National Hardwood Magazine - December 2022

Pink line is the bleed line 

Green line is the trim line 

Orange line is live area (please keep text within this area) 

Blue box indicates where the masthead should be placed 

COLE HARDWOOD 

GET A KICK. 

Improving your bottom line is our goal line. That’s why we quote fairly and 

deliver hardwood to maximize quality and help minimize waste. We also offer 

mixed species and sizing with J.I.T. shipments to reduce inventory costs. 

And those are just two of our plays. 

CALL COLE TODAY. WE’RE ON YOUR TEAM. 

HARDWOOD LUMBER FOR ALL YOUR HARDWOOD NEEDS 

Quotes: 800-536-3151 • Export: 574-753-3151 • colehardwood.com 

www.RealAmericanHardwood.org 

DECEMBER 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 1

ONE SOFTWARE PARTNER 

FROM TIMBER TO CONSUMER 

TIMBER, LOGGING & LUMBER 

Handheld & desktop software 

DISTRIBUTION AND RETAIL 

Inventory and order management 

A customized solution: 

MIXED 

LOADS 

We can easily combine a wide 

range of items on a single order 

to suit your specific needs. 

OUR PRODUCTS: 

NORTHERN AND NORTH 

APPALACHIAN LUMBER 

HARDWOOD END TALLIES 

Mobile app with A.I. 

Producer | Large Inventory | Thick Stock | Imported Wood 

primewood.com 

2 DECEMBER 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE www.RealAmericanHardwood.org 

VISIT DMSi.COM TO LEARN MORE

COVER TEMPLATE.indd 1 








10/3/16 1:20 PM 

About The Cover 

COLE HARDWOOD, INC. 

Contents 

National Hardwood Magazine DECEMBER 2022 Volume 96 No. 11 

COLE HARDWOOD 

GET A KICK. 





Flexibility in the marketplace and 

employee involvement are hallmarks 

of Cole Hardwood, Inc., a 34-acre 

concentration yard supplying U.S. and 

overseas markets, Cole specializes 

in lumber that is indigenous to the 

forests of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and 

Illinois. These species are Red Oak, 

White Oak, Ash, Poplar, Hard Maple, 

Soft Maple, Cherry, Hickory and Walnut. 

Thicknesses in most species are 4/4 through 8/4, with some 

species up to 16/4. 

Cole Hardwood has kiln capacity of 1,300,000 BF. The 

facility also has over 225,000 square feet of climatecontrolled 

warehouse, housing 4 KD inspection stations, 2 

green lumber inspection stations, 2 stackers, a retail store, 

the office, planing mill and approximately 8,000,000 BF of 

kiln dried inventory. Total kiln dried and air-dried inventory 

stands at 12,000,000 BF. 

Cole Hardwood, Inc. is committed to making sure every 

step, from computer-controlled kiln drying to their one-onone 

customer service is focused on quality—the kind that 

is only possible with commitment from every department, 

every person, every day! 

