Matthew D. Nicoson has been the materials manager of American Millwork, located in Elkhart, IN, for over 10 years. In his position, Nicoson oversees raw material purchasing, inventory control and scheduling.
American Millwork is owned by Vaughn Nickell and offers Hardwood S4S, mouldings, handrails, and components in Red Oak and Poplar. The business is a member of the Wood Component Manufacturers Association (WCMA) and the World Millwork Alliance (WMA) and specializes in high volume production of these products including the UPC labeling and packaging for large distributors. Other minor species they use are Hard and Soft Maple, Cherry, White Oak, and Hickory. The company purchases over 12 million board feet of lumber per year. The firm also utilizes a fingerjointer and gluer to recover fiber, making handrails, fingerjoint blanks, and primed fingerjoint Poplar mouldings and S4S.
Nicoson joined American Millwork full-time in March of 1994, after previously running a planer during summer break from college in 1989. From 2000-2009 he was a shift production manager and lumber buyer and then became the materials manager in 2010.
Nicoson graduated with honors in 1988 from Concord Community High School, located in Elkhart, IN. He received a bachelor’s degree in forestry in 1992 from Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, IN.
Nicoson has two sons, Tate (21) and William (17) and one daughter, Emma (24). He is the head cross country coach at his Alma Mater Concord High School as well as an assistant track coach in his spare time. Nicoson also enjoys running, playing guitar, and traveling.
More information is available at www.americanmillwork.com.
Nathaniel Wise is the lumber purchasing agent for Bally Block Co., located in Bally, PA.
Bally Block is a manufacturer of butcher-block style countertops and workbench tops. The company purchases an annual total of approximately 2.5 million board feet of Hardwood lumber, including Hard Maple and Ash (No. 1 and No. 2 Common, 8/4, green and rough).
Wise is a graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School, located in Red Hill, PA, and attended Pennsylvania College of Technology, located in Williamsport, PA, for two years. In 1993 he graduated from the National Hardwood Lumber Association’s Inspection Training School, located in Memphis, TN.
Wise has worked at Bally Block for nine years and he currently handles lumber purchasing duties. He began his career in the forest products industry piling lumber in 1990.
In his spare time, Wise enjoys fishing, hunting and spending time with his children. He has been married to Crystal for 22 years and the couple has one son and a daughter.
For more information, visit www.butcherblock.com.
Jim Frost is the general manager of Frost Hardwood Lumber Co., a wholesaler with a distribution yard, in San Diego, CA. He does most of the Hardwood lumber and plywood purchasing as well as manages the day-to-day operation.
Frost Hardwood Lumber Co. purchases approximately 400,000 board feet per year of various species of Hardwood lumber. Hardwood lumber is mainly offered in upper grades for the cabinet and furniture industries. The company stocks over 40 species that run from A to Z (Alder through Zebrawood), including exotics. Frost Hardwood Lumber Co. sells Hardwood lumber, plywood, mouldings and specialty wood products. It also operates a full milling facility for surfacing, ripping and has moulding capabilities.
Frost Hardwood Lumber Co. is a member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, Pacific Coast Wholesale Hardwood Distributors Association, San Diego Better Business Bureau and the Hardwood Distributor’s Association.
Frost has worked at the family-owned company for 40 years, having started during his college days. Frost also worked at Serve and Save lumber company in Eugene, OR before graduating from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in business management. Following that, he worked for Weyerhaeuser Distribution Center in Salt Lake City, UT then joined Frost Hardwood in inside sales in 1980 after his father Albert decided to retire.
Frost graduated from the NHLA Lumber Inspection School in 1980, and worked his way up the company ladder, moving into outside sales, then becoming sales manager before shifting into operations.
In his spare time, Frost enjoys boating, scuba diving and snow skiing. He and his wife of 40 years, Kimberly, have three children, two granddaughters and two grandsons.
More information is available at www.frosthardwood.com.
Mickey Stephens is plant manager for Dumas Manufacturing Co., located in Grove Hill, AL.
Dumas Manufacturing, founded in 1928, is a manufacturer of church and courtroom furniture. Products include church pews, pulpits, communion tables and other assorted church and courtroom furniture. The company purchases approximately 100,000 board feet annually of Red Oak and Sycamore (FAS, 4/4, 5/4, kiln-dried, and S2S).
Stephens has been with the company for 43 years and in his current position for 35 years, where his duties include lumber purchasing.
He and his wife Judy, have two sons, one daughter and four granddaughters. In his spare time Stephens enjoys attending church, gardening, hunting and motorcycles.
For more information visit www.dumaspews.com.
