President's Message: SBCA Has Made Great Strides

It’s Time We Reflect on its Many Achievements 

As we approach the end of my first year as President of SBCA and I reflect on this significant journey, I am filled with pride and a sense of accomplishment. This year has been a testament to our resilience, filled with challenges, successes, and invaluable experiences that have shaped our organization and my leadership journey.

When I took on the role of SBCA President, I knew that I was stepping into a position of great responsibility and privilege. Our association has a rich history of fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and advocating for our members. Building on this foundation, our focus over the past year has been on enhancing member engagement, expanding our outreach efforts, and ensuring that our activities align with our strategic plan and the needs of the component manufacturer (CM).

One of the most rewarding aspects of the year has been the launch of multiple new initiatives and committees. These initiatives, aimed at providing greater value to our members, have been well-received and have made a significant impact. From informative webinars and education sessions to networking events and collaborative projects, we have strived to create opportunities for our members to learn, connect, and grow personally and professionally. The positive feedback and active participation we have received have been truly inspiring and reinforce our commitment to serving you better.

As we move forward with enhancing our education offerings, we felt it necessary to improve upon the platform we were using to ensure the best quality and accessibility was available to our members. This year, with the hiring of a Director of Education and the formation of the Education Committee, SBCA’s education efforts have progressed ten-fold. One achievement was implementing a new Learning Management System (LMS) for the SBCA Academy, where its education courses and training will be housed and accessed by SBCA Academy students, providing user-friendly features. 

The association members, committees, and staff have been hard at work with expanding our outreach and presence within the structural building components and broader construction industry through a multitude of projects, including: SBCA co-presenting and exhibiting at HUD’s Innovative Housing Showcase; SBCA’s Framing the American Dream project; leading sessions at NAHB’s International Builders Show; and working with Operation Finally Home and Habitat for Humanity. 

One of SBCA’s biggest and most successful tools is its Digital QC program, which is available to members at no cost. Digital QC provides an alternative method to paper and pencil quality control with great ease, access, and accuracy. 

Additionally, we filled the role of Technical Director at the start of 2024 and have been working diligently on revising the Building Component Safety Information (BCSI) booklet, updating and creating a variety of technical documents, and monitoring code changes that are pertinent to our members to provide helpful insight and resources.

Through all these efforts, we have been continuing our progress on SBCA’s Strategic Plan, where we are working on three major initiatives: (1) Grow and Engage Membership, (2) Innovate and Adapt, and (3) Demonstrate Expertise. With this updated plan, it has allowed us to remain vigilant and focused on the association’s overall mission and goals. 

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our Executive team, Board of Directors, committee members, and the SBCA staff. Their unwavering support and enthusiasm have been instrumental in driving our association forward and achieving our goals. I am deeply grateful to each and every one of them for their contributions and commitment to our shared mission.

SBCA is very fortunate to have such a talented team. This team does the heavy lifting by executing our committees’ and association’s visions. They also do an exceptional job utilizing third-party services, software, and other external resources to ensure the products and services we deliver to our members are first class.

I would also like to take this opportunity to give a heartfelt shout-out to our Executive Director, Jess Lohse. Jess’s leadership has been nothing short of exceptional. His dedication to our mission, strategic vision, and tireless efforts to advance our association’s goals have been instrumental in our achievements this year.   

In closing, I express my sincere gratitude to you, our members, for your continued support and participation. Your engagement is what makes our association vibrant and successful. I am filled with optimism and enthusiasm as we look towards the future. I am confident that the year ahead will be filled with growth, innovation, and success as we continue to make a positive impact together.

Thank you, once again, for the privilege of serving as your SBCA President.  

Jeff Taake, SBCA President