SLMA Convenes in Marco Island for Annual Conference

Sept/Oct Issue

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Photos by Zach Miller

Recently, the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (SLMA) held its 59th Annual Conference at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida. Over 500 attendees came together for the Association’s first in-person trade expo and networking event since 2019.

In a written address by SLMA Chairman David Richbourg, of H.W. Culp Lumber Co., it was noted that “SLMA has kept us together, informed and involved as we faced political, economic, and societal uncertainty in these unprecedented times.”

“The association continues to keep members up to date on the federal government’s legislative and regulatory actions in response to COVID-19, while simultaneously lobbying on issues of importance to the industry, such as utilization of wood products for military construction, and working with the agencies and our industry partners on air, water and endangered species regulations.”

He continued, “SLMA also launched the Lumber.Works website to help members reach out to the next generation of sawmillers and foresters in middle schools, high schools and trade schools, and successfully graduated two classes of future industry leaders from the Fundamentals of Leadership certification program.”

The recent conference provided attendees with more than three days of networking opportunities and educational sessions. The SLMA Issues Forum included an economic outlook from Michael Swanson, agriculture economist, Wells Fargo; Program Updates from Cynthia West, PhD, Station Director, USDA Forest Products Lab; a State of the Sawmill panel led by various industry spokespersons, and an overview of Lumber.Works, SLMA’s recruitment resource for sawmills. Bob Cooke and Seth DiSantos of Lockdown International gave the keynote presentation.

During the board & business meeting, the following members were appointed to the SLMA Board of Directors: Treasurer Parker Dempsey of Dempsey Wood Product in Orangeburg, SC; Director Ryan Hilsinger of Industrial Wood Products in Climax, NC; Director Beth Hutchins of Flippo Lumber Corporation in Doswell, VA; Director Jill Snider of Snider Industries in Marshall, TX; and Director Anderson Thomas of Shuqualak Lumber Co. in Shuqualak, MS.

The Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association is a trade association that represents solid sawn lumber manufacturing operations, lumber remanufacturing operations, lumber treating operations and their suppliers throughout the Southeast.

SLMA member companies operate roughly 125 locations, directly employ nearly 10,000 people, and manage over 2 million acres of timberland.

For more information visit www.slma.org.

