Photos By Paul Miller Jr., Terry Miller and Chris Fehr
Nashville, TN–The Hardwood Manufacturers Association (HMA) recently brought their message of “Agents of Change” to the JW Marriott, located here, as the organization hosted its 2023 National Conference & Expo. The event was open to all industry Hardwood stakeholders and 230 registered to attend.
The Board of Directors of the HMA elected Tommy Petzoldt, East Perry Lumber Company, Frohna, MO, as president of the HMA at their National Conference & Expo.
Other HMA officers for 2023 are Vice President: Matthew Netterville, Fred Netterville Lumber Co., Woodville, MS, and Executive Vice President: Linda Jovanovich, HMA, Pittsburgh, PA.
HMA Board of Directors also elected members to the Executive Committee. In addition to the officers, they are: Hal Mitchell, Atlanta Hardwood Corporation, Mableton, GA; Scott Cummings, Cummings Lumber Company, Inc., Troy, PA; Tripp Josey, Josey Lumber Company Inc., Scotland Neck, NC; Wayne Law, New River Hardwoods Inc., Mountain City, TN; and Tom Gerow, Wagner Millwork LLC, Owego, NY.
Troy Brown, Kretz Lumber Company Inc., Antigo, WI, will serve on the Executive Committee as the immediate past president.
During the Conference’s Thursday Business Meeting, HMA members elected the following Directors: Geoff Henderson, Anderson-Tully Company, Vicksburg, MS; Todd Breitenfeldt, Kretz Lumber Company Inc., Antigo, WI; Jim ‘Jed’ Miller, NWH, Frisco, TX; Brian Schilling, Pike Lumber Company Inc., Akron, IN; Jason Dallas, Stella-Jones Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA; and Truss Beasley, Thompson Hardwoods Inc., Hazlehurst, GA.
The event began with a competitive golf tournament at the Gaylord Springs Golf Links. Twenty-three golfers participated in this inaugural golf event in conjunction with the HMA’s National Conference & Expo. Proceeds from the tournament, which totaled $2,400, were donated to the Real American Hardwood Coalition. Peter McCarty of TS Manufacturing Co. emceed the awards presentation.
Day 2 of the Conference & Expo was packed with learning sessions and a robust exhibitor’s hall.
Among the learning sessions were the following:
•Implementing Agents of Change with Effective Communications and Leadership, presented by Steve James, CEO, Frank Miller Lumber Co. and certified John C. Maxwell coach, trainer and speaker.
•Let’s Talk Hardwood Promotion, presented by representatives of the Real American Hardwood Coalition.
•Global Market Update, presented by Michael Snow, executive director, American Hardwood Export Council.
•Hardwood Markets: A Forward-Looking Conversation, presented by Judd Johnson, editor, Hardwood Market Report.
•Hardwood Federation Update, presented by Dana Lee Cole, excutive director, Hardwood Federation.
•Strategic Solutions for Your Operations, Panel 1, included conversations with industry experts Lindsey DiGangi, of Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co., Norvin Laudon, of MiCROTEC and Daniel Gravely, of Real Performance Machinery.
Learning sessions were summed up on Day 3 and included the following:
•Trends and Forecasts for the U.S. Domestic Economy, presented by Chris Kuehl, Armada Corporate Intelligence.
•Strategic Solutions for Your Operations, Panel 2, included conversations with industry experts Robert Arnold, of USNR and Riley Smith, of TS Manufacturing.
The Hardwood Manufacturers Association is a national trade organization with membership limited to U.S. Hardwood lumber producers and processors. HMA is a member-driven association providing member companies peer-networking opportunities, valuable information exchange and strategic management tools.
The Association also conducts a focused, far-reaching promotion campaign, directed to both consumers and build professionals, extolling the beauty, environmental preference and lasting value of American Hardwood flooring, furniture, cabinetry and millwork.
To learn how to join the HMA, visit www.hmamembers.org.
