An Incredible Celebration
On May 7th, 1983, ten component manufacturers (CMs) from across the country met in a Dallas/Fort Worth airport hotel room and voted on a name for their fledgling organization that would represent the interests of their businesses and those of their peers. The group settled on the Wood Truss Council of America (WTCA), which served the organization well until 2007 when WTCA changed its name to the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA).
On Tuesday, September 19, 2023 SBCA celebrated its 40th anniversary with a spectacular gala that started with Champagne and ended with dips and spins on a lively dance floor. It was unlike anything the organization has hosted before, and likely will remain its most elegant endeavor until the organization celebrates the big 5-0.
The evening was magical; filled with smiling faces, warm conversation, and even a few tears as people either laughed or cried at stories from the past four decades. Several past presidents of the association and retired industry veterans were in attendance, and many friendships were rekindled over the course of the evening.
It wasn’t just a night to celebrate the accomplishments of the association, it was an opportunity to recognize and honor the many individuals who contributed their time, passion, and wisdom over the years to improve the industry in meaningful ways. With headshots of past presidents and photos of memorable past events on screens overhead, the gala paid tribute to the significant impact the organization has had on the industry’s growth.
The dinner was punctuated with theatrical flairs, from a sudden thunderstorm to start the food service to every salad brought out simultaneously in a dramatic procession that made it clear there was sufficient waitstaff to promptly attend to everyone’s needs throughout the evening. Once dessert was finished, the live band eagerly dove into several hits spanning the decades, which made the dance floor a popular place throughout the rest of the evening.
In between courses, the SBCA annual awards for 2023 were announced. MiTek’s Norm McKenna was inducted into the SBCA Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to membership recruitment and support of the Truss Manufacturers of Texas (TMAT) chapter. Alpine’s Kevin Kraft was awarded the Dick Bowman Industry Enthusiast Award for his commitment and support of BCMC and the association. Dave Brakeman, PE, received the SBCA Industry Leadership Award for a career spent promoting sound engineering concepts throughout the industry. Finally, Tom Whatley was given the Dwight Hikel Humanitarian Award for his humble generosity and giving spirit that has impacted so many in the industry.
If you are interested in learning more about SBCA’s 40-year journey from its humble beginnings to today’s national organization, check out the video posted on SBCA’s website: sbcacomponents.com/about-us.