Jeremy and Kim Pitts, Nyle Systems LLC, Lenoir, NC; Jeremy Howard, Nyle Systems LLC, Brewer, ME; and Peter McCarty, TS Manufacturing Co., Dover-Foxcroft, ME
Jeremy and Kim Pitts, Nyle Systems LLC, Lenoir, NC; Jeremy Howard, Nyle Systems LLC, Brewer, ME; and Peter McCarty, TS Manufacturing Co., Dover-Foxcroft, ME
Angelo Ganguzza and Lindsey Digangi, Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co. (PMLI), Philadelphia, PA
Angelo Ganguzza and Lindsey Digangi, Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co. (PMLI), Philadelphia, PA
Alan Robbins, USNR, Jacksonville, FL; Cindy and Jeff Stephens, Karen Smith and Chad Smith, USNR, Hot Springs, AR
Alan Robbins, USNR, Jacksonville, FL; Cindy and Jeff Stephens, Karen Smith and Chad Smith, USNR, Hot Springs, AR
Marcus and Heesoon Trisdale, Lucidyne Technologies Inc., Corvallis, OR
Marcus and Heesoon Trisdale, Lucidyne Technologies Inc., Corvallis, OR
Ashley Hennessy, Phil and Madisyn Hennessy and Phillip Hennessy Jr., UFP Industries Inc., Atlanta, GA
Ashley Hennessy, Phil and Madisyn Hennessy and Phillip Hennessy Jr., UFP Industries Inc., Atlanta, GA
Scott Skinner, Lonza Wood Protection, Alpharetta, GA, Beth and Brian Rucker, Griffin Lumber & Hardware Co., Cordele, GA; Ken Trainor, Lonza Wood Protection, Tuckerton, NJ; and Mandy and James Sudduth, Griffin Lumber & Hardware Co.
Scott Skinner, Lonza Wood Protection, Alpharetta, GA, Beth and Brian Rucker, Griffin Lumber & Hardware Co., Cordele, GA; Ken Trainor, Lonza Wood Protection, Tuckerton, NJ; and Mandy and James Sudduth, Griffin Lumber & Hardware Co.
Marcus Trisdale, Lucidyne Technologies Inc., Corvallis, OR; Mason Talley, Arbor Tech Forest Products Inc., Blackstone, VA; Doug Tinsley, Tinsley Consulting Group LLC, Hot Springs, AR; Chris Cournyer, Lucidyne Technologies Inc., Corvallis, OR; and John Rhea, Lucidyne Technologies Inc., Bossier City, LA
Marcus Trisdale, Lucidyne Technologies Inc., Corvallis, OR; Mason Talley, Arbor Tech Forest Products Inc., Blackstone, VA; Doug Tinsley, Tinsley Consulting Group LLC, Hot Springs, AR; Chris Cournyer, Lucidyne Technologies Inc., Corvallis, OR; and John Rhea, Lucidyne Technologies Inc., Bossier City, LA
Eddie and Regina Collins, Wood Fiber Group/Simonds International/Burton Saw and Supply, Florence, SC; and Tracey Mitchell, USNR, Perry, GA
Eddie and Regina Collins, Wood Fiber Group/Simonds International/Burton Saw and Supply, Florence, SC; and Tracey Mitchell, USNR, Perry, GA
Peter McCarty, TS Manufacturing Co., Dover-Foxcroft, ME; and Lindsey DiGangi, PLMI, Philadelphia, PA
Peter McCarty, TS Manufacturing Co., Dover-Foxcroft, ME; and Lindsey DiGangi, PLMI, Philadelphia, PA
Bruce Kicklighter, Autolog Production Management Inc., Evans, GA; Kasey Harrell and Anna Stallings, South Concrete Constructors, Macon, GA; Gale Miller, Autolog Production Management Inc., Tuscaloosa, AL; and Gilles Gauvin, Autolog Production Management Inc., Blainville, QC
Bruce Kicklighter, Autolog Production Management Inc., Evans, GA; Kasey Harrell and Anna Stallings, South Concrete Constructors, Macon, GA; Gale Miller, Autolog Production Management Inc., Tuscaloosa, AL; and Gilles Gauvin, Autolog Production Management Inc., Blainville, QC
Howard J. Greene, Atlantic Logistics Inc., Jacksonville, FL; Jeremy and Kim Pitts, Nyle Systems LLC, Lenoir, NC; and Jeremy Howard, Nyle Systems LLC, Brewer, ME
Howard J. Greene, Atlantic Logistics Inc., Jacksonville, FL; Jeremy and Kim Pitts, Nyle Systems LLC, Lenoir, NC; and Jeremy Howard, Nyle Systems LLC, Brewer, ME
Dan Mathews, SII Dry Kilns, Lexington, NC; John Talley, Arbor Tech Forest Products Inc., Blackstone, VA: and Ken Matthews, SII Dry Kilns
Dan Mathews, SII Dry Kilns, Lexington, NC; John Talley, Arbor Tech Forest Products Inc., Blackstone, VA: and Ken Matthews, SII Dry Kilns
