Industry News
Team Hancock’s Matt Duprey Promoted To Chief White Pine Officer
Matt Duprey
Hancock Lumber recently announced veteran Matt Duprey has been promoted to Chief White Pine Officer effective immediately.
A member of Hancock since 1994, Duprey joined the sawmills after earning his Forestry and Wood Science + Technology degree. For more than 32 years, he has grown alongside the business, taking on a wide variety of roles and responsibilities while helping shape Hancock’s White Pine operations.
From supervising kiln, boiler and yard operations early in his career, to leading production, distribution, scheduling, sales, marketing and revenue growth, Duprey has built an understanding of the business from the ground up.
Kevin Hancock
Throughout his career, Duprey earned several promotions including becoming assistant vice president in 1996, general manager of sawmill production & distribution in 1997, general manager of marketing sales in 2001, sales manager in 2005 and eventually serving as chief sales officer.
Board Chair, Kevin Hancock, commented, “Matt is a generational giant in the Eastern White Pine Industry. Hancock Lumber’s leading position in the world of Pine is in large part a reflection of Matt’s skill, care and effort.”
Chief Executive Officer, Paul Wainman, shared his thoughts about Duprey’s elevated position. “In his new role as Chief White Pine Officer, Duprey will lead the strategic direction and operational excellence of our White Pine business, further strengthening Hancock Lumber’s leadership and commitment to Eastern White Pine. Throughout his career, Matt has consistently demonstrated a deep passion for White Pine and for Hancock Lumber’s White Pine business specifically.”
Paul Wainman
In his elevated role as Chief White Pine Officer, Duprey will have full responsibility for the strategic direction and operational processes of Hancock Lumber’s Eastern White Pine business. He will provide leadership across the Bethel, Casco, and Pittsfield, ME, operations, overseeing sales, manufacturing, customer programs and market performance while helping position Hancock for continued growth and success in the years ahead.
Duprey is recognized as one of the leading voices in the Eastern White Pine industry through his service in the NELMA organization, including marketing committee chair for several years and most recently NELMA’s board chair. Throughout his career, he has served as an advocate for Eastern White Pine and the industry at large.
Duprey is also passionate about giving back. For years, he served as a youth sports coach in his community and, in 2018, he founded the James C. Place Memorial Golf Tournament.
Visit hancocklumber.com for more.
Josh Dean Joins Humboldt Sawmill Company
Josh Dean
Josh Dean is the newest product sales line manager at Humboldt Sawmill Company and Mendocino Forest Products. Humboldt Sawmill is based in Scotia, CA, and is a manufacturer of Redwood and Douglas Fir. Products such as 2×2 balusters up to 12×20 timbers are offered. Dean’s office location is in Ukiah, CA.
When asked about his experience, Dean shared, “I have been fortunate to have worked for a few amazing companies.”
While this is Dean’s first role at Humboldt Sawmill, he has been in the forest products industry for over 30 years, getting his start at Spalding & Son in Grants Pass, OR.
He also attended high school in Grants Pass at Grants Pass High School. He attended both Oregon State University, Portland State University and the Linfield Adult Degree Program.
Dean likes fishing and white-water rafting.
He has one daughter, two sons, two granddaughters and three grandsons.
Humboldt Sawmill Company is a member of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association, Western Wood Products Association, American Institute of Architects, Building Industry Association of Southern California and the California Landscape Contractors Association.
Call his cell 707-972-8427, office 707-468-1712, email jdean@mendoco.com or visit getredwood.com.
Richardson Timbers Announces New LVL
Harley Finnell, Jr. (aka “Bubba”)
Richardson Timbers’ recently reported that its newest product is LVL. This LVL is 20 to 24 percent lighter than Southern Yellow Pine and Douglas Fir LVLs and 29 percent lighter than LSL, according to the company.
“The product has less density making it easier to cut, nail and drill. This LVL is produced out of Nordic Spruce that is strong, straight and lightweight. This will be one of the nicest looking LVLs on the market, is produced by the second oldest LVL company and the 10th largest forest products company in the world. Carrying this LVL lets us supply engineered beams and natural products, such as Fir or Western Red Cedar (WRC), to wrap around the beams. We are getting one step closer to becoming a one stop shop. Our customers love the way the LVL looks and performs and are happy that they now can get an engineered product from Richardson,” shared COO Harley Finnell, Jr. (aka “Bubba”).
Richardson Timbers sells the following species: green Douglas Fir timbers (No. 1 Common, kiln-dried and mixed and vertical grain), Appearance Grade & Better WRC timbers (vertical grain), Hemlock (vertical grain) and Red Grandis.
Richardson Timbers also offers Kerto® S-beam LVL by Metsa, hardwood timbers and Accoya, in addition to operations such as surfacing, hand hewing, Tru Ruf (clean, rough texture), wire brushing and custom moulding and detail work (brackets, corbels and arches for truss work and rafter tails).
At their Dallas, TX location, they operate on four acres and in Bertram, TX, they use five acres out of a 10-acre site with room to expand.
