Connect With Customers And Find New Buyers At 2025 AHEC Events And Pavilions – In challenging markets, the personal relationship between suppliers and customers is more important than ever. The American Hardwood Export Council is planning a busy schedule of events in 2025 to develop these connections for your company and grow your global markets.
The 2024 Election is over. The voters have spoken. President-Elect Trump will return to the White House on January 20, 2025, with significant Republican support in the U.S. House and Senate. While the pivot in leadership will have significant impact on hundreds, if not thousands of issues, the one question many in the hardwood industry are focused on is how the return of a President Trump will impact trade and our ability to export our goods, particularly to China. The memory of the retaliatory tariffs imposed by China on U.S. lumber is still fresh for many in the industry, and concern is high about how a new round will impact our increasingly fragile businesses.
Reflecting On 2024 And Looking Ahead: WCMA’s Commitment To Member Growth And Industry Connection
As we wrap up 2024, I am filled with gratitude for the many ways the Wood Component Manufacturers Association (WCMA) has been able to support its members this year. From valuable networking opportunities to engaging industry events and insightful plant tours, it’s been an exciting and productive year for the WCMA community.
Words matter. The term “clearcut” often conjures images of vast, barren landscapes stripped of trees, yet in reality, a clearcut can be as small as the size of the room you’re in. It’s a necessary forestry practice that, contrary to common belief, is not synonymous with deforestation. We often plug in the word “sustainably harvested” to combat that negative stereotype. “Sustainability” has become a buzzword for a lot of things; even the steel industry claims sustainability. Yet sustainability is a threshold that we far exceed. We should emphasize not just exceeding the minimum but the true reality of hardwood: we grow 50 percent more trees than we harvest. We are not in the business of maintaining basic forest sustainability. Our business goes beyond sustainability—we help forests thrive, fostering new growth while sequestering carbon in our wood products.
The Value of HMA Membership
What makes the Hardwood Manufacturers Association (HMA) unique? Ask a member and they’ll likely tell you that they find value in what the HMA offers. From signature events to extraordinary opportunities for networking, information exchange, and professional development, to promotion and education campaigns, there are many ways in which HMA membership can add value to your company.
As 2024 winds to a close, the Hardwood Manufacturers Association (HMA) would like to take the time to recognize and thank all of the industry stakeholders who have contributed to HMA’s American Hardwoods™ education and promotion campaign. Your generous support goes a long way in reaching consumers and design/build pros through the American Hardwood Information Center (AHIC) at
HardwoodInfo.com.
Over the past several months, I have spoken with many of you in the hardwood industry and have found one topic that keeps coming up: finding new markets. Either domestically through the Real American Hardwood promotion program or internationally through AHEC activities, there is a critical need to create new hardwood consumers all around the globe. And, while I have found general support for AHEC’s overall mission to “grow the pie” for U.S. exporters through generic educational and promotional activities, I also want to stress the real direct benefits to dues-paying members as opposed to the industry at large who all benefit from generic promotion.
Looking ahead to 2025, what excites you? For many, it’s the hope that things won’t get worse, but there are always opportunities. Where will your
In October, more than 50 members of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association (HMA), non-members, and industry suppliers gathered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the Association’s Fall Regional Meeting. Over three days, attendees shared knowledge, saw new technology and equipment in action, and caught up with industry colleagues—new and old.
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As the holidays approach, memories of past seasons often come to mind. Remember flipping through the big Sears Roebuck Wish Book or JCPenney catalog—or more
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I have always been drawn to genealogy and family history, and the older I get, the more I question the relevance of age. This year,
We’re neck deep into the new school year, making this the perfect time to look at what’s being accomplished across the industry to address the
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