Features & Industry Events 

20 

24 

28 

Building Lifetime Tables At 

A.E. Schmidt Billiards 

Maine Woods: Doing What’s Right 

For The Forest 

2023 Forecasts: 2022 Was Good For 

Some, Not For Others; ’23 Portends 

Challenges And Hope 

36 

At Fall Meeting, CHB Describes 

Promotional Efforts Through 2023 

Departments 

AWMA Discusses Ways To Promote 

38 Walnut, Especially Abroad 

39 

40 

Fellowship Of Christian Lumbermen 

Hold End-Of-Year Meeting 

Rossi Group Hosts Reception 

20 

Founded in 1927 by: O.L. Miller – 1894-1963 

Publisher: Paul J. Miller – 1963-2010 

• Forest Products Export Directory • Imported Wood Purchasing Guide 

• Import/Export Wood Purchasing News • Hardwood Purchasing Handbook 

• Green Books’s Hardwood Marketing Directory 

• Green Books’s Softwood Marketing Directory 

• The Softwood Forest Products Buyer 

Paul J. Miller Jr. – President 

Terry Miller – Vice President 

Zach Miller – Sales 

Sue Putnam – Editor 

Matthew Fite – Staff Writer 

Cadance Hanson - Staff Writer 

Dolores Buchanan - Who’s Who Coordinator 

Rachael Stokes – Graphic Artist 

Tammy Daugherty – Production Manager 

Jennifer Trentman – Green Book Market Sales 

Lisa Carpenter – Circulation Manager 

Lexi Hardin – Subscription & List Services 

ADVERTISING OFFICES: 

5175 Elmore Rd., Suite 23, Memphis, TN 38134 

901-372-8280 FAX: 901-373-6180 

Reach us via the Internet at: www.nationalhardwoodmag.com 

E-mail addresses: 

ADVERTISING: tammy@millerwoodtradepub.com 

EDITORIAL: editor@millerwoodtradepub.com 

SUBSCRIPTIONS: circ@millerwoodtradepub.com 

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS: 

Chicago, Los Angeles, High Point, Grand Rapids, Portland, Toronto 

Controlled circulation postage paid at Memphis, TN 

(USPS #917-760) 

6 Hardwood Calendar 

8 U.S.A. Trends 

10 Canadian Trends 

12 News Developments 

14 HMA Update 

16 NHLA: Why Knot... 

18 NAFF Bulletin 

44 In Memoriam 

52 Who’s Who 

54 Trade Talk 

59 Classified Profit 

Opportunities 

64 Advertisers Index 

The NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE (ISSN 0194-0910) is published 

monthly, except for two issues in December, for $55.00 per year and 

$65.00 (U.S. dollars) per year for Canada by National Hardwood Magazine, Inc., 

5175 Elmore Rd., Suite 23, Memphis, TN 38134. Periodicals Postage paid at 

Memphis, TN, and at additional mailing offices. 

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to National Hardwood Magazine, 

P.O. Box 34908, Memphis, TN 38184. 

Publications mail agreement No. 40739074. 

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 

P.O. Box 503, RPO W. Beaver Cre., Rich-Hill, ON L4B 4R6. 

The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject editorial 

content and Ads at the staff’s discretion. 




BE PART OF 

BUILDING 

SOMETHING 

BIG 

Where We’ve Been 

It’s no secret, the hardwood industry has been losing market share to 

products that look like wood, but have none of the natural benefits or 

authentic attributes of Real American Hardwood. In order to recapture 

market share and improve industry stability, hardwood organizations 

united to form the Real American Hardwood Coalition. 

Where We Are 

The goal is to develop a national consumer promotion campaign on a 

scale that’s never been seen before. And a lot has been accomplished 

in a short period of time—including the completion of an extensive 

consumer research initiative, establishing brand guidelines, registering 

trademarks, and launching social media profiles. 

Where We’re Going, Together 

The next steps will have the largest impact on the industry and require 

buy-in from all industry stakeholders. The Coalition is preparing to 

launch a comprehensive promotion campaign—including a consumeroriented 

website, in-store promotion at top big box stores, a broad 

media relations campaign, social media influencer partnerships, print 

and web advertising, and much more. 

How You Can Get Involved 

Moving the campaign forward and expanding its reach will take the 

support of the entire industry—for the benefit of the entire industry. 

■ Make a voluntary contribution to help fund the consumer 

promotion campaign. 

■ Use the Real American Hardwood logo on your sales and 

marketing communications, facilities and vehicles, products, 

and website. 

■ Follow @RealAmericanHardwood on Instagram and Facebook, 

and tag #RealAmericanHardwood in your social media posts. 

Visit RealAmericanHardwood.org to learn more and get on board. 



HARDWOOD CALENDAR 

January 2023 

February 

 

POWERED BY INNOVATION. 

DRIVEN BY QUALITY! 

