Newswires
Wolverine Hardwoods Inc.’s Lumber Industry Veteran Jeremy Potter
Jeremy Potter
Jeremy Potter recently transitioned into a full-time sales role at Wolverine Hardwoods Inc., a hardwood lumber distribution and concentration yard located in Allegan, MI. After serving as the company’s Retail Store Manager for the past two-and-a-half years, Potter will focus on building customer relationships and serving hardwood manufacturers, distributors, and woodworkers with hardwood lumber, plywood and BREEZE DRIED stick products.
Wolverine Hardwoods purchases approximately 12 million board feet of hardwood lumber annually and is the exclusive U.S. distributor of BREEZE DRIED sticks for a wide range of woodworking and manufacturing applications.
The company’s inventory includes Ash, Alder, Basswood, Cherry, Eastern Red Cedar, Hard and Soft Maple, Hickory, Poplar, Red and White Oak, Walnut, exotic hardwood species, and domestic and imported plywood. In addition to supplying quality hardwood products, Wolverine offers surfaced lumber, custom rip-to-size products through Wolverine Rips, and commercial kiln-drying services.
Potter brings nearly three decades of experience to his new sales position. He began his career in 1997 stacking boards and grading lumber in Grand Rapids, MI. Throughout his career, he has worked for several hardwood lumber companies across West Michigan and spent 13 years as an independent lumber inspector, developing extensive expertise in hardwood grading, quality standards and customer service.
“During his time at Wolverine Hardwoods, Potter has helped strengthen the company’s retail operations while earning the trust of customers throughout the industry. In his new role, he looks forward to expanding those relationships and helping customers find the products and solutions that best meet their needs,” noted a Wolverine Hardwoods company representative.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring my experience to Wolverine Hardwoods and look forward to continuing to serve our customers while helping the company grow,” Potter said.
Outside of work, Potter enjoys spending time with his three children and grandchild, traveling, golfing, cooking and reading.
Wolverine Hardwoods Inc. is a member of the Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association, the National Hardwood Lumber Association, the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association, the Lake States Lumber Association, and the Michigan Association of Timbermen.
For more information about Wolverine Hardwoods Inc., call 269-686-7004, email jeremy@wolverinehardwoods.com, or visit wolverinehardwoods.com.
Cardin Forest Products Promotes Brady Rees
Brady Rees
Brady Rees was recently promoted to a sales position at Cardin Forest Products in South Pittsburg, TN. Cardin Forest Products sells products to domestic and international regions.
As a hardwood sawmill, the company produces 20 million board feet annually. They offer the following in 4/4, kiln-dried, FAS, Nos. 1 and 2 Common and rough / S2S: Ash, Cherry, Hickory, Mixed Gum, Poplar, Red and White Oak and Soft Maple.
Value-added processes include rip-to-width and width sorting.
While Rees has been with Cardin Forest since March of 2025, he is a fresh addition to the sales team. He described the career he started at Willowbrook Cabinets in Smithfield, UT, in August of 2022 as “industry adjacent,” as his first position in the forest products industry was with Cardin as a lumber inspector.
Rees received a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Utah State University in Logan, UT, and studied lumber grading at the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) Inspector Training School in Memphis, TN.
He married Grace in July of 2022, and they have two daughters — Mary Elizabeth and newborn Hildegard.
Cardin Forest Products is a member of the NHLA.
To learn more, call 423-837-4041, email rec@cardinfp.com or visit cardinfp.com.
Marquis Adams: Fitzpatrick & Weller Inc.’s Freshest Face In Sales
Marquis Adams
Marquis Adams recently joined the sales team at Ellicottville, NY-based, Fitzpatrick & Weller Inc.
The manufacturing, distribution and concentration yard business produces seven million board feet of Red and White Oak, Cherry, Ash, Hard and Soft Maple, Poplar, Basswood, Walnut, Mahogany and European Beech in 4/4 through 8/4. The species listing can be found on their website.
They offer kiln-dried lumber and wood components. Wood component capabilities include gluing, sanding, drilling, tenoning, moulding and CNC.
Adams joined Fitzpatrick & Weller in April of 2026 and was promoted to a sales position recently. He has spent 23 years in the forest products industry and started as a lumber piler for his family business. He has a variety of experience in the field in not only sales and piling, but in purchasing, grading, sawmill management and as owner and operator of the family business.
