Jerry Starns is a lumber buyer for cabinet manufacturer, American Woodmark, based in Monticello, KY. American Woodmark purchases approximately 20 million board feet of Hard Maple, Red Oak (No. 1 Common and Better 4/4, Green) and kiln-dried European Beech.
Starns has sat on the Executive Board for the Kentucky Forest Industries Association (KFIA) for four years. He also serves as the head of the Monticello plant’s American Woodmark Foundation—a charitable program that disperses funds to organizations throughout the community.
A graduate of Berea College, located in Berea, KY, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology. Married to Melissa for 27 years, the couple has two sons (Travis–25, and Bryson–22). In his spare time he enjoys hunting and sports. Starns began his career with the lumber industry in 1998.
American Woodmark is a member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, Kentucky Forest Industries Association and Kentucky Master Logger Program.
For more information visit www.americanwoodmark.com.
Michael Dickinson is the sourcing specialist at C.F. Martin & Co. in Nazareth, PA.
C.F. Martin Co. is regarded as a leader in the manufacture of acoustic guitars. The company is also a distribution yard and purchases 1.5 million board feet annually of Hardwood lumber of both domestic and import species. Domestic species includes the Maples, Cherry, Basswood and Walnut. Imports include Ebony, Rosewood and Koa Ovangkul, as well as spruce and cedar in softwoods.
In addition to purchasing lumber from outside sawmills, C.F. Martin also operates a mill and kilns, which allow the company to purchase material from 13/4 to veneer thicknesses based on its production schedule, availability needs, international laws and treaties. The material for musical instruments is always high grade and can be quartered, rift or flat, depending on usage.
C.F. Martin & Co. is a member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, International Wood Products Association, Rainforest Alliance, Forest Stewardship Council, American Forest Products Society, the Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans, International Wood Collectors Society, National Association of Music Merchants, and NEPCon.
Dickinson, who began his career in the forest products industry with C.F. Martin Co., has been with them for 30 years, having spent the past 11 in his current position.
He graduated from Nazareth High School in 1986 and received his BA degree in Business from St. Leo University in 2008. He has invested hundreds of hours in Continuing Education classes in everything from computer skills, customer service, to log grading and kiln maintenance.
He is an avid woodworker, luthier and self-proclaimed remodeling genius and says he tries “real hard to play the guitar.”
He is the father of two sons.
Contact him at mdickinson@martinguitar.com.
Jeffrey Cox is owner and president of Rowland Woodworking Inc., based in High Point, NC.
Rowland Woodworking manufactures architectural millwork, including mouldings, custom windows, doors and casework. The company purchases approximately 250,000 board feet annually of all domestic Hardwoods (No. 2 and Better, 4/4 through 6/4, 8-percent moisture content, rough). Value-added services include expediting jobs to meet short lead times.
Cox has been involved in the lumber industry most of his life. He began his career at Snow Lumber Company, High Point, NC. He owned Triad Drafting from 1986 to 2003, before buying and merging into Rowland Woodworking, which was formerly the millwork division of Snow Lumber Company, founded in 1880.
Cox attended Davidson Community College. He is treasurer and past president, vice-president and secretary of Architectural Woodwork Institute’s Carolina Chapter. Cox and his wife of 31 years, Kristine, are both 50 percent owners of the operation. Along with Jeff, Kristine is past President of Architectural Woodwork Institute’s Carolina’s Chapter, past President of AWI National, Committee Chair for AWI SkillsUSA and Technical Chair for SkillsUSA-NC. In his spare time he enjoys football, NASCAR and outdoor gardening.
For more information visit www.rowlandwoodworking.com.
Rebekah Manthei is co-owner with Sam Manthei of Northern Michigan Hardwoods Inc., located in Petoskey, MI.
Northern Michigan Hardwoods is a manufacturer of green lumber, Hardwood flooring, kiln-dried lumber and landscape mulch. The company purchases an annual total of 130,000 board feet of Hard and Soft Maple, Red and White Oak, Walnut, Cherry, Ash, Beech, Birch, Aspen, and Basswood (Select and Better, No. 2 Common, 6 to 8 percent kiln-dried, surfaced and rough, all 4/4 through 8/4).
Manthei has been with the company for a total of 15 years and in her current position for six. As owner-operator, her duties include lumber purchasing, overseeing sales, staffing, inventory, scheduling, logistics, as well as being an equipment operator. She is a graduate of Christian Encounter High School in Grass Valley, CA, and attended North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, MI. Manthei has been in the forest products industry since her teenage years, when she worked at a sawmill, pulling lumber from the green chain and operating the edger and forklift.
Northern Michigan Hardwoods is a member of the National Wood Flooring Association, the Michigan Association of Timbermen, the Walloon Lake Association and the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce.
Additional information can be found at www.nmhardwoods.com.
