Another New Member!
I’m always excited to welcome a new member, and we’re keeping that streak alive by welcoming Kop-Coat to the Southern Forest Products Association! For those keeping track, that’s 10 new members so far in the first half of 2023 (for comparison, SFPA signed up 10 new associate members for all of 2022).
Know someone, either a lumber manufacturer or company that supports the Southern Pine lumber community, who would benefit from SFPA membership as much as you? Send them our way by clicking here (and let them know there’s never been a better time to join SFPA!)
43 Days Until Forest Products EXPO!
Just seven weeks from today, we’ll kick off the 37th Forest Products Machinery & Equipment EXPO in Nashville.
Every month brings new updates, and I’m so happy to share 2023 EXPO is SOLD OUT (you can email expo@sfpa.org to join the waiting list)! We have a record-breaking 200+ exhibitors that will bring more than 65,000 square feet of displays to the Music City Center. If you haven’t finalized your plans (or registered yet), hurry!
A few reminders to take note of:
- Housing: While The Westin, Embassy Suites, and Holiday Inn are completely full, we were able to extend the reservation cutoff at The Renaissance Nashville one week to this Friday, July 14. The official EXPO rate of $249 is $150 less per night than what is available online that’s 40% off! so book now before that rate expires! There are only about 100 rooms remaining, so don’t delay!
- Take note: Several housing agencies, including fraudulent companies, have dishonestly presented themselves as official booking agencies for EXPO 2023 and have been contacting exhibitors and attendees to make hotel reservations using their services. Reservations made through any other agency cannot be guaranteed and may result in additional charges, incorrect hotel placement, inflated room rates, canceled rooms, or worse for other EXPO participants. Please only use the links on the EXPO website by clicking here to secure your hotel reservation to avoid any confusion or additional charges.
- Registration: Advanced registration, which is required, is $35 per person and includes access to the exhibit hall floor for all three days. This also is your chance to sign up for the Timber Processing Productivity & Efficiency Conference co-located at EXPO, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, August 24.
- Take note: While registration officially closes August 18, did you know the first 1,000 registrants are guaranteed a commemorative EXPO T-shirt from The BID Group? That opportunity is almost gone, though, so claim yours today!
- Sponsorships: There are still some great opportunities to get your brand out there, including digital dormers, morning coffee, and program advertising in the printed Official Show Program. Check them out here and select the one that best complements your services, but hurry! Sponsorship reservations, reserved for exhibiting companies, close July 14!
- Take note: Check out SFPA’s LinkedIn profile (and the EXPO section in the July issue of Lumber Shorts) for a sponsor spotlight every Friday! (That could be your company!)
- Contact Lists: We’ve received a few questions about third-party organizations selling EXPO contact and registration lists.
Please know the Southern Forest Products Association, nor our partners in producing the show, which includes GES, MCI, Map Your Show, and the Music City Center, do not sell or share your information. That’s why we work with these partners to keep all data behind password-protected sites. The only legitimate emails you will receive come from SFPA, MCI, GES, Map Your Show, or the Music City Center.
Anyone offering to sell you contact lists or booth supplies or enhancements beyond these organizations are not affiliated with EXPO or its partners. EXPO does not contract with anyone to provide this information, so any lists or reports you purchase are most likely not accurate nor sanctioned by SFPA.
John Edgar Rhodes Sawmill Safety Excellence Awards
The numbers have been crunched, and we’re proud to announce seven SFPA members will receive John Edgar Rhodes Sawmill Safety Excellence Awards for outstanding safety records in 2022.
As a side note, this is the second year in a row we have seven member mills with zero reported incidents.
Find out more about this year’s recipients at the Sawmill Breakfast and Sawmill Safety Awards from 7:30-8:45 a.m. Thursday, August 24 at EXPO in Nashville! Tickets will go on sale next week, so keep an eye out for the registration link!
SFPA Field Staff Reunion
It’s a treat when we hear from past staff, so imagine my excitement when I received an email that seven former SFPA field staff gathered in New York from June 16-18 for a reunion.
Click here to read more and see two awesome pictures taken 43 years apart!
Southern Pine Promotion Activities
SFPA is always somewhere in the world promoting the benefits and best use of Southern Pine or advocating our great industry. That mission continued in June and into July with a few events:
It was great seeing many of you last month during the Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association Annual Conference and Trade Show. Their record attendance confirmed the importance of face-to-face events for our industry, business, and social lives. It was welcoming to hear how excited you are about EXPO next month in Nashville. I look forward to continuing the conversations had at MLMA with you during EXPO.
SFPA is continually searching and evaluating new markets for home-grown Southern Pine lumber. Earlier this month, American Softwoods representatives, members, and SFPA staff exhibited at the 28th International Construction & Housing Exposition, BATEV.
The four-day event gathered attendees from across South America to learn about building products and technologies. Architects, designers, engineers, and housing officials were just some of the audiences represented. At the AMSO booth, more than 100 leads were collected for further evaluation and follow-up. Key messages about sustainability, strength, and durability seemed to have been well received. Looking ahead, Argentina could be considered a new opportunity for SYP exports when the political, economic, and trade winds shift more favorably, especially since wood construction is familiar.
These are just a few more examples of your SFPA team ensuring we keep Southern Pine lumber front and center. Make sure to log into the members only section to check out the full trip reports from these activities or check out the summaries on the SFPA blog.
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