Who’s Who in Softwoods

James Mortimer is an account manager-sales for Idaho Forest Group, located in Coeur d’Alene, ID.

Idaho Forest Group is an annual producer of 1 billion board feet of White Fir, Douglas Fir/Larch, Idaho White Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Engelmann Spruce/Lodgepole Pine and Inland Red Cedar lumber. Dimension is offered in 2×3 through 2×12 widths. Boards are available in 1×4 through 1×12, 5/4 and 6/4 thicknesses. Premium products are marketed under the Idaho Forest Gold name.

Products are offered to local and regional domestic markets, as well as to international customers.

Mortimer who specializes in Pine and Cedar, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Washington State University, located in Pullman, WA, in 2002. He joined the Idaho Forest Group team in September of 2015. His first position in the forest products industry was in 2003 as a sales trainee for Hardwoods Specialty Products. Additional areas of the industry in which Mortimer has worked include desk sales, inside and outside sales, as well as operations manager.

Idaho Forest Group is a member of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association.

In his spare time Mortimer enjoys participating in triathlons, playing basketball and golf. He has been married to Jennifer for 13 years and the couple has one son, Logan.

For more information, visit www.IFG.com.

Kelly Matthews is a senior sales representative for RoyOMartin in Alexandria, LA. Matthews joined the RoyOMartin team almost 18 years ago as a member of the sales support staff before becoming a dedicated sales representative in 2011.

RoyOMartin has been an industry production leader for more than a century, specializing in plywood and OSB and offering a variety of American solid wood products.

As the largest plywood plant in North America, RoyOMartin’s Chopin, LA, plant produces approximately 510 million square feet per year. The organization also operates OSB plants in Oakdale, LA, and Corrigan, TX. In addition to producing its standard offerings, RoyOMartin operates a dedicated canter mill from its Chopin, LA, plant from which it produces a variety of small timbers.

The recipient of a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and Tourism from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA, Matthews has one son and one daughter with her husband, Dustin Matthews. Matthews and her husband have organized and managed an annual golf tournament in Alexandria, LA, since 2005 to benefit The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and recently, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In total, the event has raised more than $100,000.

RoyOMartin celebrated its 100-year anniversary in November 2023 and continues to grow its production through two recently completed plant expansions.

For more information, reach out to Matthews at 800-808-6127, Kelly.matthews@royomartin.com or visit www.royomartin.com.

Nyle Dry Kilns, located in Brewer, ME, a manufacturer known for its high-quality and efficient dry kilns, recently announced the hiring of Mark Metzger as their new Sales Manager in the United States. Metzger joins the team with an extensive background in the forest products industry, accumulating over 30 years of experience.

Throughout his career, Metzger has garnered extensive experience as an account manager and sales representative for a variety of esteemed hardwood lumber companies, including Northwest Hardwoods, Weyerhaeuser, Legacy Lumber and American Lumber. His most recent role involved wood protection products, where he served as the Northeast representative for U-C Coatings. His comprehensive understanding of both the buying and selling aspects of kiln-dried lumber, coupled with his experience in selling protective products, provides him with unique insights into the specific needs of kiln-drying customers.

Metzger’s educational background includes an associate’s degree in wildlife technology from Penn State University – DuBois and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Edinboro University. His strong commitment to delivering a customer experience rooted in honesty and integrity aligns perfectly with Nyle Dry Kilns’ values. Metzger is passionate about collaborating with customers to enhance their businesses, and his addition to the team is anticipated to bring valuable perspectives and drive further success.

Nyle Dry Kilns is thrilled to have Metzger on board and looks forward to the contributions he will bring to the company and its clients.

For more information visit www.nyle.com.

Rick Harris is the Director of Strategic Development at Delta Forestry Group located in Pitt Meadows, BC, and is managing and growing the Hemlock program as well as performing some executive functions. Delta Forestry Group has two sawmills that produce 120 million board feet annually and distributes lumber worldwide. Delta Cedar Specialties offers Western Red Cedar, Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Douglas Fir and Hemlock in low grades through clears, dry or green and rough or surfaced.

Delta Cedar Specialties offers a full line of products milled to their customers specification, whether rough sawn, rougher headed or S1S2E or S4S. Their sawmills are capable of cutting timbers up to 32-feet in length.

Harris recently joined Delta Forestry Group in September of 2023. He has been in the forest products industry for over 30 years. He started his career in the forest products industry at Paynter Timber Ltd., located in New Zealand, where he sold framing lumber and imported hardwood trellis into the New Zealand domestic market for six years. He then immigrated to Vancouver in 1997, where he worked for Interfor as general manager of export sales and marketing for 18 years.

He graduated high school for Christ’s College in Christchurch, New Zealand. He then went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in marketing and economics, as well as diplomas in farm management and agriculture, from Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand. He also received a certificate in agriculture from Flock House in Bulls, New Zealand.

In his spare time, Harris enjoys fishing, hiking, rugby, tennis and learning his family’s history. He has been married to his wife Vicky Harris for 28 years and has two sons and one daughter.

Delta Forestry Group is a member of BC Wood, North American Wholesale Lumber Association and Truck Loggers’ Association.

For more information call 604-612-0073, email rharris@deltacedar.com or visit www.deltaforestrygroup.com