Jason Goodman and Dave Sondel, U-C Coatings LLC, Buffalo, NY; Vince Jordan, Jordan Lumber & Supply Inc., Mt. Gilead, NC; and Chris Fehr, U-C Coatings LLC
Jason Goodman and Dave Sondel, U-C Coatings LLC, Buffalo, NY; Vince Jordan, Jordan Lumber & Supply Inc., Mt. Gilead, NC; and Chris Fehr, U-C Coatings LLC
Caroline Conner and David Conner, Timber Products Inspection Inc., Peachtree City, GA; and Bobbie Anna Hotchkiss, Statesboro, GA
Caroline Conner and David Conner, Timber Products Inspection Inc., Peachtree City, GA; and Bobbie Anna Hotchkiss, Statesboro, GA
Joshua Adams, Southeastern Agency Group Inc., Greensboro, NC; Jon Comber, Carbotech International Inc., Plessisville, QC; and Eric Michaud, Carbotech International Inc., Sarasota, FL.
Joshua Adams, Southeastern Agency Group Inc., Greensboro, NC; Jon Comber, Carbotech International Inc., Plessisville, QC; and Eric Michaud, Carbotech International Inc., Sarasota, FL.
Barry Black, Taylor Machine Works Inc., Louisville, MS; Michael Gulley, Dempsey Wood Products Inc., Orangeburg, SC; Tommy Battle, Battle Lumber Co. Inc., Wadley, GA; and Robert Taylor and Hal Nowell, Taylor Machine Works Inc.
Barry Black, Taylor Machine Works Inc., Louisville, MS; Michael Gulley, Dempsey Wood Products Inc., Orangeburg, SC; Tommy Battle, Battle Lumber Co. Inc., Wadley, GA; and Robert Taylor and Hal Nowell, Taylor Machine Works Inc.
Jeremy Pitts, Nyle Systems LLC, Lenoir, NC; Ben Littrell, Nelson Littrell and Wade Littrell, Littrell Lumber Inc., Decatur, AL; and Jeremy Howard, Nyle Systems LLC, Brewer, ME
Jeremy Pitts, Nyle Systems LLC, Lenoir, NC; Ben Littrell, Nelson Littrell and Wade Littrell, Littrell Lumber Inc., Decatur, AL; and Jeremy Howard, Nyle Systems LLC, Brewer, ME
Will Telligman, SLMA, Washington, DC; and Alexis Sivcovich, Beverly Knight and Bryan Smalley, SLMA, Tyrone, GA
Will Telligman, SLMA, Washington, DC; and Alexis Sivcovich, Beverly Knight and Bryan Smalley, SLMA, Tyrone, GA
Ken Matthews, Brian Turlington and Ben Mathews, SII Dry Kilns, Lexington, NC; and Patrick Harrigan, Harrigan Lumber Co. Inc., Monroeville, AL
Ken Matthews, Brian Turlington and Ben Mathews, SII Dry Kilns, Lexington, NC; and Patrick Harrigan, Harrigan Lumber Co. Inc., Monroeville, AL
Tony Sofos, Pineridge Lumber Products, Astoria, NY; Jay Galloway, Hood Industries Inc., Hattiesburg, MS; and Chris Sofos, Pineridge Lumber Products
Tony Sofos, Pineridge Lumber Products, Astoria, NY; Jay Galloway, Hood Industries Inc., Hattiesburg, MS; and Chris Sofos, Pineridge Lumber Products
Dave Sondel, U-C Coatings LLC, Buffalo, NY; and Madi- syn Hennessy and Phil Hennessy, UFP Industries Inc., Atlanta, GA
Dave Sondel, U-C Coatings LLC, Buffalo, NY; and Madi- syn Hennessy and Phil Hennessy, UFP Industries Inc., Atlanta, GA
Zach Miller, The Softwood Forest Products Buyer, Mem- phis, TN; and Heesoon Trisdale and Rebecca Cournyer, Lucidyne Technologies Inc., Corvallis, OR
Zach Miller, The Softwood Forest Products Buyer, Mem- phis, TN; and Heesoon Trisdale and Rebecca Cournyer, Lucidyne Technologies Inc., Corvallis, OR
Chris Fehr, U-C Coatings LLC, Buffalo, NY; Mark Partyka, Osorno, Birmingham, AL; Reid and Joannah Manning, Harrigan Lumber Co. Inc., Monroeville, AL; and Jason Goodman, U-C Coatings LLC
Chris Fehr, U-C Coatings LLC, Buffalo, NY; Mark Partyka, Osorno, Birmingham, AL; Reid and Joannah Manning, Harrigan Lumber Co. Inc., Monroeville, AL; and Jason Goodman, U-C Coatings LLC
Eric Michaud and Manon Delisle, Carbotech International Inc., Sarasota, FL; and Lindsey and Jon Comber, Carbotech International Inc., Dover-Foxcroft, ME
Eric Michaud and Manon Delisle, Carbotech International Inc., Sarasota, FL; and Lindsey and Jon Comber, Carbotech International Inc., Dover-Foxcroft, ME

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