Softwood Forest Products Buyer - January/February 2024

SLB COLUMN —Continued from page 53
increase. The Softwood Lumber Board and its funded programs will continue to
conduct research, collect case studies, and resources to encourage more widespread
adoption of mass timber for use in this sustainable approach to densification,
so that we grow smarter towards a more urbanized future. n
AWC COLUMN —Continued from page 2
Northeast Ohio and was a regular participant in meetings of the Ohio Building
Codes Committee to support the committee in addressing any questions while
in development of the approved code package. These efforts helped pave the
way for the Ohio Board of Building Standards’ vote to approve the code package
to adopt the 2021 IBC with an effective date of March 1, 2024. The approval
includes the new mass timber provisions first introduced in the 2021 IBC.
AWC was also very active in 2023 in providing technical support to the District
of Columbia’s Construction Codes Coordinating Board (CCCB) on adoption
of the 2021 I-codes. The situation in Washington, DC has been complicated by
concerns with the energy code provisions in the 2021 I-codes, and the CCCB is
currently reviewing the full 2021 I-codes for possible enactment in 2025. AWC
has pivoted to work with members of the CCCB to develop a comprehensive set
of changes to the existing building code specific to mass timber in lieu of waiting
out the current code development cycle. This support was critical in leading
to the CCCB’s decision to approve several mass timber code changes, essentially
completing the Board’s work to update the 2017 DC Building Code to include
2021 and 2024 International Building Code provisions for mass timber structures.
The mass timber update is being classified as an emergency code measure and
could be considered for immediate enactment by the District Council early next
year. AWC will remain active in the process to ensure the District’s Council acts
swiftly.
The situation in DC is playing out in many other states across the country,
including Florida, Idaho, Indiana, North Carolina and Wisconsin. Processes and
actions to slow or halt the adoption of updated codes despite widespread technical
support appear to largely be driven by political interests, often rooted in avoidance
of costs associated with new energy codes. AWC has proactively sought to
assist in jurisdiction efforts to separate adoption of the energy code from other
model code provisions and also moved to develop an approach that would enable
jurisdictions to more easily approve mass timber through alternative methods and
materials provisions of the building code.
The test case is in Florida, where the Building Officials Association of Florida
Board of Directors voiced support of AWC’s development of an Alternative Methods
and Materials (AMM) guide for the state to assist the code official in review
and permitting of mass timber buildings through the AMM process. The guide,
now available on the AWC website, combines all of the relevant mass timber
provisions in the 2024 I-Codes for
use with the adopted Florida code,
making it very easy for both code
officials and builders to review the
most up-to-date code requirements
for mass timber structures. AWC
has worked with a number of building
and fire officials throughout the
state to familiarize them with the
AMM guide and build a comfort
level that can help make it easier
for builders to use it going forward.
The guide will also help to familiarize
code officials with mass timber
requirements ahead of efforts to incorporate
them into the 2026 edition
of the Florida Building Code, which
begins its update cycle in 2024.
AWC is optimistic that the AMM
guide will be widely recognized by
building officials in the state, even
though Florida declined to adopt the
mass timber provisions in 2022. The
Florida experience will help inform
future approaches in jurisdictions
that continue to reject updates to
their building codes due to concerns
like energy code adoption costs.
AWC will continue to seek adoption
of the mass timber provisions in all
50 states, and this AMM guide is
just another example of the creativity,
expertise and dedication AWC
staff bring to the effort on behalf of
the wood products industry. n
APA COLUMN -
Continued from page 2
president of sales and marketing.
Asano started his career in investment
banking at JP Morgan & Co.
and then private equity at Berkshire
Partners. He earned his bachelor’s
degree in economics with honors
from Dartmouth College and his
MBA from The Tuck School of
Business at Dartmouth College.
