NELMA Celebrates 92nd Annual Meeting
The Lodge at Spruce Peak in Stowe, VT, recently hosted the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, appropriately themed “The 2025 NELMA Family Reunion.”
A total of 142 lumber industry representatives and guests participated in this year’s event. Perfect New England weather greeted the 61 golfers that opened the first day’s program for the annual NELMA golf scramble. The hotel’s Mountain Course proved challenging but provided amazing Green Mountain views for the scramble. Final results:
- High Gross Team Score was won by the foursome of Robert and Pam Johnson (Johnson Pine) and Adam Duplisea and Jeremy Howard (Nyle Dry Kilns).
- High Net Team Score: The foursome of Marco Tremblay (S.Huot), Nick Iuele (Russin Lumber), Paul Lennon (Davis & Towle Insurance) and Jason Brochu (Pleasant River Lumber).
The Exhibits and Displays event was next on the activity list for Day 1, where 17 sawmill-related equipment and service businesses offered information on their company’s latest products and offerings. This interactive session flowed into the evening’s Welcome Reception for all participants.
On Day 2 following the Industry Breakfast that included more opportunities for attendees to interact with the exhibitors, the signature Opening Session for the meeting was convened by NELMA Chair Susan Coulombe (Irving Forest Products). Ms. Coulombe called to order the General Business Meeting of the Membership and recognized and thanked the 2025 Annual Meeting Sponsors: Irving Forest Product and Seaboard International (Gold Level), Durgin & Crowell, Diorio Forest Products, Fontaine Inc., Hancock Lumber, PotlatchDeltic, Robbins Lumber, Sawmill Associates, and H.E. Smith Co. (Silver Level), and Bernstein Shur, Carbotech, DiPrizio Pine Sales, Gallagher Insurance, Kennebec Lumber and USNR (Bronze Level).
The annual State of the Association address was provided by Jeff Easterling, NELMA President, followed by the acknowledgement of the 2025 NELMA Safety Awards based on 2024 mill performance. Ms. Coulombe reported that a total of 20 mills provided safety data that tallied up to 2.66 million man-hours of work in 2024, and nine of the reporting mills reported a no-lost time accident-free year covering 1.11 million man-hours.
Next on the agenda was Nominations to the NELMA Board of Directors. The membership approved the following for terms that began following this Annual Meeting. Officers of the Board of Directors: Chair, Matt Duprey (Hancock Lumber), 1st Vice-Chair, Jason Brochu (Pleasant River Lumber), 2nd Vice-Chair, Alex Darrah (Durgin & Crowell), and Treasurer, Robert Moses (Britton Lumber). Director positions for a 1st 3-year term: Doug Chaisson (Irving Forest Products), Jeff Hardy (Cersosimo Lumber) and Jed Whiting (Fontaine Inc.). For a 1-year term as At-Large Representative to the NELMA Advisory Committee, B Manning (Sawmill Associates). This concluded the General Business Meeting of the Membership for 2025.
Upon Adjournment of the General Business Meeting, highlights from the NELMA Marketing program were provided by Jeff Easterling followed by a public relations activity update by Kim Drew of Drew Public Relations Inc. Three guest presentations were provided after a short break: first a video by Patrick Adams (Building Products Digest) on “What are Lumber’s Competitors Thinking,” followed by an update on the activities of the Softwood Lumber Board by Ryan Flom of SLB and Alden Robbins of Robbins Lumber and next year’s Northeast and Great Lakes representative to SLB. The final presentation was provided by Russell Edgar of Madera Wood Tech who summarized the results of the 5-year SPFs lumber monitoring analysis to be presented to the ALSC Board of Review later this year.
Following the Industry Luncheon that included entertainment by local comedian Rusty Dewees, the annual economic and market forecast was provided by Paul Jannke of Forest Economic Associates (FEA) titled “Will End-Use Markets Finally Overcome Affordability Constraints in 2026?”. For the fourth year in a row, the Northeast Regional Meeting of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association (NAWLA) was embedded within NELMA’s Annual Meeting. The 2-hour “Green Mountain Mixer” drew more than 50 registrants and incorporated a social hour followed by a fun interactive networking trivia team contest emceed by Jim Dermody of Seaboard International.
Day 2’s program closed with the Chair’s Reception and Dinner, followed by the Board of Directors meeting the morning of Day 3 that concluded the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association. NELMA wishes to thank all the participants in this year’s meeting, one of the largest attended annual meetings in several years.
NELMA looks forward to seeing everyone at the 93rd Annual Meeting scheduled for a return to the Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME, September 30-October 2, 2026.
