LEESBURG, Va. - The Composite Panel Association has elected members for its 2019 board. The new board was announced at the association's annual fall meeting and goes into effect on Jan. 1.

Jake Elston of Arauco North America will serve as chairman, with Jim Buffington of Roseburg to serve as vice chairman and Pat Aldred of GP Wood Products as secretary/treasurer. Louis Brassard of Tafisa Canada will complete his term as CPA chairman at the end of this year and serve as immediate past chairman in 2019.

The CPA Board also re-elected Mike Blosser of Louisiana-Pacific to continue his term as an at-large member of the Executive Committee.

Dirk Koltze of Siemplekamp, Randy Tallman of The Stow Co. and Norm Hoeppner of Sauder Woodworking were elected as Associate Members to the CPA Board of Directors. Additionally, Elliott Savage of Seemac and Rick Bryson of Ashley Furniture were re-elected to continue their terms on the board.

The following people were also named as CPA’s committee chairmen and vice chairmen for 2019:

• Environmental and Public Affairs Committee: Chairman Jake Elston, Arauco North America; and Vice Chairman Mark Avery, Timber Products
• Production-Technical Committee: Chair Dale Garges, Arauco North America; and Vice Chairman Jeff Cronin, Collins Companies
•Marketing Committee: Chair Peter Stasiowski, Interprint; and Vice Chairman Greg Welling, Boise Cascade
• Decorative Surfaces Council: Chair Tonya Spens, Panel Processing Inc.

An estimated 300 people from 127 companies attended the 2018 CPA Fall Meeting & Material, Technology & Design Symposium, held Sept. 23-25 in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information about CPA's upcoming events, visit CompositePanel.org.

Founded in 1960, CPA represents the North American wood-based composite panel and decorative surfacing industries on technical standards, industry regulation, and product acceptance. CPA General Members include the leading manufacturers of particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), hardboard and engineered wood siding/trim in North America, representing more than 90% of industry manufacturing capacity.