Chris Degnan, director of commodities and home
improvement warehouse for Weyerhaeuser, has been
elected to fill the vice chair position. Degnan has a rich
and diverse background, having worked in engineered
wood product sales, marketing and manufacture since
1997. He began his career as a district forester in
Louisiana. Before joining Weyerhaeuser in 2008, he
was a sales manager for Willamette Industries. In 2014,
Degnan was named director of sales and marketing for
OSB and plywood for Weyerhaeuser. He has long supported
APA and the industry, serving on both the APA
Chris Degnan
Board of Trustees and Residential Marketing Subcommittee.
He has also served as advisory committee chair for the Engineered Wood
Technology Association since 2021. Degnan holds a degree in forestry from the
University of Wisconsin and an MBA from Louisiana Tech.
Stephen Williams, executive vice president and
chief financial officer of Western Forest Products, has
been elected to serve as chair of the finance committee.
Williams joined Western Forest Products in May
2014 to assist with implementing Western’s strategic
initiatives. He leads the company’s corporate finance,
corporate development, investor relations, IT, shared
services
and legal
teams.
Williams
is
Stephen Williams
a strategic leader with more than
25 years of experience in the forest
industry and extensive experience
in acquisitions and divestitures.
Before joining Western Forest
Products, he worked at Interfor.
Williams is a chartered professional
accountant and holds a bachelor’s
degree from the University of British
Columbia.
Two new members to the board
include:
LUMBER THAT’S A CUT ABOVE
MADE IN EMMETT, ID, LA GRANDE, OR, AND PILOT ROCK, OR
Our premium logs are grown in multiple US national forests, state
forests, and private holdings, which means utmost quality lumber.
This top-tier lumber is then processed in our own sawmills for our
millwork operations as well as a number of strategic partners.
Our sawmills process various softwoods in Oregon and Idaho to
go with our Virginia and North Carolina sawmills, which process
Eastern White Pine and hardwoods. With strategic locations in
both the East and West, we can service almost any lumber need
in the highest quality fashion.
PRODUCT MIX:
• 5/4, 6/4 Pine Industrials
• 4/4 Pine Boards
• Doug Fir and White Fir Dimension and Studs
LEARN MORE AT
OUR WEBSITE:
To learn more about woodgrain and see everything it offers, visit: woodgrain.com/lumber
For the latest rates call: 855-804-1575
Page 54 Softwood Forest Products Buyer • January/February 2024 Softwood Forest Products Buyer • January/February 2024 Page 55
John Murphy Jr.
John Murphy Jr., executive
vice president of Murphy Company,
is part of a family deeply rooted
in the wood products industry.
Murphy Jr. began his career at the
family’s White City, OR veneer
mill. In 2010, he assisted with the
start-up of the company’s Softwood
plywood mill in Rogue River, OR,
where he learned first-hand the
business of plywood manufacturing.
In 2013, he transitioned to the
company's headquarters, where he
became part of the executive team.
Since then, he has been involved in
all phases of the family business,
including timber resourcing and
engineered wood production and
sales. He graduated from Oregon
State University with a degree in
wood science and engineering.
Murphy Jr. replaces his father’s
seat on the board.
Rich Babcock
Rich Babcock has led Rosboro as chief executive
officer since 2005. He joins the APA board with
a rich background, having been in the industry since
1990. In his time with Rosboro, he has held a variety
of positions including corporate controller, senior vice
president of administration and now chief financial officer.
Babcock received his BBA from the University of
Oregon in finance and accounting.
“We are so grateful for our volunteer leaders and
their service to the industry,” said APA President Mark
Tibbetts. “We look forward to adding their experience
and knowledge to APA.” n
NAWLA COLUMN —Continued from page 2
and international networking events such as Wood Basics, Traders Market, Leadership
Summit and the Executive Management Institute, but also regional meetings
in which NAWLA leaders can continue to build and foster relationships with
fellow members on a more local level.
Additionally, NAWLA is excited to be offering two new member-exclusive ben-
Continued on page 75