President's Message: A True Test

The true test of someone’s character, or something’s value, is not when times are going well but when there is a crisis.

The past several weeks have presented an extraordinary crisis for our nation, our companies, our employees, and our families. It feels like every day presents new challenges to navigate and a new playing field with regard to government policies, regulations, and red tape. We have a lot of smart people at our company but, if I’m being honest, trying to wade through it all alone would have yielded less than ideal results. 

Fortunately, our company hasn’t had to do it alone. Throughout this ordeal, I have learned so much from my fellow component manufacturers (CMs) going through the same challenges around the country. The ability to compare notes on everything from HR issues to sanitation practices has been invaluable in helping us protect our company and, most importantly, safeguard our workers.

Beyond all the peer-to-peer interactions SBCA has facilitated during this crisis, our association has also done an amazing job at keeping us all up to date on all the regulatory changes. From the digital templates, company policies, and tools created to help our HR departments be in compliance, to the many articles highlighting industry best practices, CM members (and non-members) could be confident there was one source to go to for dependable information.

The weekly webinars by SBCA Legal Counsel Kent Pagel provided an additional layer of expert advice that was as timely as it was concise. I learned more during those hour-long presentations than I could have possibly discovered from hours and hours of internet searches. I have always appreciated Kent, and consider him a good friend; the value of his knowledge of our industry and of our business operations was clearly evident during those webinars.

All of this makes it clear to me that the relative cost of SBCA membership is really low—bargain basement low. It doesn’t matter what the issue is, whether it’s a global pandemic or something more mundane like bracing, building codes, or the lumber market, SBCA attacks everything with the same level of expertise, professionalism, and passion. 

As CMs, we are truly blessed to have such an excellent organization behind us, whether it’s helping us through the daily grind or navigating a crisis. If you aren’t a member, you’re missing out on one of the best returns on investment available to you.