Component Connection

SBCA

SBCA's podcast focuses on everything from production and marketing best practices to risk management and leadership tips. We are interviewing fellow component manufacturers and industry experts and teasing out valuable nuggets you can use to improve your company.

  • 16 minutes 10 seconds
    EP 174: Connecting Engineers and Component Manufacturers
    In this episode, SBCA’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, Sean Shields, hosts a conversation with Monica Shripka, Senior Director of Business Development & Marketing at the National Council of Structural Engineers Association (NCSEA). Together, they explore the structural engineering profession and share insights on how engineers and component manufacturers can better connect.
    27 March 2026, 4:03 pm
  • 25 minutes 54 seconds
    EP 173: Taking a Look Ahead with the SBCA President
    In this episode of Component Connection, Abby Langenberg, SBCA Director of Business Development & Member Engagement, talks with SBCA President, Larry Dix II, who shares his vision for SBCA and the industry. Join us to find out about what's next for SBCA!
    20 March 2026, 4:26 pm
  • 20 minutes 11 seconds
    EP 172: Lumber Insights
    In this episode, Molly Butz is joined by Justin Binning and Ken Timmins with American International Forest Products (AIFP) who provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. Stronger demand and tightening supply are pushing lumber prices upward, with limited availability of certain products, rising transportation costs, and expectations for a severe wildfire season potentially adding more pressure to an already firm market. Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus in Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
    13 March 2026, 4:39 pm
  • 16 minutes 34 seconds
    EP 171: The Value of SBCA's Austin Open Quarterly Meeting
    In this episode, the SBCA staff members who participated in SBCA's first Open Quarterly Meeting (OQM) of 2026 in Austin, Texas, share their observations of the event and moments that delivered the greatest value to attendees. Together, they provide a good recap of the entire meeting and make a case for why no one should miss the next OQM in Bellevue, Washington, June 9-11.
    5 March 2026, 10:15 pm
  • 14 minutes 42 seconds
    EP 170: SBCA and Components at the 2026 International Builders' Show
    In this episode, SBCA's Director of Marketing, Sean Shields, hosts a conversation with Amanda Neuts, Associate Director of SBCA, and Abby Langenberg, Director of Business Development of SBCA, summarizing their week at NAHB's International Builders' Show in Orlando, Florida. There were a lot of opportunities for the industry to promote the many benefits of structural building components to home builders across the country and promote the capabilities of today's component manufacturer (CM).
    27 February 2026, 4:54 pm
  • 19 minutes 40 seconds
    EP 169: SBCA Safety Education: Insights from the Inside
    Over the past year, Corey Lane, SBCA's Safety Coordinator has been doing extensive behind-the-scenes work to strengthen and expand SBCA's safety resources. In this episode of the Component Connection, we discuss that progress and the plan for transforming it into new and revised education within the SBCA Academy. From enhanced operational safety materials to expanded practical guidance and tools, Corey shares what he’s developed and how we’re using it to update existing courses, replace outdated content, and build stronger, more accessible training for component manufacturers.
    13 February 2026, 12:58 am
  • 15 minutes 6 seconds
    EP 168: What Are SBCA Chapters, and Why Are They So Valuable?
    In this episode, we talk with Talia Montrose, SBCA Membership Coordinator, who works directly with chapters nationwide. We discuss how chapters operate, the benefits of getting involved, and what members gain from attending chapter meetings. From local connections to meaningful takeaways, this conversation highlights how chapters strengthen engagement and bring real value to SBCA members at the regional level. A great listen for anyone looking to get more connected through SBCA.
    6 February 2026, 8:57 pm
  • 21 minutes 2 seconds
    EP 167: Lumber Insights
    In this episode, Molly Butz is joined by Justin Binning and Ken Timmins with American International Forest Products (AIFP) who provide a snapshot of the current lumber market. Tune in as Justin and Ken discuss why lumber markets have seen more upward movement in the past six weeks than all of 2025, fueled by housing optimism on the heels of recent mill curtailments, and what that could mean for 2026. Justin has been with AIFP since 2010 with a focus in Southern Yellow Pine and Ken has been with AIFP since 2017, specializing in Fir species. Both specialize in high grade lumber for the component manufacturing industry.
    30 January 2026, 7:40 pm
  • 16 minutes 46 seconds
    EP 166: An Engineer's Take on Snow Loads, Differential Deflection, and Knowledge
    In this episode, Sean Shields, Director of Marketing for SBCA, is joined by Ed Robbins, PE, President of P.E. Robbins and a member of the SBCA E&T Committee, where they discuss the SBCA Knowledge Center and the value of the technical guidance contained in this online library.
    23 January 2026, 5:58 pm
  • 22 minutes 11 seconds
    EP 165: Where Education Meets Industry: HBI, SBCA, and the Future of Workforce Development
    In this episode, Ashley Baker, SBCA's Director of Education, and Jeremey Hurley, Senior Vice President of Program Operations at Home Builders Institute (HBI), discuss HBI's nationally recognized training programs and how they're helping solve one of the industry’s biggest challenges: workforce development. They discuss HBI’s industry-driven curriculum, including their pre-apprenticeship training model, why this work is especially significant to SBCA, and how component manufacturers can actively engage to support and benefit from these programs. They also share a sneak peek at what HBI and SBCA are exploring together to strengthen talent pipelines and create new pathways into the structural component industry.
    16 January 2026, 5:18 pm
  • 19 minutes 4 seconds
    EP 164: The Hidden Risk in Component Manufacturing (Part 2)
    Many operational risks in component manufacturing don’t show up all at once—they build quietly over time. In this two part episode, Jess Lohse, Executive Director of SBCA, and Abby Langenberg, Director of Business Development, discuss common communication and consistency challenges between the plant and the jobsite, and how small gaps in information, process, and documentation can lead to larger downstream issues across operations. They also explore practical ways manufacturers can identify and address these “quiet risks” before they impact quality, schedules, or builder trust.
    9 January 2026, 7:00 pm
  • More Episodes? Get the App