He earned an associate’s degree in Engineering Science from Jamestown Community College in Jamestown, NY, and was in class 153 of the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) Lumber Inspector Training School in Memphis, TN.
Adams has two children (one girl and one boy) with Macy, his wife of five years.
He enjoys camping, hunting, snowmobiling and being a dad.
Fitzpatrick & Weller Inc. is a member of the NHLA, Penn-York Lumbermen’s Club, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., Wood Products Manufacturing Association, American Hardwood Export Council and the Empire State Forest Products Association.
For more information, call 716-699-2393, email MarquisA@fitzweller.com, sales@fitzweller.com or visit fitzweller.com.
New River Hardwoods Inc. Welcomes Jim Schmidt
Jim Schmidt
Jim Schmidt recently joined New River Hardwoods Inc. as general manager of the kilns and millwork division. As the general manager, Schmidt is driving the Cap-X expansion in the millwork facility in parallel working with the production team, sales and procurement of materials and lumber as needed. With 42 years of experience in hardwood and softwood manufacturing, Schmidt brings extensive industry knowledge, hands-on operational experience and practical millwork expertise to the role. His leadership will support New River Hardwoods as the company continues to expand its solid millwork business.
New River Hardwoods is based in Mountain City, TN, and offers the following species in 4/4 through 8/4 either green, kiln-dried or millworked: Ash, Basswood, Hickory, Cherry, Poplar, Walnut, Red and White Oak and Hard and Soft Maple.
Schmidt began his career in 1984 with one of the largest millwork operations in Northern California. Starting on the production floor, he learned each stage of the millwork process firsthand before advancing into department management.
After 10 years in the industry, Schmidt accepted his first plant manager position with Endura Products, a move that brought him to the East Coast. In that role, Schmidt noted he applied his experience to help grow the millwork facility by more than 300 percent. He has since worked with companies in Southwest Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky, building a broad perspective across the wood manufacturing operations listed below.
• Deep knowledge of wood manufacturing equipment and millwork processes
• Strong collaboration with research and development teams and sales organizations
• A commitment to mentoring people who are eager to learn and grow in the industry
• Proven leadership in facility growth, operational improvement and team development
Schmidt shared that he looks forward to using his knowledge and experience to help strengthen and grow New River Hardwoods’ millwork operations.
Outside of work, Schmidt enjoys spending time with his wife, Sandra, as well as his grandchildren, family and friends. When time allows, he also enjoys traveling back to Kentucky to visit friends and his church family.
Visit newriverhardwoods.com to find out more.
Anthony Moody Joins Robinson Lumber Company As Sales Executive
Anthony Moody
Anthony Moody recently became a sales executive at Robinson Lumber Company, headquartered in New Orleans, LA.
Founded in 1893, Robinson Lumber is a fifth-generation, family-owned business that sources and supplies kiln-dried North American hardwoods, including Red and White Oak, Hickory, Ash, Poplar, Walnut, Hard Maple and Cherry, to customers in more than 70 countries. The company dries approximately seven million board feet of lumber annually and operates 14 locations worldwide, including sales and sourcing offices in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Robinson’s flagship concentration yard in New Albany, IN, is strategically centered in the heart of the best White Oak and Hickory region in North America. The New Albany yard specializes in 4/4 pulled-to-width and ripped White Oak, in addition to 5/4, 6/4 and 8/4 thicknesses, processing green lumber into kiln-dried lumber and strips for export and domestic shipment. The facility features computer-controlled modern kilns with a capacity of 360,000 board feet, along with stacking, surfacing and ripping operations. Robinson Lumber is FSC certified.
Moody brings 13 years of sales experience to his role, including four years in the hardwood lumber industry. He joined Robinson Lumber from Missouri Walnut Group, where he served as an outside sales representative, applying his knowledge of National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) lumber grading to help customers select the right species, grades and thicknesses for their needs. Before entering the forest products industry, Moody spent nearly a decade as an outside salesman with Freedom Scaffold, developing new accounts and managing projects.
Moody earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Northeastern State University, where he also played football. He is certified in NHLA Hardwood Lumber Grading.
