Shows / Component Connection
Component Connection
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.
Episodes
- Component Connection
EP 25: Hardy Wentzel Shares How CLT Fits Into Today’s Wood Construction
Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam Mass Timber Corporation, explains what CLT is and how it's made. He also shares what prompted the original development of CLT…
- Component Connection
EP 24: Mike Bugbee Discusses the Industry’s Evolution and Approach to Sales
Mike Bugbee, part owner of Oregon Truss in Salem, Oregon, shares his perspectives on the evolution of the component manufacturing industry through the lens of…
- Component Connection
EP 23: Gene Frogale and Jeff Taake Discuss COVID-19 Impacts on Operations
Gene Frogale is the president of Annandale Millwork & Allied Systems in Winchester, Virginia, and Jeff Taake is the vice president of manufacturing and…
- Component Connection
EP 22: Mike Ruede and Scott Ward Share Business Changes Due to COVID-19
Mike Ruede and Scott Ward discuss the various challenges the COVID-19 Coronavirus has created for their businesses and what they are doing to overcome them…
- Component Connection
EP 21: Joe Hikel and Steve Stroder on COVID-19 Business Practices and Reactions
Joe Hikel and Steve Stroder discuss their reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and how they're leading their businesses through the various challenges they've…
- Component Connection
EP 20: Dave Mitchell and Zach Shepherd on Managing Company Growth
Dave Mitchell is the general manager and Zach Shepherd is the operations manager at Engineered Building Design (EBD) in Washington, Iowa. Dave and Zach discuss…
- Component Connection
EP 19: Scott Arquilla Reflects on Running a Successful Business in Chicago
Scott Arquilla, former co-owner, vice president, and COO of Best Homes, Inc., shares how his family got started in the homebuilding industry and the unique…
- Component Connection
EP 18: Jason Ward Shares Best Practices for Onboarding and Retaining Employees
Jason Ward, vice president of human resources for California TrusFrame LLC, shares best practices for hiring new employees, creating a positive workplace…
- Component Connection
EP 17: Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus Shares How to Be an Advocate for Your Company
Reggie Stoltzfus, owner and president of Dutchcraft Truss in Minerva, Ohio, shares his experience as a component manufacturer (CM)and member of the Ohio House…
- Component Connection
EP 16: Dean DeHoog Discusses Business Culture and Management Best Practices
Dean DeHoog is the director of manufacturing for Standard Building Systems, a US LBM company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His extensive experience and unique…
- Component Connection
EP 15: Framer Chris Tatge Discusses CM-Framer Partnerships & the Future of Framing
Chris Tatge, co-owner of Dynamic Construction in Stoughton, Wisconsin, shares his perspective on how component manufacturers (CMs) can benefit from partnering…
- Component Connection
EP 14: SBCA President Mike Ruede Shares Thoughts on How to Better Promote Your Business
SBCA President Mike Ruede shares his thoughts on what component manufacturers could do to better promote their businesses and how SBCA’s strategic plan fits…
- Component Connection
EP 13: Gene Frogale Shares His Approach to Component Sales and Marketing
Gene Frogale and his brother Rob are co-presidents of Annandale Millwork & Allied Systems in Winchester, Virginia. Gene shares the history behind their…
- Component Connection
EP 12: Jason Hikel Explores the Advantages of Thinking Outside the Typical IT Box
Jason Hikel shares unconventional IT tips and ideas that have contributed to his company’s success. As the IT Director at Shelter Systems Limited in…
- Component Connection
EP 11: Richard Brown & Jim Finkenhoefer Discuss Business Practices & Their Successful Partnership
Richard Brown and Jim Finkenhoefer met in 1986 at a Georgia Component Manufacturers Association meeting and later partnered in operating Truss Systems, a wood…
- Component Connection
EP 10: Barry Dixon Discusses Business Approaches to Integration & Automation
Barry is the owner and CEO of True House in Jacksonville, Florida, and is an early adopter of technology and automation in the component manufacturing…
- Component Connection
EP 9: Angie & Ashley Stroder Share Their Perspectives About the Industry
Angie and her daughter, Ashley, share their experiences as women in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Both Angie and Ashley work at California TrusFrame…
- Component Connection
EP 8: Matt Layman Discusses Lumber Market Trends with Kirk Grundahl
Matt Layman, president of Layman's Lumber Guide, discusses current lumber market trends with SBCA Executive Director, Kirk Grundahl. Matt has worked in lumber…
- Component Connection
EP 7: BJ Louws Discusses Lean Manufacturing & Innovation Opportunities with Sean Shields
BJ Louws, president of Louws Truss in Ferndale, Washington, discusses the family business and how structural components became part of their operations. He…
- Component Connection
EP 6: Kirk Grundahl and Evan Protexter Discuss the History and Benefits of Quality Control
Kirk Grundahl, SBCA executive director, and Evan Protexter, SBCA engineer, discuss the benefits of quality control (QC) in the component manufacturing industry…
- Component Connection
EP 5: Greg Griggs & Larry Dix Discuss Value of Face-to-Face Meetings
SBCA president Greg Griggs, Builders FirstSource, and SBCA board member Larry Dix, Apex Truss, discuss the value they receive from face-to-face meetings. Both…
- Component Connection
EP 4: Sean Shields and Jason Blenker Discuss Advantages of Expanding Business
Sean Shields interviews Jason Blenker on transitioning the general contracting family business into Blenker Companies which operates five independently run…
- Component Connection
EP 3: Sean Shields Talks With Current SBCA President Greg Griggs
Sean Shields and Greg Griggs explore the latest efforts of SBCA to help component manufacturers grow market share and take advantage of opportunities in…
- Component Connection
EP 2: Sean Shields Interviews Dean Rana, Owner and President of Truss Fab
Sean Shields interviews Dean Rana on growing his business and overcoming challenges facing his market and the industry. This podcast is part of a series…
Component ConnectionEP 1: Jess Lohse Interviews Past President Scott Ward
Scott Ward is the owner of Southern Components and a past president of SBCA and currently an Executive Committee member and QC Committee chair. In 2016 Scott…