Component Connection

Chris Tatge, co-owner of Dynamic Construction in Stoughton, Wisconsin, shares his perspective on how component manufacturers (CMs) can benefit from partnering with their framers and provides insight into how the framing industry is evolving. As executive director of the National Framers Council (NFC), Chris also shares how the NFC has grown and the value it offers to framers both big and small.

SBCA President Mike Ruede shares his thoughts on what component manufacturers could do to better promote their businesses and how SBCA’s strategic plan fits in. Mike is the executive vice president and chief operating officer at A-1 Roof Trusses in Fort Pierce, Florida and this is his second term as SBCA president (he previously served as president in 2002). Mike also shares his history in the ind...

Gene Frogale and his brother Rob are co-presidents of Annandale Millwork & Allied Systems in Winchester, Virginia. Gene shares the history behind their family-owned business and how his comprehensive approach to sales and marketing has been influential in its success. As SBCA's current treasurer and membership committee chair, Gene also explains how the association has helped to grow the industry...

Jason Hikel shares unconventional IT tips and ideas that have contributed to his company’s success. As the IT Director at Shelter Systems Limited in Westminster, Maryland, Jason continually looks for new ways to improve the component manufacturing process while keeping the reality of user buy-in front and center. Jason discusses how the equipment, technology, automation, and drive for “what’s next...

Richard Brown and Jim Finkenhoefer met in 1986 at a Georgia Component Manufacturers Association meeting and later partnered in operating Truss Systems, a wood and cold-formed steel component manufacturing plant in Oxford, Georgia. In this podcast, these two entrepreneurs share how they successfully ran a truss plant together for almost 30 years on nothing more than a hand-shake agreement and remai...

Barry is the owner and CEO of True House in Jacksonville, Florida, and is an early adopter of technology and automation in the component manufacturing industry. Barry shares why his business has integrated up and down the supply chain over the years to make it more successful. He also provides guidance on how to evaluate opportunities for integration to better serve your customers.

Angie and her daughter, Ashley, share their experiences as women in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Both Angie and Ashley work at California TrusFrame (CTF), which is based in Murrieta, CA and has five locations throughout the state. Angie has 26 years of experience in the industry and currently serves as vice president of supply chain. Ashley has been a sales representative for CTF since...

Matt Layman, president of Layman's Lumber Guide, discusses current lumber market trends with SBCA Executive Director, Kirk Grundahl. Matt has worked in lumber commodities for nearly four decades and uses his real-world experience to analyze and forecast the lumber market.

BJ Louws, president of Louws Truss in Ferndale, Washington, discusses the family business and how structural components became part of their operations. He also digs into lean concepts and how they have proved a cost-effective way to be more competitive and innovative.

Kirk Grundahl, SBCA executive director, and Evan Protexter, SBCA engineer, discuss the benefits of quality control (QC) in the component manufacturing industry and how it has evolved over the years. Kirk has been involved in QC for metal-plate connected wood trusses since the early 1980's in setting up an industry-specific Third-Party Inspection program. Evan has been heavily involved in the QC pr...

SBCA president Greg Griggs, Builders FirstSource, and SBCA board member Larry Dix, Apex Truss, discuss the value they receive from face-to-face meetings. Both Greg and Larry share similar thoughts on how important relationship building and networking has been for their companies and their careers.

Sean Shields interviews Jason Blenker on transitioning the general contracting family business into Blenker Companies which operates five independently run businesses. This podcast is part of a series looking at how component manufacturers across the country are innovating to take advantage of opportunities in today's market. Blenker Building Systems is located in Amherst, WI and delivers componen...

Sean Shields and Greg Griggs explore the latest efforts of SBCA to help component manufacturers grow market share and take advantage of opportunities in today's market. Greg has been in the industry for 35 years and is the senior vice president of manufacturing for Builder's FirstSource. He is the current SBCA president and has been chair of the marketing committee the past four years.

Sean Shields interviews Dean Rana on growing his business and overcoming challenges facing his market and the industry. This podcast is part of a series looking at how component manufacturers across the country are innovating to take advantage of opportunities in today's market. Truss Fab is a single facility out of Glendale, AZ and the largest component manufacturer in Arizona with sales territor...

Scott Ward is the owner of Southern Components and a past president of SBCA and currently an Executive Committee member and QC Committee chair. In 2016 Scott was inducted into the SBCA Hall of Fame and won the 2014 SBC Industry Leadership Award. Scott also served on the Management Committee as chair.