Component Connection

In the second episode of our four-part SBCA Innovation Grant Recipient Spotlight Series, Abby Langenberg, Director of Business Development & Member Engagement for SBCA, sits down with another 2026 Grant Recipient, Nouran Ghaly of Crowdbuild, to discuss the company's 4D and 5D AI model and how it's helping advance innovation in the structural building components industry. Crowdbuild shares how its...

In this episode, Molly Butz is joined by Justin Binning and Ken Timmins with American International Forest Products (AIFP) who provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. Six months of increases, growing forest fire concerns, mill-side constraints, and limited Canadian fiber continue to put pressure on supply. Meanwhile transportation remains challenging and a few products, including some MSR...

As part of SBCA's Innovation Grant Spotlight Series, Abby Langenberg, Director of Business Development & Member Engagement at SBCA, sits down with Pat O'Donnell to discuss Shelfmark's innovative solution and its selection as a 2026 SBCA Innovation Grant recipient. Pat shares the inspiration behind the technology, the industry challenges it addresses, and why Shelfmark chose to participate in the I...

In this episode, the SBCA team is back from Bellevue, Washington, and sharing their biggest takeaways from the June Open Quarterly Meeting (OQM). Hear reflections on the education sessions, plant tours, networking opportunities, key announcements, and conversations that had attendees buzzing. Whether you were in attendance or couldn't make the trip, this episode offers a quick look at the ideas, c...

In this episode, SBCA’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, Sean Shields, is joined by Larry Dix II, SBCA’s President, and Chris Tatge, SBCA’s Advocacy Committee Chair. After spending two days in Washington, D.C., meeting with members of Congress and sharing the industry’s views on a range of issues, they explore why these kinds of advocacy activities are valuable for the industry to engage in.

In this episode, SBCA’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, Sean Shields, is joined by Cheryl Lewis, COO at FairBuild AI. They discuss some potentially harmful customer contract provisions, why they’re important to pay attention to, and what component manufacturers should do to avoid them.

In this episode, Molly Butz is joined by Justin Binning and Ken Timmins with American International Forest Products (AIFP) who provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. Tune in for more details on ongoing trucking capacity challenges, rising fuel costs tied to geopolitical tensions in Iran, and a potentially severe wildfire season along with a rundown of the products that are getting hard t...

Economic forces don’t move in isolation, and their impact on the component manufacturing industry continues to shift in real time. In this special BCMC preview episode, Todd Tomalak of Zonda joins SBCA's Director of Education, Ashley Baker, to break down the key trends shaping business decisions across the industry. From interest rates and labor dynamics to consumer demand and housing activity, To...

In this new episode of Component Connection, Abby Langenberg, SBCA Director of Business Development & Member Engagement, and Ali Saladin-Valerio, SBCA Director of Events, discuss upcoming SBCA events and what members can expect in the months ahead. They also share why in-person networking remains so important for building relationships, strengthening engagement, and creating real business opportun...

In this episode of Component Connection, the team recaps week two of the SBCA European Industry Tour through Germany and Ireland. SBCA’s Abby Langenberg, Director of Business Development & Member Engagement, Taylor Pedigo, Events Coordinator, and Greg Greenlee, Technical Director & Interim Co-Executive Director, discuss key takeaways from seven facility tours, including lean manufacturing, automat...

In this episode, Molly Butz is joined by Justin Binning and Jeff Hoggard with American International Forest Products (AIFP) who provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. The market is navigating a complex mix of pressures, with producers leaning on creative deals to stay competitive. At the same time, concerns over a severe wildfire season and strained trucking capacity, driven in part by r...

In this episode, hosts Abby Langenberg, SBCA Director of Business Development & Member Engagement, and Molly Butz, SBCA Interim Co-Executive Director, take us through part one of SBCA's European tour, where members explored cutting-edge truss manufacturing, lumber production, and structural building components innovation across Finland, Sweden, and Denmark. Think zero waste, full automation, and g...

