CPA held its annual Spring Meeting last week in Bonita Springs, FL, with nearly 100 member companies in attendance. Presentations are available online, and minutes from the Committee and Board of Directors meetings will be available late next week. A few notable highlights from the meeting are included below.
Safety Award Recipients Recognized
CPA presented the annual awards for Safety and related Innovation to member companies onsite.
Annual Safety Awards
Safety Awards were given to participating manufacturing plants with exemplary records, including acknowledgments for long-term, annual, safety improvement, and safety achievement. For each award, plants were categorized by low worker hours (Class I) and high worker hours (Class II).
West Fraser, Quesnel, BC (Class I), and Arauco North America, Malvern, AR (Class II), were awarded for the best long-term safety record over the past three years.
The annual safety award for having the lowest incident rate in their class for 2025 was awarded to West Fraser, Quesnel, BC (Class I), and Arauco North America, Grayling, MI (Class II).
The two plants recognized for safety improvement were Roseburg, Medford, OR (Class I), and Unilin, Mount Gilead, NC (Class II).
Eight plants were recognized for achieving an incident rate of less than 50% of the industry average over the past three years. Class I plants were Arauco North America St. Stephen, NB, Arauco North America, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Uniboard, Mount Laurier, QC, and West Fraser, Quesnel, BC. The Class II plants were Arauco North America, Grayling, MI, Arauco North America, Malvern, AR, Arauco North America, Bennettsville, SC, and Swiss Krono, Barnwell, SC.
CPA extends its heartfelt congratulations to the exceptional companies and personnel whose unwavering commitment to safety has earned them these prestigious awards. We recognize and appreciate your efforts. Long-term, annual safety improvement, and safety achievement plaques and banners will be sent directly to these mills later this month.
Safety Innovation Award
The Annual Safety Innovation Award is given to a mill that introduces a new policy, process, or technology that enhances workplace safety. CPA congratulates the staff at Swiss Krono’s Barnwell, SC mill for receiving the 2025 Safety Innovation Award for successfully implementing its Power Apps Safety Platform. Swiss Krono leveraged Microsoft 365 Power Apps to create a Safety Platform that integrates four applications: Incident/Hazard/Near Miss Reporting, PPE Tracking, Behavior-Based Safety Observations, and Employee Engagement and Recognition. This Safety Platform greatly increased participation and provides real-time visibility to safety concerns, allowing for quicker corrective actions.
See Safety Awards. More Info: Connie Klinkam
Brassard Honored as Landry Award Recipient
CPA named Louis Brassard as the 2025 Brock R. Landry Industry Leadership Award recipient. Mr. Brassard was selected to be among a prominent group of past composite panel industry leaders, and the award was presented during the Chairman’s Dinner at the CPA Spring Meeting.
Pat Aldred of Georgia-Pacific Wood Products presented the award, highlighting Mr. Brassard’s many notable contributions and accomplishments over a distinguished career spanning more than 36 years in the wood-based panel industry. Mr. Brassard was a pivotal leader within CPA, serving on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for over two decades. He was elected Chairman in 2010 and 2018, making him one of only four individuals in CPA history to serve multiple terms in that role. Louis retired from Tafisa Canada in 2025 after serving as President and CEO since 2003.
The Landry Award is presented annually to an industry leader in recognition of exceptional and meaningful contributions to the composite panel industry. The award was established to honor former CPA General Counsel Brock R. Landry after more than 40 years of transformative and lasting impacts on the North American composite panel industry. See Landry Award Press Release. More Info: Jeannie Ervin
CPA Recognizes Spring Meeting Sponsors and Exhibitors
CPA is grateful to the following 2026 Spring Meeting sponsors for their ongoing support of the association and the industry. Their contributions help make the annual meetings a success.
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Golf Sponsor
In addition to the sponsors noted above, CPA is grateful to the exhibitors who enhanced the meeting experience for attendees. Members are encouraged to learn more about the exhibiting companies on the CPA website. See Annual Meetings. More Info: Anna Linehan