The Dallas facility produces four to five million board feet a year. Bertram is a new facility that is producing 700 to 800,000 board feet a year with room to grow, noted a Richardson spokesperson.
Check out richardsontimbers.com for more.
West Bay Forest Products Welcomes Tyler Backs
Tyler Backs
Langley, BC-based, West Bay Forest Products (West Bay) recently announced the addition of Tyler Backs as sales and Cedar procurement specialist.
Backs brings over 10 years of experience in Western Red Cedar manufacturing and sales, providing him with extensive knowledge of Cedar products, key markets and the relationships that connect manufacturers, suppliers and customers throughout the industry.
In his new role, Backs will focus on both Western Red Cedar sales and procurement, working closely with customers and suppliers alongside the West Bay team to strengthen fiber supply, develop new opportunities and expand the company’s Western Red Cedar offering.
Chad Findlay
“One of Tyler’s greatest strengths is understanding the product from both the manufacturing and the sales sides of the business,” said Chad Findlay, vice president at the company. “He’s dedicated his entire career to building his Cedar knowledge from the mill level and using that knowledge to build meaningful relationships within the industry. Just as importantly, Tyler shares our vision for the future and is committed to growing with West Bay over the long term. We think this is a perfect fit.”
For Backs, the move represents an opportunity to continue building on his lumber experience, helping West Bay develop the next stage of its Cedar business.
“Western Red Cedar has been the focus of my career, and I’m looking forward to bringing that experience to West Bay,” shared Backs.
The addition of Backs is part of West Bay’s continued investment in its team. Last year, the company welcomed two new Cedar sales representatives following successful internships, and Backs’ arrival adds even more experience to that growing group.
Visit westbayforestproducts.com to learn more.
Comact Unites Expertise Through A Portfolio Of Established Brands
Dustin Norris
Comact, a global leader in high-performance OEM wood processing technologies, announced today the launch of Comact Cutting Solutions, bringing together Smith Sawmill Service, Oleson Saw Technology, Checkmate Precision Cutting Tools and the proprietary BLADE brand under a common organizational identity.
“Customers will continue to work with these established brands as they do today, with each maintaining its unique identity, expertise, products and customer relationships,” shared a Comact representative.
Comact Cutting Solutions was created to reflect the collaboration that already exists across these businesses. While each brand will continue to operate under its own name, customers, according to Comact, will benefit from access to a broader range of products, expertise and resources backed by Comact’s OEM knowledge of the complete sawmill.
“Bringing these businesses together within Comact Cutting Solutions reflects how we work with our customers: as one team focused on the performance of their entire cutting operation,” said Dustin Norris, vice president of Comact Cutting Solutions. “Our expertise goes beyond the cutting tools themselves. We work alongside customers to address operational challenges and improve cutting performance, backed by Comact’s deep understanding of mill operations.”
The Comact Cutting Solutions portfolio includes circular saws, bandsaws, knives, guides, filing room equipment, consumables and related products. The organization also partners with ISELI, a global leader in precision machinery and technology for professional filing room operations and serves as the exclusive ISELI dealer in the United States.
Customers will continue to work with the same brands, companies and teams they know today, with Comact Cutting Solutions bringing together complementary expertise, products and resources — all backed by Comact’s OEM expertise. For more information about Comact Cutting Solutions, visit ComactCuttingSolutions.com.
For over 100 years, Comact, which has 16 sites in North America, has been a leading OEM in high-caliber wood processing equipment, digital technologies, cutting solutions, project services and aftermarket support.
For more information, visit comact.com.
National Wood Flooring Association Names Todd McDonald As Technical Support And Training Manager
Todd McDonald
The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) recently announced that Todd McDonald has been appointed as the new technical support and training manager. In this role, McDonald will provide technical assistance, educational support and lead NWFA/NOFMA mill inspections. He will work part-time with NWFA while transitioning out of his business and is due to join the organization full-time on November 30, 2026.
Throughout his career, McDonald has been heavily involved with the NWFA. As a longtime regional instructor, he has taught courses across the United States and provided hands-on demonstrations at the NWFA Wood Flooring Expo. McDonald has served on the NWFA Certified Professionals Board, the NWFA Education and Research Foundation Board, the Wood Floor of the Year Committee, and as chair of the Technical Education Committee. He is an NWFA certified installer, sand and finisher and wood flooring inspector.
“While teaching classes as a regional instructor, I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the immense pride wood flooring professionals at all career levels take in their craft,” said McDonald.
The National Wood Flooring Association is a not-for-profit organization, with more than 3,000 member companies worldwide, dedicated to educating consumers, architects, designers, specifiers and builders in the uses and benefits of wood flooring.
The NWFA is in St. Charles, MO, and can be contacted at 800-422-4556 (USA and Canada), 636-519-9663 (local and international), or online at nwfa.org.
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 blpi.com.
(The website which published in the September / October issue of the Softwood Buyer was incorrect. Above is the accurate address.)
