WHA Brings Members Together For Live Event

Oct Issue

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By Zach Miller

Eugene, OR–Approximately 50 members and guests of the Western Hardwood Association (WHA) met here recently at the Hilton Garden Inn. Attendees enjoyed networking events, in-person facility tours of Northwest Hardwoods and Murphy Lumber, as well as informative guest speakers.

Among the scheduled speakers were: Dana Lee Cole, Hardwood Federation; Michael Snow, American Hardwood Export Council; Stephen Zambo, Ally Global Logistics; Dana Spessert, National Hardwood Lumber Association; Jim Price, Emerson Hardwood; Kent Wheiler with Cintrafor, among others.

These were among the many topics addressed:

Cole addressed recent legislative bills that will impact the Hardwood industry, one of which is container ships in the export market. Cole outlined bills working their way through the legislature.

Emerson spoke about labor and about how, more or less, the next generation of employees has different job expectations, thus bringing different challenges to the labor front. 

Wheiler, who specializes in international markets, also addressed domestic markets at the WHA meeting. In regard to international activity, Wheiler said appearance grade lumber took the biggest hit as the industry watched 20 years of market development with China basically disappear during the trade wars. Then in 2020 with the onset of COVID, production dropped 25 percent. He said, however, demand is strong yet supplies are constrained. He stressed that a need and a market exist for both appearance and utility grades.

NHLA’s Dana Spessert spoke about the grading rules and proposals for changes to those rules.

The WHA is headquartered in Camas, WA

Learn more at www.westernhardwood.com.

Dave Sweitzer and Kristine Durr, Western Hardwood Association (WHA), Camas, WA
Dave Sweitzer and Kristine Durr, Western Hardwood Association (WHA), Camas, WA
Jamie Price, Emerson Hardwood Group, Portland, OR; Dave Galt, USI Northwest, Portland, OR; Scott Leavengood, Oregan State University, Corvallis, OR; and Megan Martin, USI Insurance Services, Portland, OR
Jamie Price, Emerson Hardwood Group, Portland, OR; Dave Galt, USI Northwest, Portland, OR; Scott Leavengood, Oregan State University, Corvallis, OR; and Megan Martin, USI Insurance Services, Portland, OR
Dana Lee Cole, Hardwood Federation, Washington, DC; Dana Spessert, National Hardwood Lumber Assoc., Memphis, TN; and Michael and Mirabel Snow, AHEC, Sterling, VA
Dana Lee Cole, Hardwood Federation, Washington, DC; Dana Spessert, National Hardwood Lumber Assoc., Memphis, TN; and Michael and Mirabel Snow, AHEC, Sterling, VA
Jeff Wirkkala, Hardwood Industries Inc., Sherwood, OR; and Dana Lee Cole, Hardwood Federation, Washington, DC
Jeff Wirkkala, Hardwood Industries Inc., Sherwood, OR; and Dana Lee Cole, Hardwood Federation, Washington, DC
Lee Jimerson, Collins, Wilsonville, OR; and Jeremy Pitts, Nyle Systems LLC, Lenoir, NC
Lee Jimerson, Collins, Wilsonville, OR; and Jeremy Pitts, Nyle Systems LLC, Lenoir, NC
Tetiana Larson, Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance, Philadelphia, PA; and Kristine Durr, WHA, Camas, WA
Tetiana Larson, Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance, Philadelphia, PA; and Kristine Durr, WHA, Camas, WA
Jerad Jacobson, Northwest Hardwoods Inc., Centralia, WA; Roby Lane, Northwest Hardwoods Inc., Garibaldi, OR; Tim Livermore, Northwest Hardwoods Inc., Tacoma, WA; and Jeff Maguire, Maguire Machinery Group LLC, Aurora, OR
Jerad Jacobson, Northwest Hardwoods Inc., Centralia, WA; Roby Lane, Northwest Hardwoods Inc., Garibaldi, OR; Tim Livermore, Northwest Hardwoods Inc., Tacoma, WA; and Jeff Maguire, Maguire Machinery Group LLC, Aurora, OR
Sean Eliot, Vecoplan LLC, Eastvale, CA; Noelia Ragland, U-C Coatings LLC, Seattle, WA; Jason Cutsforth, U-C Coatings LLC, Sherwood, OR; Josh Anstey, Cascade Hardwood LLC, Grand Rapids, MI; and Marlin Langworthy, Cascade Hardwood LLC, Chehalis, WA
Sean Eliot, Vecoplan LLC, Eastvale, CA; Noelia Ragland, U-C Coatings LLC, Seattle, WA; Jason Cutsforth, U-C Coatings LLC, Sherwood, OR; Josh Anstey, Cascade Hardwood LLC, Grand Rapids, MI; and Marlin Langworthy, Cascade Hardwood LLC, Chehalis, WA
Noelia Ragland, U-C Coatings LLC, Seattle, WA; and Rick Smrcka, Midwest Hardwood Corp., Maple Grove, MN
Noelia Ragland, U-C Coatings LLC, Seattle, WA; and Rick Smrcka, Midwest Hardwood Corp., Maple Grove, MN
Kurt Landwehr, Hardwood Industries Inc., Sherwood, OR; and Nils Dickmann, Abenaki Timber Corp., Seattle, WA
Kurt Landwehr, Hardwood Industries Inc., Sherwood, OR; and Nils Dickmann, Abenaki Timber Corp., Seattle, WA
Lee Jimerson, Collins, Wilsonville, OR; Zack Halsey, Patrick Lumber Co., Portland, OR; and Dennis Sanders, Patrick Lumber Co., Philomath, OR
Lee Jimerson, Collins, Wilsonville, OR; Zack Halsey, Patrick Lumber Co., Portland, OR; and Dennis Sanders, Patrick Lumber Co., Philomath, OR
Jason Cutsforth, U-C Coatings LLC, Sherwood, OR; Scott Leavengood, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; and Mike Lipke, Trillium Pacific Millwork Inc., Hubbard, OR
Jason Cutsforth, U-C Coatings LLC, Sherwood, OR; Scott Leavengood, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; and Mike Lipke, Trillium Pacific Millwork Inc., Hubbard, OR
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