Who’s Who in Import/Exports
Midwest Hardwood Company LLC: Producing 80 Million Board Feet Annually
Bill Long
Bill Long is the international sales manager for Maple Grove, MN-based, Midwest Hardwood Company LLC.
Midwest Hardwood Company produces around 80 million board feet annually and has sawmills as well as dry kilns and distribution yards. In addition to selling to the U.S., they are worldwide exporters.
According to the company website, the following are imported: Baltic Birch, European Beech and African Mahogany. Domestic species handled include Aspen, Basswood, Black and White Ash, Black Walnut, Cherry, Hickory, Red and White Oak and Hard and Soft Maple. These species are offered green, kiln-dried and in rough or S2S. Their lumber products are also offered in the following grades and thicknesses: FAS1F, Select & Better, Nos. 1 through 3 Common, 4/4 through 8/4 (in most species) and 10/4 through 12/4 (in certain species). Proprietary grades are fulfilled upon request.
Specialties offered by Midwest Hardwood Company are special heartwood or sapwood sorts, in addition to ripped and pulled to width. The company is FSC certified, offers rift and quartered in most species and mixed item truckloads are not an issue.
Long started as the international sales manager in February of 2014 for Midwest Hardwood Company. Prior to his career at Midwest Hardwood Company, he worked for Coastal Lumber Company (1989 to 2009) and Hartzell Hardwoods (2009 to 2014).
He attended Roanoke Rapids High School in Roanoke Rapids, NC, and received a degree in History and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Hunting, fishing, beekeeping, gardening, tennis and spending time outdoors are Long’s hobbies.
Long has one son, James, and one daughter, Kate.
Midwest Hardwood Company is a member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, American Hardwood Export Council, Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association, American Walnut Manufacturers Association, Appalachian Lumbermen’s Club, Lake States Lumber Association and Hardwood Manufacturers Association.
Call Long at 612-708-9283, email him at billlong@midwesthardwood.com or visit midwesthardwood.com for more.
Exotic Lumber Inc: Offering Over 100 Species
Nick Stroup
As the store manager for Annapolis, MD-based, Exotic Lumber Inc., Nick Stroup oversees day-to-day operations such as sales, purchasing, milling, inventory and outreach.
Exotic Lumber has retail, wholesale and online sales platforms. Their customer base is primarily from Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, but they also reach into Delaware and Pennsylvania. Their online sales customers buy from across the U.S. and internationally.
Exotic Lumber handles 100,000 board feet annually of over 100 different exotic and domestic hardwoods for boat building, cabinet and furniture making, home renovation, hobby projects, musical instruments, pool cue makers as well as burls, slabs and cabinet grade plywood (in all domestic species in ¼, ½ and ¾). They offer hardwood decking such as Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, Tali and many others. Marine grade plywood in Teak, Fir, Okume (1/8, ¼, 3/8, ½, 5/8, ¾ and 1”) and Teak and Holly Sole (1/4, 1/2, and 3/4).
Maple, Walnut, Cherry, Red and White Oak, Poplar and Sapele Mahogany are carried in nominal 1 x 4 through 1 x 12 surfaced on four sides in a variety of lengths. Other nominal sizes are made per order.
Kiln-dried FAS hardwood, in addition to Nos. 1 through 2 Common are carried for projects as well. Rough 4/4 through 16/4 is stocked and can be brought in green or air dried if available. All domestic species are kiln-dried between six to eight percent moisture content but some green or air dried imported species are placed on stickers and properly dried in their yard.
Milling services such as planing, jointing, manufacturing thins, turning squares, bowl blanks, knife scales, live edge cutting boards and glue ups are offered. Glue ups are made for custom tables, countertops, treads, or even floating shelves.
Stroup started at Exotic Lumber Inc. on April 4, 2022, when the owner requested that he assist in taking over the company. He started at the bottom and worked his way up. Although he has no experience in the forest products industry outside of his employment at Exotic, he has always been interested in wood and enjoys finding unique pieces.
He graduated from Indian Creek School in Crownsville, MD, and later received his BS in Exercise Science with an interest in physical therapy from Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD.
He learned fishing during childhood from his grandfather and described himself as a “big food guy,” who enjoys trying new places and dishes.
Call 410-349-1705, email annapolis@exoticlumber.com or visit exoticlumber.com. They can be followed on Instagram and Facebook for updates on what is happening and anything new that is coming through the shop.
Hermitage Hardwoods: Offering Domestic And Export Shipments
Wesley Boles
Wesley Boles is vice president and a member of the sales team at Hermitage Hardwood Lumber Sales Inc., located in Cookeville, TN.
Hermitage Hardwood is a manufacturer of Appalachian hardwoods, including Poplar, Red and White Oak, Ash, Walnut, Hickory, Cherry and Basswood, offering domestic and export shipments. The company specializes in high grades, including FAS and No. 1 Common and 4/4 through 8/4, with width sorts, color sorts and customized surfacing available as some of the value added services provided.
Boles graduated from the University of Tennessee, located in Knoxville, TN, with a degree in marketing and a minor in logistics. He also graduated from the 161st class of the National Hardwood Lumber Association’s Inspector Grading School.
Boles’ responsibilities include expanding new customer bases in locations across the United States and export markets. He is also involved in daily production and kiln planing.
Hermitage Hardwood Lumber Sales is a member of the American Hardwood Export Council, Hardwood Manufacturers Association, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., and the National Hardwood Lumber Association.
In his spare time, Boles enjoys spending time with friends and family and sports, including golf and tennis. He is married to Chelsea and they have
three daughters.
For more information, visit hermitagehardwood.com.
