Softwood Forest Products Buyer - January/February 2024

SLB COLUMN —Continued

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