How SPFA brings the industry together

By Emma Peterson. 

A conversation with SPFA’s Lisa Smith on how SPFA empowers contractors and members through education, resources, events and more. 

Founded in 1987, the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) is a national 501(c)6 trade association. Their mission is to provide support to contractors, manufacturers, distributors and other professionals that work with spray polyurethane foam. They pursue this mission in a variety of ways, from curating technical resources to organizing certification sessions. To learn more about SPFA, we sat down with Lisa Smith, director of member engagement, for a Coatings Cast™ all about how SPFA brings the industry together.  

A great example of SPFA bringing the industry together was their annual convention. Lisa dove into a bit of what makes this show so special:  

I don't think there's anything better than meeting somebody face-to-face. Even if you've talked to them on the phone, face-to-face meetings are so much better. It really creates a good connection. And so many of our members are spread out; this show really brings everyone physically together to make those emotional and business connections.  

In addition to creating unique and important networking opportunities, the show also showcases the variety of resources SPFA offers to their members. For example, the 2026 show not only had networking opportunities and education sessions during the event, but also a pre-convention field exam/certification program and an extensive trade show floor to explore! 

At the end of the day, SPFA’s convention is a great example of how they bring the industry together and how they uplift professionals. As Lisa put it, “Our contractors and members are the heart of SPFA. And the convention is a great way for us to meet them in person and find out what they need help with and where they’d like to see the organization go.”  

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more about how SPFA unites and supports the spray polyurethane industry.