Moody resides in Joplin, MO, with his wife, Amanda, and their two children, 13-year-old Anastasia and six-year-old Atlas. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and watching football and basketball.
Robinson Lumber is a member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, the American Hardwood Export Council, the Hardwood Manufacturers Association, the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association, the International Wood Products Association, the North American Wholesale Lumber Association, the National Wood Flooring Association and the Southern Lumber Exporters Association, among others.
For more information, visit roblumco.com.
Kirk Todish Promoted At Bennett Lumber Products
Kirk Todish
After 40 years with Princeton, ID-based, Bennett Lumber Products and 10 years in sales, Kirk Todish was recently promoted to sales manager.
Bennett Lumber produces 150 million board feet annually of White Fir, Douglas Fir (8/4), Ponderosa Pine, Idaho White Pine, Engleman Spruce (4/4) and Inland Red Cedar (7/8 boards).
They offer pattern material and ship to all North American states in addition to Mexico.
Todish has spent 39 years with spouse Janice, has one daughter and one son, as well as two granddaughters and one great granddaughter.
Bennett Lumber Products is a member of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
To learn more, call 208-875-1321, email kirk@blpi.com or visit bennettlumbercompany.com.
Boise Cascade And James Hardie Expand U.S. Nationwide Distribution Partnership
Jeff Strom
Boise Cascade Company (“Boise Cascade”) (NYSE: BCC) and James Hardie Building Products Inc. (“James Hardie”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of James Hardie Industries plc (“JHI”) (NYSE / ASX: JHX), recently announced an expansion of their partnership under which Boise Cascade’s Building Materials Distribution division will become the sole nationwide distributor of James Hardie’s and its North American affiliates’ complete portfolio of exterior building products through its extensive network of strategically located distribution facilities across the United States.
Under the expanded agreement, Boise Cascade will distribute James Hardie’s comprehensive portfolio of products – including Hardie® siding and trim and now adding AZEK® trim and moulding and TimberTech® decking and railing – through its nationwide network of distribution centers. As the two companies fully align their focus and resources, Boise Cascade will transition away from distributing competitive siding, trim and exterior moulding products. James Hardie has designated Boise Cascade as its sole nationwide distribution partner and will consolidate its distribution network across all regional markets.
Specifically, because of the expanded partnership between the two companies, dealers and contractors will benefit from:
• Access to James Hardie’s complete portfolio of exterior building products through a national distribution partner
• Increased product availability and fulfillment consistency across key markets
• Coordinated sales, marketing and contractor engagement and training programs
• A simpler purchasing experience supported by a trusted distribution network
“This agreement is consistent with our focus on delivering the best products and service for our customers, which is at the core of every strategic decision we make at Boise Cascade,” said Jeff Strom, CEO of Boise Cascade. “Customers want trusted brands, reliable availability, and dependable service that makes their jobs easier. This expanded partnership will improve access to James Hardie’s industry-leading products through Boise Cascade’s nationwide distribution network, helping customers get what they need, when and where they need it.”
“By bringing our full exterior building products portfolio to market through Boise Cascade’s national distribution platform, we will create an even more seamless customer experience – from product selection through end use application,” said Aaron Erter, CEO of JHI.
James Hardie Building Products Inc. is a North American leader in fiber cement siding and exterior design solutions and part of the larger James Hardie group of companies that offer a portfolio of leading exterior and outdoor living brands including Hardie®, TimberTech®, AZEK®, Versatex® and StruXure®.
Boise Cascade is one of the largest U.S. wholesale distributors of building materials and a leading manufacturer of engineered wood products and plywood in North America and was recently named one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2026 by Forbes. This recognition highlights the company’s workplace culture built by their team of 7,500 associates across North America. Headquartered in Boise, ID, they operate more than 60 distribution and manufacturing facilities strategically located across the U.S. and Canada.
Learn more at bc.com.
Cleereman Industries Adds Ray Tharpe As Sawmill Sales And Design Specialist
Ray Tharpe
Cleereman Industries recently welcomed their newest team member, Ray Tharpe. Tharpe is joining the team as the sawmill sales and design specialist.
“With a lifetime dedicated to the forest products industry, Ray brings an exceptional depth of knowledge, hands-on experience and leadership to our team. As a fifth-generation logger and sawmiller, the lumber industry has been a part of his life from the very beginning,” shared a Cleereman Industries representative.
