Group in 1999 after gaining 30 years experience with two major forest products companies. His areas of specialization include forest management and certification auditing, fiber procurement and supply chain systems, operational management of forest resources, and strategic business planning and implementation. Dave brought 17 years of forest management experience to Smartwood, where he provides leadership and strategic oversight for certification-related activities in the program’s U.S. region. Jason works with forest landowners, manufacturers, merchants, printers and others to promote SFI and assist with third-party forest certification and product labeling. He also sits on a number of committees related to certification, labeling and claims. 

SPC members will also hear an overview of the Raised Floor Living campaign, including updates on research projects as well as advertising and public relations efforts. It’s not too late to register for the meeting. Click here for a registration form or contact Dianne Breaux at 504/443-4464, ext. 225, or by e-mail at dbreaux@sfpa.org.

Sawmill Safety Award Recipients Announced

Ten SFPA member mills will receive Sawmill Safety Awards for achieving outstanding safety records during 2007. Based on reported occupational injuries and illnesses, SFPA members submitted information on total employee hours worked and the number of recordable cases. Mills were classified by total annual production volume of the company – Division I for companies producing 50 million board feet and under; Division II for companies making 51 to 150 million board feet; and Division III for companies exceeding 150 million board feet annually. “We congratulate our winners for their dedication to maintaining safe workplaces,” said SFPA President Digges Morgan.

The awards will be presented at the SFPA Board of Directors meeting during the association’s Midyear Meeting, May 14-15 in New Orleans. The recipients are listed below.

Division I:    

Lampe & Malphrus Lumber Company – Smithfield, N.C.

Division II:   

Westervelt Lumber – Moundville, Ala.         

Division III:  

Georgia-Pacific LLC – Bay Springs, Miss.      Georgia-Pacific LLC – Springhill, La.        

Georgia-Pacific LLC – Cross City, Fla.           Georgia-Pacific LLC – Sterling, Ga.          

Georgia-Pacific LLC – Crossett, Ark.             Georgia-Pacific LLC – Suffolk, Va.

Georgia-Pacific LLC – Russellville, S.C.         Weyerhaeuser Company – Wright City, Okla.

Summit, Seminar Attendees Hear about Raised Floors

Richard Kleiner, SFPA’s director of treated markets, provided attendees at the National Frame Building Association’s Sixth Annual Post-Frame Industry Summit a full update on the Southern Pine Council’s efforts to promote raised wood floor construction and explained how SPC is also using the program to cross-promote treated products. The summit – held April 23-24 in Kansas City, Mo., – drew about 60 builders and suppliers.

Russell Richardson, SFPA’s director of industrial markets, presented an LSU AgCenter continuing education class on hurricane-resistant construction methods to 20 South Louisiana builders and engineers. Russell explained how raised wood floor foundations reduce flooding risk and covered construction options for homes along with comparing the costs of raised wood foundation versus concrete foundations. “The audience was very receptive to our information,” Russell said.

Cathy Kaake, SFPA’s director of engineered and framing markets, delivered a presentation on building codes and wood-frame construction at the Joint Engineering Society’s Conference held earlier this year in Lafayette, La. “I explained the codes and how to build wood-frame structures that resist high winds and flooding,” Cathy said. “We had a standing-room only crowd, and one engineer thanked me afterwards because he understands that following building codes is crucial to the successful rebuilding of the Gulf Coast.”

For more information, contact Richard at 504/443-4464, ext. 211, or rkleiner@sfpa.org. Russell can be reached at ext. 239 or by e-mail at rrichardson@sfpa.org and Cathy at ext. 213 or ckaake@sfpa.org.

SFPA on the Road

SFPA staff members frequently take to the roads and airways to tell Southern Pine’s story to builders, designers, building inspectors and other key segments of the building industry. Here’s a look at some upcoming events.

• Russell Richardson, director of industrial markets, and Ned DeJarnette, director of international markets, will lead the Southern Pine Council’s efforts to communicate the green benefits of using raised wood floors and wood in general at the National Association of Home Builders’ National Green Building Conference May 11-13 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. For more information, contact Russell at 504/443-4464, ext. 239, or rrichardson@sfpa.com.

• Richard Kleiner, director of treated markets, will promote treated products at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2008 National Convention and Design Exposition, May 15-17 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston. SPC is also a sponsor for a program in which AIA recognizes best practices in small project design. Richard will also promote raised floors and finger-jointed studs at the Southern Building Show and Conference, June 11-13 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Contact Richard at 504/443-4464, ext. 211, or rkleiner@sfpa.org.

• Cathy Kaake, director of engineered and framing markets, will promote raised floors at the Association of Floodplain Managers 2008 Conference, May 18-23 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks, Nev., and at the Association of Floodplain Managers of Mississippi’s Spring Conference, May 27-29 at the Natchez Eola Hotel in Natchez, Miss. Contact Cathy at 504/443-4464, ext. 213, or ckaake@sfpa.org.

• Richard Wallace, vice president of communications, will represent the Southern Pine Council at CONSTRUCT2008 (formerly the CSI Show), June 4-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas.

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