Industry News – September 2025
Abenaki Timber Corporation Alters Operations
Abenaki Timber Corporation located in Kingston, NH, recently made some changes to their operations in New Hampshire. Sighting challenging operating costs in the Northeast, they decided to sell their Epping, NH, concentration yard and focus their operations at their Belington, WV, yard. President Eric Porter said they will “seek strategic partnerships with other drying opportunities in the Northeast to continue offering Northern hardwoods to their current customers around the world.” The corporate office will remain at its current location in Kingston, NH, with no immediate changes in the administration.
Abenaki Timber is a concentration yard that purchases 15 million board feet annually to ship globally. They offer Northern Red and White Oak, Yellow Birch, Hard and Soft Maple, Northern and Appalachian Cherry, White Ash, Yellow Poplar and American and European Beech.
Abenaki’s facility is equipped with a Newman high speed helical planer, on site hardwood lumber inspection services, container loading, custom sorting and packaging, warehousing and storage options as well as package tallies with bar coding capabilities.
Abenaki is a member of National Hardwood Lumber Association, Hardwood Manufacturers Association, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., Penn-York Lumbermen’s Club, American Hardwood Export Council, Hardwood Federation, New England Lumbermen’s Association and Canadian Hardwood Bureau.
For more information, call 603-642-3304 or visit abenakitimber.com.
AHC Hardwood Group Announces CEO Transition After More Than 70 Years Of Family Leadership
After four decades of dedicated leadership, Jim Howard, CEO of Atlanta Hardwood Corporation, recently rebranded as AHC Hardwood Group, has announced his transition from day-to-day operations to executive board chairman, marking the end of a noteworthy era of family stewardship. The company, located in Atlanta, GA, founded by Howard’s father 73 years ago, has grown from a regional sawmill into one of the most respected names in the hardwood industry.
“It is with immense gratitude and excitement for the future that I announced, effective July 1, 2025, Chris Rider will be succeeding me as CEO of Atlanta Hardwood Corporation,” said Howard. “The support from our corporate board and the senior leadership team has been invaluable during this transition, and I’m encouraged by their continued dedication in navigating the challenges facing our industry.” Rider has served as chief financial officer for AHC Hardwood Group since 2020, and additionally as chief operating officer since 2022.
Howard, who oversaw the company’s recent rebranding to AHC Hardwood Group, will remain active leading the executive board, providing strategic guidance, while stepping away from daily operations.
The company also announced key leadership updates. Hal Mitchell will continue in his role as president, serving as the primary liaison with AHC’s joint venture with Lunawood. Director of National Sales, Mike Mooney, will work alongside Mitchell, focusing on expanding business development efforts and overseeing sales of value-added products. In addition, Jeff Leake has been named chief operating officer, reporting directly to Rider.
This leadership evolution comes as AHC celebrates a major operational milestone. “In June, our Lunawood joint venture successfully dried its initial kiln charges, and we are looking forward to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility in September,” added Howard.
Rider brings a wealth of experience and a forward-looking approach to his new role as CEO, supported by a seasoned leadership team and a renewed strategic focus.
“I hope you’ll join me in congratulating both Chris and Jeff on their new roles,” said Howard. “I have every confidence in their ability to guide AHC Hardwood Group into its next chapter while honoring the values and integrity that have defined our company for generations.”
AHC Hardwood Group is a leader in hardwood manufacturing and distribution, committed to innovation, sustainability and service across North America and global markets.
For more details, call 404-237-5087 or email kim@kppscreative.com. Contact 404-214-4708, email kconley@ahchardwood.com or visit ahchardwood.com as well.
Cleereman Industries Installs New Lumber-Pro And Edger
Cleereman Industries, located in Newald, WI, recently completed a new installation at Russell Bass & Sons Lumber LLC in Hancock, NY. Todd and Shane Bass own that company. The Basses have an older Cleereman Carriage line sawmill in Hancock, NY, that they purchased in 1996 and it is still running today.
In 2023, the decision was made to build a new, ground up state-of-the-art sawmill. The Basses said they were very familiar with Cleereman and not only the quality of the equipment they built, but also the customer service after the sale.
