Photos By Chris Fehr
Pathways To Success was the theme that set the tone of the recent Hardwood Manufacturers Association (HMA) National Conference and Expo, held recently in Charleston, SC.
Sold-out exhibitor space, learning sessions and multiple networking opportunities set the stage for a successful 2024 event, noted HMA spokespeople.
The learning sessions were packed with notable speakers, who helped breakdown intricate details about the industry. For example, the 2024 Hardwood Industry Outlook featured five guest speakers. These included:
- Mark Barford, senior director, business partnerships of National Wooden Pallet & Container Association
- Nate Irby, executive director of the Railway Tie Association
- Trip Jobe, vice president of sales – forest value chain, North America, ResourceWise
- Dr. Andrew Hartsell, U.S. Forest Service, forest resource analyst, Southern Research Station
- Keith Christman, president, Decorative Hardwoods Association
- Michael Martin, president and CEO, National Wood Flooring Assoc.
Also on the conference agenda were the following:
- Marcus Taylor, Wood Innovations coordinator for the Southern region, spoke about grants for mill improvements.
- Dana Lee Cole, executive director, Hardwood Federation, and Troy Brown, president of Kretz Lumber, conducted a one-on-one discussion about opportunities and challenges of policy implementation in an election year.
- A panel discussion about effective communication in the workplace among different generations was conducted by speakers representing three generations. On the panel were: Steve James, Frank Miller Lumber Co.; Friederich Ostertag, Gemwood Sawmills; Parker Dukas, Abenaki Timber; Truss Beasley, Beasley Forest Products; and Hal Mitchell, Atlanta Hardwood Corp.
HMA’s National Conference and Expo also addressed the economy and welcomed back Dr. Christopher Kuehl, co-founder of Armada Corporate Intelligence. He did a presentation at the HMA 2023 Conference and returned this year to critique his own 2023 assessment as well as provided a current look at the U.S. economy and into the future.
Attendees also had a chance to enjoy a virtual tour of NWH’s facility in Longview, WA.
Learn more about the Hardwood Manufacturers Association by visiting www.hmamembers.org.
At HMA’s 2024 National Conference, the Board of Directors elected the following officers. Congratulations to President Matthew Netterville, Fred Netterville Lumber Company, Woodville, MS; Vice President Brian Schilling, Pike Lumber Company, Akron, IN; and Executive Vice President Ian Faight, HMA, Warrendale, PA.
The HMA Board of Directors also elected members to the Executive Committee. In addition to the officers, they are: Scott Cummings, Cummings Lumber Company, Inc., Troy, PA; Tripp Josey, Josey Lumber Company Inc., Scotland Neck, NC; Wayne Law, New River Hardwoods, Beckley, WV; Geoff Henderson, Anderson-Tully Company, Vicksburg, MS; and Jason Dallas, Stella-Jones Corporation, Pittsburgh. Tommy Petzoldt, East Perry Lumber Company, Frohna, MO, will serve on the Executive Committee as the immediate past president.
During the Conference’s Business Meeting, HMA members elected Directors: Nancy Tuck, Gates Milling Inc., Gatesville, NC; Thomas Battle, Battle Lumber Company Inc., Wadley, GA; Scott Ferland, Maine Woods Company LLC, Portage, ME; Steve James, Frank Miller Lumber Company Inc., Union City, IN; Kirby Kendrick, Kendrick Inc., Edgewood, IA; and Jeff Lisk, Wagner Millwork LLC, Owego, NY.
