The Executive Committees of the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) and Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (SLMA) have announced plans to reactivate their joint promotional program under the Southern Pine Council (SPC) banner. SLMA Chairman Chris deMilliano of Steely Lumber Company and SFPA Chairman Joe Kusar of Tolleson Lumber Company made the announcement following SLMA’s recent Spring Meeting. The first priority of the SPC is to improve export markets for Southern Pine lumber.

The reactivated SPC will be managed by a Board of Directors, consisting of the respective SFPA and SLMA executive committees.  Joe Kusar has been named chairman of the Southern Pine Council, with  Chris deMilliano to serve as vice chairman. Bryan Smalley of SLMA has been named director of the Southern Pine Council. 

“Both associations look forward to working as one voice for the global promotion of Southern Pine products,” stated Joe Kusar. “The Southern Pine Council is an established moniker and can serve our industry for additional areas of cooperation in the future,” he added.

“Working together, SLMA member producers can now more efficiently interact with importers and other customers overseas,” noted Chris deMilliano. “Online supplier listings will increase the availability of Southern Pine products worldwide,” he added.

For more than 30 years, SFPA has been a funded cooperator of the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, operating under the American Softwoods banner. SFPA’s trade promotion programs include appearances at international trade fairs, trade missions to key markets and direct contact with importers. A network of overseas consultants services inquiries about Southern Pine products, offers trade barrier assistance and manages other activities in the field. Programs promoting Southern Pine are currently underway in Mexico, the Caribbean Basin and Latin America, South America, China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, Europe, India, the Middle East and South Africa.  A multilingual website – www.SouthernPineGlobal.com – provides a product locator and exporter directory to help importers source Southern Pine lumber from member suppliers. Publications in a dozen languages deliver facts on the proper specification and use of SP products.

Source: SFPA