In this episode, SBCA’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, Sean Shields, is joined by SBCA's Director of Education, Ashley Baker. Together, they explore several external educational initiatives SBCA is engaged in to bring the knowledge and expertise of the industry to a broad audience of stakeholders from home builders to building inspectors.

Supplier-led education sessions are some of the most anticipated - and competitive - opportunities at BCMC & Framer Summit. In this episode, SBCA's Director of Education, Ashley Baker, breaks down what these sessions are, why attendees pack the rooms, and how suppliers can stand out in the application process. From insider tips on what the review panel looks for to strategies for delivering a high...

In this episode, SBCA’s Interim Co-Executive Director, Molly Butz, hosts a conversation with Amanda Neuts, Associate Director of SBCA, as they recap their experience at the National Housing Supply Summit in Washington, D.C. Together, they share key takeaways from this engaging and educational day, including the importance of communication framing to “sell the opportunity,” using components as a bu...

In this episode, SBCA’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, Sean Shields, hosts a conversation with Monica Shripka, Senior Director of Business Development & Marketing at the National Council of Structural Engineers Association (NCSEA). Together, they explore the structural engineering profession and share insights on how engineers and component manufacturers can better connect.

In this episode of Component Connection, Abby Langenberg, SBCA Director of Business Development & Member Engagement, talks with SBCA President, Larry Dix II, who shares his vision for SBCA and the industry. Join us to find out about what's next for SBCA!

In this episode, Molly Butz is joined by Justin Binning and Ken Timmins with American International Forest Products (AIFP) who provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. Stronger demand and tightening supply are pushing lumber prices upward, with limited availability of certain products, rising transportation costs, and expectations for a severe wildfire season potentially adding more pressu...

In this episode, the SBCA staff members who participated in SBCA's first Open Quarterly Meeting (OQM) of 2026 in Austin, Texas, share their observations of the event and moments that delivered the greatest value to attendees. Together, they provide a good recap of the entire meeting and make a case for why no one should miss the next OQM in Bellevue, Washington, June 9-11.

In this episode, SBCA's Director of Marketing, Sean Shields, hosts a conversation with Amanda Neuts, Associate Director of SBCA, and Abby Langenberg, Director of Business Development of SBCA, summarizing their week at NAHB's International Builders' Show in Orlando, Florida. There were a lot of opportunities for the industry to promote the many benefits of structural building components to home bui...

Over the past year, Corey Lane, SBCA's Safety Coordinator has been doing extensive behind-the-scenes work to strengthen and expand SBCA's safety resources. In this episode of the Component Connection, we discuss that progress and the plan for transforming it into new and revised education within the SBCA Academy. From enhanced operational safety materials to expanded practical guidance and tools,...

In this episode, we talk with Talia Montrose, SBCA Membership Coordinator, who works directly with chapters nationwide. We discuss how chapters operate, the benefits of getting involved, and what members gain from attending chapter meetings. From local connections to meaningful takeaways, this conversation highlights how chapters strengthen engagement and bring real value to SBCA members at the re...

In this episode, Molly Butz is joined by Justin Binning and Ken Timmins with American International Forest Products (AIFP) who provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. Tune in as Justin and Ken discuss why lumber markets have seen more upward movement in the past six weeks than all of 2025, fueled by housing optimism on the heels of recent mill curtailments, and what that could mean for 20...

In this episode, Sean Shields, Director of Marketing for SBCA, is joined by Ed Robbins, PE, President of P.E. Robbins and a member of the SBCA E&T Committee, where they discuss the SBCA Knowledge Center and the value of the technical guidance contained in this online library.

In this episode, Ashley Baker, SBCA's Director of Education, and Jeremey Hurley, Senior Vice President of Program Operations at Home Builders Institute (HBI), discuss HBI's nationally recognized training programs and how they're helping solve one of the industry’s biggest challenges: workforce development. They discuss HBI’s industry-driven curriculum, including their pre-apprenticeship training m...