Throughout his career, Tharpe has more than 26 years of experience working in hardwood and sawmills, operating and servicing virtually every type of machine from log intake to finished lumber. His background includes 15 years in professional lumber manufacturing, with 12 years in upper management, where he helped lead operations, improve efficiency and solve complex production challenges.
In addition to his manufacturing experience, he spent 11 years as the owner and operator of RTM Industrial Maintenance, a nationwide millwright and installation company specializing in industrial equipment installation, maintenance and repair. His expertise also includes mechanical and structural engineering, as well as 26 years of troubleshooting and repairing industrial mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
Paul Cleereman
“What sets Ray apart is his practical, hands-on knowledge. Having professionally operated and installed nearly every piece of equipment found in a conventional hardwood sawmill, Ray understands the challenges our customers face and is passionate about finding solutions that improve performance and reliability,” added the company source.
President Paul Cleereman said, “This is exactly what makes Ray such a valuable addition to Cleereman Industries. Over his years in the sawmill industry, Ray has built, installed, run and troubleshot sawmill equipment firsthand — not just ours, but equipment from other manufacturers as well. That kind of well-rounded, hands-on background goes far beyond sawmill sales; it’s a long history of real, boots-on-the-ground work in the mill. That depth of experience means Ray doesn’t just understand our equipment on paper — he understands it the way our customers do, from years of installing, running and fixing it himself.”
Outside of work, Tharpe is a devoted family man and proud father. When he’s not at the mill, he enjoys spending time with his daughter Addi, being outdoors hunting, fishing and riding side-by-sides.
Visit cleereman.com to learn more.
TS Manufacturing Welcomes Back Rob Kittle
Rob Kittle
Lindsay, ON-based, TS Manufacturing recently welcomed back Rob Kittle, who has joined the company as a systems sales representative, serving customers across Canada and international markets.
Kittle brings nearly 30 years of experience in sawmill machinery and sales, including more than 10 years previously spent with TS Manufacturing and 13 years with Cleereman Industries. Throughout his career, he has developed extensive industry knowledge, strong customer relationships and a deep understanding of sawmill operations and equipment.
Originally from Fenelon Falls, ON, Kittle enjoys spending time with his family and making the most of the outdoors. In his spare time, he can often be found boating or golfing.
For more than five decades, TS Manufacturing has been offering a complete line of machinery, controls and software to fit mills.
For more information on their complete line of sawmill offerings, contact them at (705) 324-3762, email sales@tsman.com or visit tsman.com.
A Redesigned Generation Of Transverse Lumber Scanning For North America
New MiCROTEC Goldeneye Transverse installed at Two River Lumber’s greenfield project in Alexander City, AL.
As sawmills continue to push for higher recovery, increased throughput and consistent product quality, the demand for downstream scanning and optimization systems has never been greater. At the trimmer, edger and planer, every detail can impact value recovery, making precision scanning essential to maximizing every board.
The recently redesigned Goldeneye Transverse is engineered by MiCROTEC specifically to address these North American production challenges, according to the company. An evolution of an existing platform, the redesigned system is built to deliver higher accuracy, greater reliability and easier operation in demanding mill environments.
One of the most significant advancements is its high-precision snapshot scanning technology. “The new system instantly captures highly accurate measurements. This approach delivers exceptional dimensional accuracy regardless of board movement or vibration, providing more reliable data for downstream optimization decisions,” shared a MiCROTEC company representative.
The system also features a robotic calibration unit, built into the scanner itself, that automates the calibration process at the touch of a button. By reducing manual intervention, mills can minimize maintenance time and keep production running confidently.
The redesigned Goldeneye Transverse includes full four-sided scanning, providing comprehensive color and laser imaging of every board. By evaluating all four faces in a single instant, the Goldeneye Transverse delivers highly reliable quality grading and optimization for trimmer and edger applications. Combined with high-resolution cameras facilitating enhanced MiCROTEC AI technology, the system transforms this data into optimized grading decisions that improve value recovery while maintaining high production speeds.
“The result is an evolution of transverse lumber scanning that combines precision, automation and intelligent optimization. Designed around modern production, the redesigned Goldeneye Transverse helps North American producers improve grading consistency, maximize yield and achieve operational efficiency from every board,” added the source.