After several conversations with Cleereman’s sales team and Cleereman’ s engineering department, the decision was made to purchase a Cleereman ST62 Lumber-Pro with the Cleereman Linear Controls with 3-D scanning. The Lumber-Pro is a 62-inch Cleereman double cut tilt band saw with a stationary Cleereman LP-42-inch tilted carriage. The Lumber-Pro is very efficient because the band saw only moves the length of the log and cuts both ways, according to Paul Cleereman of Cleereman Industries. “There is no wasted movement,” he added.
The Basses also decided on the Cleereman 654 Combination Optimized Edger with gang. This Edger has been the company’s top selling Edger per Paul Cleereman.
Cleereman Industries’ engineering department provided all the drawings necessary for equipment and Cleereman Controls provided all the mill wide controls for the equipment.
Visit cleereman.com for more information.
Timber Products Announces New Michigan Component Facility
Timber Products recently announced the official opening of their new hardwood component facility–a game-changing investment in automation, quality and customer-centric manufacturing. Located in Munising, MI, on the same property as Timber Products’ existing hardwood veneer and lumber plants. This new cutting-edge facility, known as Munising Components, enables Timber Products to produce ready-to-use hardwood components at scale on one central site. The components made at this facility will serve the cabinetry, flooring, and millwork industries by significantly reducing waste for the customer, improving their yield and elevating product quality.
The project, which is five years in the making, is the product of a strong partnership between Timber Products and Eagle Machinery & Supply Inc. “Eagle has more than 25 years of experience with continuous improvement and development in the industrial woodworking and automation industry,” said Jon Johnson, manager of Timber Products’ Michigan operations. “Their willingness to work with us from the raw conceptual phase and support the project along the way is what made them stand out as the clear partner for the job.”
Timber Products’ new mill is powered by an array of advanced systems including Eagle’s high-speed hogging moveable blade ripsaw, Eagle’s Talon 3000 high-speed crosscut saws, MiCROTEC’s Woodeye rip and Woodeye crosscut scanners in addition to Eagle’s newly patented automation for the palletizing of finished goods parts with custom-designed material handling equipment, vision and software. The fully integrated system collects available data from all machines, producing comprehensive production and performance reports for both Timber Products and Eagle in real time via a SQL Database. Eagle analyzes the data continuously through machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to provide ongoing performance and reliability, in a user-friendly format.
“The Woodeye scanners allow for defects to be detected that could go unnoticed by a human and we can do just about anything now,” said Jerrod Allen, lumber inspector. With high-speed automation and robotics, the new facility processes 30 boards per minute. This means Timber Products can quickly deliver consistent, high-grade components with unmatched precision.
Beyond production, Munising Components supports sustainability by defecting material onsite and utilizing that downfall to create fuel for onsite boilers which power all three facilities and generate steam for their dry kilns. Utilizing this material onsite allows Timber Products to handle waste for their customers and efficiently turn it into energy. This new facility also brings higher skilled jobs to the lumber industry and the local Michigan community.
From log sourcing, all the way to ready-to-use components, every step of the process happens onsite, setting Timber Products apart from competitors and giving customers a clear edge in both production efficiency and bottom-line value. “This mill allows our customers to focus on what they do best, without dealing with lumber waste or additional processing,” said John Erickson, hardwood component sales manager.
About Timber Products
Founded in 1918, Timber Products produces a wide range of diversified wood products. Best known for its hardwood plywood, the company is committed to environmental sustainability and offers a fully integrated approach to manufacturing with nine manufacturing facilities, an international division, and TP Logistics and Trucking a nationwide trucking and logistics company.
Call 906-452-7021, contact John Erickson at jerickson@timberproducts.com or learn more at timberproducts.com.
National Wood Flooring Association Appoints New President And CEO
The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) recently announced that Stephanie Owen has been appointed as the new president and CEO. This follows an extensive search process led by a volunteer selection committee and unanimous approval by the executive committee of NWFA’s board of directors.
