Composite Panel Association honors Safety, Excellence and Leadership at 2025 Spring Meeting

 Wednesday, April 30, 2025

The Composite Panel Association (CPA) convened its 2025 Spring Meeting from April 13–16 at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort in Dana Point, California. The event brought together nearly 300 attendees from over 120 member companies to discuss industry advancements and recognize outstanding contributions.​

George Woodson Honored with Brock R. Landry Leadership Award

During the Chairman’s Dinner, CPA presented the 2024 Brock R. Landry Industry Leadership Award to George Woodson. This prestigious accolade acknowledges individuals who have made significant impacts in the composite panel sector. Woodson’s career includes pivotal roles at Willamette Industries, Weyerhaeuser, and Flakeboard, where he specialized in wood dust and formaldehyde compliance. He has also chaired several CPA committees and continues to influence the industry as a consultant. ​

Celebrating Excellence in Workplace Safety

CPA recognized several member companies for exemplary safety records:​

• Long-Term Safety Record (Past Three Years):
  • Class I (Low Worker Hours): Arauco North America, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
  • Class II (High Worker Hours): Arauco North America, Malvern, AR​West Branch Public Library+1Alba Public Library and Museum+1
• Lowest Incident Rate in 2024:
  • Class I: Plummer Forest Products, Post Falls, ID; Arauco North America, Sault Ste. Marie, ON; St. Stephen, NB; and Albany, OR
  • Class II: Arauco North America, Malvern, AR​
• Safety Improvement:
  • Class I: Collins Products Hardboard, Klamath Falls, OR
  • Class II: Arauco North America, Malvern, AR​Composite Panel Association+13LinkedIn+13LinkedIn+13
• Incident Rate Below 50% of Industry Average (Past Three Years):
  • Class I: Roseburg, El Dorado, AR; Arauco North America, St. Stephen, NB
  • Class II: Arauco North America, Malvern, AR; Grayling, MI​LinkedIn

Innovative Safety Measures Recognized

Arauco’s St. Stephen, NB mill received the Safety Innovation Award for implementing heated walkways, significantly reducing slip-and-fall incidents in icy conditions. This initiative exemplifies proactive measures beyond standard practices like plowing and salting. ​LinkedIn

Looking Ahead

The CPA’s next gathering, the Fall Meeting, is scheduled for September 21–23 in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit CompositePanel.org.

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