These advancements are already being adopted by leading sawmills across the United States and Canada, including recent installations with Charles Ingram Lumber in Effingham, SC, and Two River Lumber’s greenfield project in Alexander City, AL.
See the full product portfolio and learn more about the company by visiting microtec.com/en-us.
Innovative Wood Technology’s Newest Installation At Griffin Lumber & Hardware
The newly installed dimensional lumber and fire-retardant treating plant at Griffin Lumber & Hardware.
Innovative Wood Technology (IWT-Moldrup), a Danish owned company, recently announced a new and modern installation of a dimensional lumber and fire-retardant treating plant at Griffin Lumber & Hardware in Cordele, GA.
The IWT-Moldrup treating plant is with Moldrup’s fully automatic material handling for up to eight charges per work shift and will be used for water-based treatment of lumber and plywood. The plant is state-of-the-art including a new flushing system to automatically clean the system when changing from one type of preservative to another without a plant operator’s work being required. The yearly capacity exceeds 20 million board feet in one shift operation and with only one plant operator. The commissioning of the plant was completed within two weeks with the assistance of the engineering group from IWT-Moldrup.
Griffin Lumber is a new treater in Georgia wanting to treat dimensional lumber and construction sheets with fire retardants. Griffin Lumber is part of a new group of treating clients who have all taken the step into the modern pressure treatment technologies choosing IWT-Moldrup as their treating plant supplier. The group of companies are now all benefiting from using the latest treating technology available, noted IWT-Moldrup.
IWT-Moldrup plant equipment is sold and marketed in North America by American Wood Technology in Jefferson, GA.
Visit or moldrup.com or americanwoodtechnology.com to learn more.
Exports That Keep Southern Pine Moving
Southern Pine lumber producers have a growth story worth telling, and it is happening outside the U.S. housing market.
New export data shows that Southern Pine lumber shipments to other countries have grown steadily since 2023. That growth matters right now. It shows that export markets can carry strong volume on their own.
The Numbers:
Export volumes are measured in thousand board feet, or million board feet (MBF). Here’s how they’ve grown year after year:
• 2023: 510,144 MBF total, or about 42,512 MBF a month
• 2024: 563,727 MBF total, up 10.5 percent from 2023
• 2025: 569,080 MBF total, up almost one percent from 2024
• 2026, January through May: 256,560 MBF, up 12.2 percent compared to the same months last year.
Growth was fastest in 2024, slowed in 2025, and is now picking back up in early 2026.
A Pattern That Repeats Every Year:
Exports follow a clear seasonal pattern. Spring and early fall are the busiest shipping months, while winter is the slowest.
• Busiest months: May, October, July and August
• Slowest months: December, January and February
Mills and shippers can plan around this cycle. The winter slowdown aligns with holiday shutdowns and year end shipping schedules, and it does not mean demand actually drops.
Why This Matters:
The key point is that export demand does not rise and fall with U.S. homebuilding. Export markets serve as a second, independent engine for demand that is not tied to domestic housing cycles.
Some of this export strength likely comes from repair and remodeling overseas, non residential building projects and rebuilding after natural disasters. These uses do not fluctuate the way new home construction does.
For producers, this is good news. Export markets provide another outlet for products, helping make the industry more stable and diversified.
Looking Ahead:
The strong start to 2026 is a good sign. But December is historically the slowest month of the year, so the full 2026 picture won’t be clear until fourth-quarter numbers are in. This information originated from the Southern Forest Products Association, which will continue tracking this data and will share updates throughout the year.
Visit southernpine.com to learn more.
Turkey Announces Immediate Ban On Oak Product Imports
The National Hardwood Lumber Association recently reported that Turkey has implemented a new ban on Oak products, including Red and White Oak and kiln-dried lumber. The regulation applies to all suppliers of Oak products worldwide — not just those from the United States.
At time of this report, details remain limited. The American Hardwood Export Council’s (AHEC) contacts at the United States Department of Agriculture in Turkey were also caught off guard by the new regulation and are working closely with AHEC and local industry representatives to better understand the requirements and pursue a resolution as quickly as possible.
Until a path to compliance is established, shipments of Oak products to Turkey will not be possible. AHEC will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Visit nhla.com and ahec.org for more.
