WMA Association & Industry News – May 30, 2019

At Sierra Pacific, “Seed to Window” means that every atom of wood used in the company’s windows is harvested from forests that have been tended by the company’s founding family, the Emmersons, for four generations.

ODL, Inc., a supplier of decorative and clear door glass and entry treatments, has announced that Amy Post has joined the team as national marketing manager for ODL Pro Channel.

Confidence in the market for new multifamily housing weakened in the first quarter of 2019, according to results from the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Read more at LBM Journal

CNBC’s Capital Exchange program recently hosted a discussion on housing hosted by real estate reporter Diana Olick, who posed questions to Sheryl Palmer, chairman, president and CEO of Taylor Morrison Homes, and David M. Brickman, president & incoming CEO of Freddie Mac.

Read more at Builder

Sales of newly built, single-family homes fell 6.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 673,000 units in April after a sharp upwardly revised March report, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Read more at LBM Journal

Daily Herald writer, James Dulley, compares some advantages fiberglass exterior doors have over wood doors.

Read more at Daily Herald

Should you focus on processes or outcomes? You’re probably thinking, “What kind of question is that?” But this important question gets to the heart of how we improve performance.

Read more at The Fabricator

Across generations, most buyers still estimate only being able to afford fewer than half the homes for sale in their markets, with the share ranging from 74% of seniors to 81% of Generation X. Similarly, more than three out of every four buyers in every region share that same low affordability perception.

Read more at LBM Journal

Prices paid for goods used in residential construction increased 0.8% in April (not seasonally adjusted) according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices have risen more quickly thus far in 2019 (+3.2%) than they did during the same period in 2018 (+2.8%) and are at their highest level since last October.

Read more at Eye on Housing

The United States is at least a month from enacting its proposed tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese imports as it studies the impact on American consumers, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last Wednesday.

Read more at Reuters

Code Watcher staff writer, Kimberly Cheslak, reports on major proposals approved by International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Committee during the ICC’s Committee Action Hearings in Albuquerque, NM earlier this month. She provides an overview of “some of the most impactful proposals that are likely to become a part of the 2021 IECC and may eventually make their way to a jurisdiction near you.”

Read More at Code Watcher

ASHRAE and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing the organizations’ relationship. Goals of agreement include addressing resilient building, promoting consensus-based standards for energy efficiency, and fostering consistent, clear building energy rating and labeling.

Read More at Code Watcher

Venture capital expert shares how to attract and leverage new technology.

Read more at Builder

From smart watches and glasses to biometric clothing, wearables offer great potential in the supply chain as they enable workers to access information, identify tasks and make their jobs easier and safer. But as many of these devices track movement, location and even biometric data, there’s a growing discussion about privacy and how employers should manage and use the information they collect.

Read more at Supply Chain Dive

A $500,000 grant from Bank of America will help the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) provide technical and financial assistance to 15 U.S. cities and communities seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification, the group announced Wednesday.

Read more at Smart Cities Dive

Scientists have designed a novel type of wood that radiates heat away, paving the way for building materials that could keep homes cool and help save on electricity bills.

Read more at Business Standard

Companies looking to improve workplace safety have a number of methods at their disposal. But to embed a sustainable safety culture, they must overcome the mind-sets that underlie unsafe behaviors.

Read more at McKinsey

Safety and Health Magazine gets the scoop from former OSHA inspectors on what to expect if you happen to get inspected by OSHA. “The likelihood of being inspected is slim. According to the latest statistics, 8 million workplaces are under the jurisdiction of either OSHA or its State Plans, which together average nearly 73,000 annual inspections. Still, experts say having a plan in place in case an OSHA inspector comes knocking goes a long way,” writes Alan Ferguson. Find out what can trigger an OSHA investigation and how you can prepare for the unexpected.

Read more at Safety and Health Magazine

Today’s buyers treat B2B purchasing decisions the same way they approach B2C buys: They research online and only reach out to vendor sales when they have questions and/or need specific answers to complex questions. They also want to set the pace of the buying process and complete their purchases online.

Read more at MarTech Advisor

Leaders recognize that organizations are great because of the people working in them. Knowing that people make or break a company is one reason leaders are constantly trying to improve company culture.

Read more at Skip Prichard

Two decades—and still going strong. Chief marketer Kathy Button Bell shares lasting success strategies for both individuals and entire teams.

Read more at AdAge

June 27, 2019 at 2 pm EST

Business cycle decline in the US and the world will persist into 2020. It is important to know the trends, understand how they will impact you, and know what to look for regarding signs of the next business cycle rising trend.

Register

July 18, 2019 at 2 pm EST

The Great Depression is coming. The Beaulieu brothers will explain why and cover what you can do to prepare your business and your family.

Register

Purchase both webinars at a special discounted price!

Register