Composite Panel Association

“Composite panel association (cpa), founded in 1960, represents the north american wood-based composite panel and decorative surfacing industries on technical, regulatory, quality assurance and product acceptance issues. Cpa general members include the leading manafacturers of particleboard, medium density fiberboard(mdf),hardboard and engineered wood siding(ewst) representing about 95% of north american manafucturing capacity. Cpa also brings together the complete value chain affiliated with the composite panel industry. Cpa associate members include manufacturers of furniture, cabinets, mouldings, door, decorative surfaces and equipment, along with laminators, distributors, industry media and adhesive suppliers. All are committed to product advancement and industry competitiveness.”

“Cpa is governed by a board of directors that includes one representative from each general member company and no more than 25% of the associate member companies. An executive committee, selected from among the board members, reports to the board and acts in its place between normally scheduled board meetings. Cpa is organized around four additional standing committees -- decorative surfaces council, environmental and public affairs committee (epac), marketing, production and technical. Any of these committees may appoint a subcommittee(s) or task group(s). Task groups are appointed for activities that typically have a fixed duration (for example, the editing of a cpa publication), wheras subcommittees are intended to address ongoing issues and programs (for example, the marketing committee's communication subcommittee).”

“Cpa has professional and support staff, most of whom work from cpa's head office in leesburg, virginia. Cpa retains outside legal counsel for both its general and environmental programs. Counsel is present for all board and executive committee meetings, and for certain other meetings.”

“Form 990 is prepared by an independent certified public accountant and reviewed by officers and management prior to an electronic version being made available to the board of directors.”

“Cpa members and participants in association meetings or calls are reminded that antitrust laws are in effect and asked to refrain from specific discussions related to competitive market practices such as pricing or individual company operations that could impact free trade. Members should contact cpa staff or legal counsel immediately if there is a concern of activity violating the policy.”

“Compensation of president reviewed and approved by executive committee.”

“Annual salary review is done in december of each year. Supervisors evaluate employees in the context of their particular job through a one- on-one meeting as well as completion of a written evaluation. Job descriptions are evalualted as well as planned employee objectives for the upcoming year. All positions are set with a salary range and is subject to review and change each year. Salaries include a fixed, nominal percent cost of living adjustment (cola). The president has an employment contract and is not included in this annual process.”

“Cpa holds two scheduled meetings of the full membership each year -- in the spring and again in the fall. The latter is cpa's annual planning and budgeting meeting at which members develop and approve operational plans and budgets for the following fiscal year. The spring meeting serves as more on an educational and networking function, and provides opportunities for member-to-member interaction as well as workshops and committee meetings. Meeting materials and minutes are prepared and published on cpa's website in conjunction with both of these meetings. Materials are also circulated electronically to all members of cpa.”

“The association was formed to further the acceptance and use of particleboard, medium density fiberboard(mdf), hardboard and engineered wood siding and trim (ewst) as a building material, conduct technical research and provide third party certification for particleboard,mdf, hardboard and ewst manufacturers.”