“We are confident that under Stephanie’s leadership, the NWFA will continue to thrive further strengthening our association, advancing the wood flooring industry, and supporting our members and staff in meaningful and impactful ways,” said Steve Brattin, chair of the NWFA executive committee. “We are excited for what the future holds for this great association, our incredible industry, our members and the entire NWFA team.”
Owen most recently served in the role of interim CEO for NWFA. Since joining the organization in 2015, she has held a variety of roles including education and member engagement director, vice president of education, and executive director of the Education and Research Foundation. Her dedication, leadership, and deep understanding of the wood flooring industry have made her an invaluable part of the NWFA team.
“It’s an incredible honor to step into this role with an organization that has meant so much to me, both personally and professionally,” said Owen. “NWFA is made up of passionate members, a committed team, and a shared belief in the value of our craft. I’m excited to lead us into the next chapter—focused on growing our impact, supporting our members in meaningful ways, and continuing to elevate the wood flooring industry we all care so deeply about.”
During her time at NWFA, Owen has been instrumental in the development of NWFA’s online university and the inaugural Leadership Development Summit. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications and a Master of Science in Education from Creve Coeur, MO-based, Missouri Baptist University.
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. According to an association representative, NWFA members “receive the best in educational training, benefits, technical resources and networking to advance their professionalism and success.”
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.
Powell Valley Millwork Invests $29.6 Million Across Two Projects
Powell County, KY-based, Powell Valley Millwork’s $29.6 million investment across two projects in Powell and Montgomery, KY, counties will create 33 new jobs and retain 214.
Powell Valley Millwork has over 30 years of experience and is a top manufacturer of interior mouldings, millwork and trim boards. The company also has a zero wood-waste policy and sources responsibly to minimize its impact on the environment.
Powell Valley Millwork is a CMPC company and Jimmy Thornberry, the CEO of Powell Valley Millwork, explained the benefits of CMPC’s support. “With the support of CMPC, we’re significantly increasing our production capacity and making strategic investments in automation and equipment – including new systems from Eagle Machinery, Stiles Machinery and TS Machinery – that will improve speed, precision and efficiency across our operations. By expanding our production capacity for both Poplar and radiata pine products, we’re strengthening our ability to serve customers across North America with greater consistency, shorter lead times and increased flexibility.”
The company’s investment and job creation add to the best five-year period for economic growth in Kentucky’s state history. The company is also Powell Valley’s largest employer.
Visit pvmillwork.com for more.
Expansion By Tate Ornamental At Robertson County Headquarters
The expansion of manufacturing operations in White House, TN, which will create 50 new jobs and is powered by a $12 million investment, was recently announced by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and Tate Ornamental Inc. Once the expansion is complete, Tate Ornamental will employ 250 Tennesseans in Robertson County.
The increase in staff and investment is predicted to boost the company’s millwork production capacity by permitting the development of a state-of-the-art facility that is closely located to the existing stone and metal plants.
Tate Ornamental Inc. is an architectural woodworking, ornamental metal, stone, quartz and porcelain countertop company. The company purchases Walnut, White Oak and other species as needed for each customer’s order, according to a company representative. Founded in 1988, Tate Ornamental is family owned and operated and offers design, fabrication, installation and freight services.
The company is headquartered in White House, TN, and has clients throughout the United States. A few of those clients are high-profile and Tate Ornamental also handles some complex commercial projects in the industry.
For more information, call 615-672-0348, email or visit tateornamental.com.
Farm Bill Fall Resurrection
According to Dana Lee Cole, executive director at the Hardwood Federation, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) appeared to have moved off his goal of marking up Farm Bill reauthorization legislation before the August recess. He had signaled to committee staff in late June that he wanted to proceed on a Farm Bill markup in late July. At press time, he signaled that his committee will try to proceed in mid-September.
The Hardwood Federation team reported they will continue to advocate for full funding and authorization of the Wood Innovation and Community Wood grant programs, as well as a robust Forest Inventory and Analysis program, inclusion of Jobs in the Woods Act provisions and language recognizing the carbon neutrality of forest-based biomass energy.
For more details about the Hardwood Federation, visit hardwoodfederation.com.
