SBCA Leadership Spotlight: BJ Louws

BJ Louws is the current Secretary of the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA); this year marks his first year as an officer and his 17th year involved in the association, with his first BCMC back in 2007. In addition to BJ’s current role as Secretary, he also holds a seat on the SBCA Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Governance Committee, and is Co-Chair of the Marketing Committee. BJ’s ultimate goal for the SBCA is for it to maximize value for its members. He believes that the transition SBCA has undertaken over the last several years has been a monumental step in the right direction. Through a self-managed staff, controlled and transparent finances, and prioritizing specific and strategic initiatives, it has allowed the organization to be more effective, professional, and focused on its mission and purpose.  

For BJ, his favorite part of the association is how dynamic the industry is. BJ states, “We design, engineer, manufacture, and deliver a custom product. There is so much to learn and keep up on. No one has it all figured out!” He enjoys the relationships he has made through SBCA; how everyone comes together to not only network but also to engage with and learn from people on a variety of aspects of the component business.  

Having grown up in the industry, BJ was initially a little resistant to join the family business; his dad offered him a job multiple times before he finally accepted and committed to working at Louws Truss. Over the summers in college, BJ worked on a roofing crew doing hot tar and tear off, but when it was raining and they couldn’t work, he would go to the plant and build trusses – he always looked forward to those days. Eventually, he joined the family business and is very grateful that he is part of this industry and all that it has given him and his family, working with the best people. BJ says, “As an independent manufacturer in the Northwest corner of the country, it is a privilege to have a seat at the table and serve our industry at a national level. I hope to one day give back as much as this industry has given me.”  

“BJ is a valuable asset to the Executive Committee, and I enjoy his positive contributions,” says Jeff Taake, SBCA President. “I value his determination, care for the industry, and unique perspective in leadership meetings. It is exciting to think about what he will be able to accomplish as he ascends the leadership ladder at the SBCA.”

“BJ is an effective leader because he is never satisfied with the success of today. He is driven by a passion to continually improve and find the next opportunity to add value,” says Sean Shields, SBCA’s Director of Marketing. “It’s been a joy to work with him over the years because his energy and vision is contagious, and it drives us all to strive harder for our members and the industry.” 

BJ earned bachelor’s degrees in both Economics and Business Administration from Seattle Pacific University. He currently resides in Washington State where he is a third-generation owner of Louws Truss, serving as President since 2011. In this role, BJ gets to set the company vision and strategy, work with the finances daily, and do much of the company’s commodity lumber purchasing. With a background in economics, BJ finds great joy in this side of the business, in addition to the manufacturing process with trying to figure out better, more efficient ways to produce trusses. BJ is proud of the team of people he gets to work with every day. In his free time, BJ loves to ski, hike, golf, and spend time with his family on the lake. BJ can be reached at info@sbcacomponents.com.