Ashley Amidon is the executive director at International Wood Products Association (IWPA), in Alexandria, Virginia. IWPA advocates for the acceptance and demand for the legally sourced and sustainable wood products.
IWPA was established in 1956 and is the leading international trade association for the North American imported wood products industry. IWPA represents 167 companies and trade associations engaged in the import of hardwoods and softwoods from sustainably managed forests.
Amidon started at IWPA as the organization’s lobbyist and PAC director a decade ago. She left to hold roles as a lobbyist for the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, where she worked on environmental and trade policy issues and the Vice President of Public Policy for the National Pest Management Association, where she led its public policy team and served as treasurer of its Political Action Committee as well as serving as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Pest Management Association.
Amidon holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and International Affairs from George Mason University in Virginia and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from University of Hull in the UK. She also holds a Certified Association Executive credential (CAE).
Learn more at www.IWPAwood.org.
Camron Zerbian is responsible for lumber purchasing/sales, dimension component sales and general operations at Fitzpatrick and Weller Inc., located in Ellicottville, New York.
Fitzpatrick and Weller Inc. is a lumber and wood components manufacturer that focuses on domestic and export sales. They produce 7.5 million board feet of lumber annually, in species of Hard and Soft Maple, Poplar, Red and White Oak, Hickory, Larch, Cherry, Basswood, Ash, Birch, Walnut, White Pine and Sapele, Mahogany and European/American Beech. They handle these species in thicknesses 3/4-12/4 and grades No. 3 Common through Prime and S2S and Rough.
Fitzpatrick and Weller also offers SLR, S4S and dimension products, including, edge glued panels, blocks, CNC machining, boring, millwork, cabinet parts/accessories and more.
Zerbian has worked for Fitzpatrick and Weller for two years, where he started out in their dimension plant becoming familiar with their rough and finish mill processes. He then went on to work in their lumber yard where his duties ranged from lumber grading and stacking, forklift operator and planing line operation. His focus has since been on the lumber/dimension procurement and sales.
This is Zerbian’s first job in the forest products industry. Prior to working at Fitzpatrick and Weller, he worked in the demolition industry and the forestry/resource management industries. He worked for the Forestry Department of New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for three years.
Zerbian graduated from Ellicottville Central School in Ellicottville, NY and then went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a concentration in natural resources from Ithaca College.
Zerbian enjoys hunting, fishing, trapping, woodworking, farming, tree cutting and arborist work as well as sports and fitness. He has been married to Rachel Zerbian since 2019 and they are expecting their first child this summer.
Fitzpatrick and Weller is a member of the American Hardwood Export Council, National Hardwood Lumber Association, Empire State Forest Products Association, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., Penn-York Lumbermen’s Club, Wood Products Manufacturers Association and the Forest Stewardship Council.
For more information, call 716-474-6785, email camronz@fitzweller.com, or visit www.fitzweller.com.
Gerry VanVeenendaal is the Northeastern U.S. sales representative for Allegheny Wood Products (AWP), located in Petersburg, West Virginia.
AWP has eight sawmills with an annual capacity of 200 million board feet and four dry-kiln facilities with an annual kiln production of approximately 75 million board feet. AWP produces and sells both green and kiln-dried lumber.
They process all traditional Appalachian species including, Red and White Oak, Poplar, Soft and Hard Maple, Cherry, Hickory and Walnut. They mainly produce these in 4/4 thickness through their sawmill and kiln-dry facilities, however they do have 5/4 through 8/4 in select species. Their green lumber sales are predominately industrial products and No. 2 Common Oak for solid wood flooring.
VanVeenendaal grew up in New York’s Hudson Valley until his family moved to Central Pennsylvania. His father held various positions at different hardwood companies exposing VanVeenendaal to the industry at an early age.
While he has been in the forest products industry in one form or another his entire life, he joined AWP’s sales group in 2014.
VanVeenendaal and his wife Lisa live in Holidaysburg, Pennsylvania and they have one daughter. He enjoys spending time with his family and fishing.
AWP is a member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, American Hardwood Export Council, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc. and West Virginia Forestry Association. AWP is also involved with various board of directors in these associations.
For more information, call 814-203-7237, email gerryvan@alleghenywood.com, or visit www.alleghenywood.com.
