EWTA NEWS
Connections encourage EWTA and APA members to submit news of interest about the industry to ladauna.wilson@apawood.org
U.S. Housing Starts Remain Above 1.5 Million Annual Rate
Although housing starts in the U.S. were reported to be down in July, they still ran at a healthy rate of 1.534 million units, seasonally adjusted annual rate. Single-family starts were estimated to have run at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.111 million units, down 4.5% from the June rate. Some analysts attribute the decline to builders being forced to slow production due to problems securing building materials. That may be the case, but a 4.5% drop on a monthly basis is also well within the range of typical variability of the estimate. Builders are reporting that they are seeing buyer hesitancy because of the large increase in home prices. Builders have yet to lower prices or offer incentives because their inventories are still relatively low. Real GDP in the U.S. rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.5%, which put real GDP 0.8% above the pre-pandemic peak of the fourth quarter of 2019. Employment in the U.S., though, is still 3.7% below the February 2020 pre-pandemic level as businesses used technology and changes in operating processes to enhance labor productivity. Demand for labor in the U.S. is quite strong, as the number of job openings in June exceeded 10 million, a record high.
The housing report is distributed to current EWTA members each month. Please contact LaDauna Wilson if you would like to receive it.
New Chair Leads EWTA Advisory Committee
After more than 18 years of leadership and professional contributions to APA and EWTA, Tom Temple, who served as the EWTA Advisory Committee chair, will retire from PotlatchDeltic. Chris Degnan, Director of Weyerhaeuser Distribution Commodities and HIW, assumes the chair position this fall.
We welcome Chris and thank Tom, wishing him the best in his well-deserved retirement.
New Trustees Join APA Board
Three new members have been elected to the APA – The Engineered Wood Association Board of Trustees, filling vacancies created by retirements and changing roles:
- Ashlee Cribb, Vice President of Wood Products for PotlatchDeltic Corporation, was elected to the seat vacated by Tom Temple’s retirement.
- Doug Asano, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Roseburg Forest Products Co., was elected to the seat vacated by Ashlee Cribb.
- Pino Pucci, Vice President of Tolko Industries’ sales, marketing and logistics, was elected to the seat vacated by Jim Baskerville’s retirement.
Save the Date
Virtual APA 2021 General Session Set for Dec. 1
The APA General Session Business Meeting is scheduled for December 1, from 11 a.m. to noon PST. The meeting will include the "State of the Industry" and "State of the Association" addresses by APA Chair Roy O. Martin III and APA President Mark Tibbetts.
Additional information will be sent to EWTA members as the date draws closer.
Autumn Engineered Wood Journal Publishes in October
The Engineered Wood Journal, the official publication of the Engineered Wood Technology Association, covers a wide range of subjects of interest to the engineered wood products industry, including processing trends and innovations, research and development issues, marketing challenges and opportunities, technical developments, quality assurance trends, certification and regulatory developments, safety and health, and other topics.
The digital magazine is distributed to qualified recipients among North American engineered wood product manufacturers; their product, equipment and services suppliers; and other industry stakeholders, such as academia, industry associations, analysts, consultants.
To receive the magazine, send your name, company and email address to ewta@apawood.org.
EWTA Member News
Welcome New Member - Stiles Machinery
Stiles Machinery provides world-class machinery backed by the nation’s largest team of service and support specialists, an extensive inventory of ready-to-ship parts, and the industry’s only nationally accredited workforce training program. Stiles is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has regional offices across North America, including High Point, North Carolina; Bristol, Pennsylvania; Coppell, Texas; Rancho Cucamonga, California; and Queretaro, QRO Mexico. Ron Schmidt, Vertical Market Manager, Composite Panels Industry can be reached at rschmidt@stilesmachinery.com.
EWTA on LinkedIn
Check out EWTA on LinkedIn to connect and share news and information with members and others in the engineered wood industry.
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Share your Company News
EWTA’s Connections newsletter, published electronically every other month, welcomes news from its members. News suitable for publication in upcoming issues includes press releases about new hires, new products, company news, or awards won. Please send your information or direct questions to LaDauna Wilson at ladauna.wilson@apawood.org.
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