Another New Member!
I’m excited to welcome a new member; this time I’d like you to meet SII Dry Kilns! For those keeping track, that’s nine new members so far in the first half of 2023 (for comparison, SFPA signed up 10 new associate members for all of 2022).
We couldn’t be prouder to have such an engaged membership that continues to grow. We know there’s power in numbers, and this continued growth only further supports our members! Know someone, either a lumber manufacturer or company that supports the Southern Pine lumber community? Send them our way (and let them know there’s never been a better time to join SFPA!)
Progress on New SFPA Website
While I don’t want to give too many details away just yet, I wanted to share that we got a sneak peek of our new homepage. Let me just say, we’re well on our way to developing a platform that brings together SFPA’s Southern Pine lumber assets under one extremely user-friendly website.
It’s not the last update you’ll get from me on this but mark your calendars to be part of the launch this August!
71 Days Until Forest Products EXPO!
Just 10 weeks from today, we’ll kick off the 37th Forest Products Machinery & Equipment EXPO in Nashville. Ironically, at the time you’re reading this, some of the SFPA team and I are in Nashville for our pre-convention visit where we are finalizing the details for Nashville to host EXPO 2023.
Every month brings new updates, and I’m so happy to share we’re up to a record-breaking 180+ exhibitors that will bring more than 60,000 square feet of displays to the Music City Center. The best part is we still have exhibitors signing up to claim the remaining 1,800 square feet of available space! Still want to exhibit? Secure your space today by clicking here.
A few reminders to take note of:
- 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 quickly slipping away, though, so claim yours today!
- Housing: We recommend looking at the Renaissance Nashville for your housing needs. They provided the largest block for our group with more than 300 rooms still available on peak night. It’s also worth checking out the recently renovated Holiday Inn and Suites, which has good availability. The official EXPO housing block closes July 7, so make your reservations today!
- 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 use only use the links on the EXPO website by clicking here to secure your hotel reservation to avoid any confusion or additional charges.
- Sponsorships: There are still some great opportunities to get your brand out there, including mini golf, axe throwing, digital dormers, morning coffee, and program advertising. Check them out here, and make sure to check out the deadlines further down in the June issue of Lumber Shorts so you get the one that best complements your services!
- Take note: Check out SFPA?s LinkedIn profile (and the EXPO section in the June issue of Lumber Shorts) for a sponsor spotlight every Friday! (That could be your company!)
SFPA staff is finalizing plans for a few activities that week for the board and members, including our Thursday morning breakfast and Sawmill Safety Awards presentation, so keep an eye for emails with details.
Southern Pine Promotion Activities
SFPA is always somewhere in the world promoting the benefits and best use of Southern Pine. That mission continues in June with a few events:
I was in Bogota, Columbia, from May 4-June 30 for Expoconstrucción & Expodiseño with APA-The Engineered Wood Association and SFPA members in the American Softwoods (AMSO)-themed exhibit space. Considered a key construction trade event in the Latin American market, construction and design professionals from South and Central America and Mexico primarily attend the show. More than 200 inquiries were collected during the six-day event, while in-booth personnel developed new key contacts for SYP trade leads.
In one conversation, when asked why Southern Pine is specified on projects for international projects, the design professional remarked how very little waste there was with on-grade material.
SFPA and APA market representatives also are leading a mission later this month to Buenos Aires, Argentina for BATEV 2023 from June 28-July 1 where an AMSO exhibit space will again feature Southern Pine lumber and engineered wood products.
SFPA Communications Manager Christian Moises, meanwhile, attended the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Architecture Expo at A?23 in San Francisco from June 7-9 as part of the Softwood Lumber Board‘s Think Wood booth.
These are just a few more examples of your SFPA team ensuring we keep Southern Pine 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.