Appalachian Lumbermen’s Club, Meeting, Embassy Suites, 

Greensboro, NC. www.lumberclub.org. Jan. 10. 

Lake States Lumber Association, Winter Meeting, Lodge 

Kohler, Green Bay, WI. www.lsla.com. Jan. 18-20. 

National Association of Home Builders, International 

Builders’ Show, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. 

www.buildersshow.com. Jan. 31-Feb. 2. 

Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association, 2023 

Convention & Exposition, Indianapolis Downtown Marriott 

Hotel, Indianapolis, IN. www.ihla.org. Feb. 6-8. 

Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., 2023 Annual 

Meeting, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Ponte Vedra, FL. 

www.appalachianhardwood.org. Feb. 22-26. 

March 

April 

Hardwood Manufacturers Association, 2023 National 

Conference and Expo, JW Marriott, Nashville, TN. 

www.hmamembers.org. March 22-24. 

Montreal Wood Convention, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth 

Hotel, Montreal, QC. 

www.montrealwoodconvention.com. April 18-20. n 

Kentucky Forest Industries Association, 2023 Annual 

Meeting, Embassy Suites, Lexington, KY. www.kfia.org. 

March 28-30. 

(800) 777-NYLE 

www.nyle.com 


kilnsales@nyle.com

U.S.A. TRENDS 

Supplier news about 

sales, labor, prices, trends, 

expansions and inventories 

LAKE STATES 

In the Lake States, lumber providers are facing challenges. 

Some lumbermen are doing well, despite the difficulties. 

One of them said, “I think things are just fine.” 

In the case of another lumber provider, it’s not going so 

well. 

In Indiana, one lumber representative said, “The RV 

industry has pretty much collapsed. They are now 20 

percent of our business. We’ve seen that become about 

nonexistent. On the other hand, big cabinet manufacturers 

are still running very strong. When the RV industry 

declined, enough sales were added from cabinetry that 

we didn’t notice the RV decline. In the market, people 

don’t have as big of an urgency to buy as they once had. 

Do I think it’s OK? Yes, I think it will be better than OK. 

We will continue to move to different types of customers. 

Meanwhile, the lumber supply is extremely good. Prices 

are going down. I think things are just fine.” Still, he added, 

“It’s definitely slowed down from what it was.” 

He sells Hard and Soft Maple in No. 2 Common, all 

4/4. 

NORTHEAST 

Across the Northeast region sources said, at the time 

of this writing, that the market hasn’t been doing well, 

and they are worried about where the market will land 

once it starts to level out. 

In Pennsylvania, a sawmill representative said that the 

market is proving to be very challenging right now, and 

that it’s worse than it was six months ago. “A combination 

of factors is making it challenging, like it always is. The 

market overheated and it hasn’t found its new footing for 

where it will be moving forward. We are scrambling and 

I’m not sure where it’s going to settle out,” he said. 

He said his sawmill produces Hard and Soft Maple, 

Cherry, Red and White Oak, Ash, Yellow Poplar, as well 

as a little bit of odd species, in thicknesses that range 

from 4/4 through 12/4 in No. 3 Common to FAS and everything 

in between. 

His company sells to a variety of customers, including 

distribution yards, end-use manufacturers, and occasionally 

to traders. They also sell locally to smaller users 

that buy smaller lots, less than a truckload. Of the com- 

Please turn to page 43 Please turn to page 43 

SOUTHEAST 

Across the Southeast, sources unanimously said that 

the market is much slower than it was six months ago. 

Many of the sources point towards inflation and rising 

interest rates for some of the reasons that the market 

has slowed. 

A lumber spokeswoman in Arkansas said that the market 

has slowed down not just in the Southeast, at the 

time of this writing, but all over the country. She said that 

the slowing down of the market for her company is due 

to less housing starts, and inflation causing the economy 

to be in limbo. “It’s significantly worse than it was six 

months ago, but I am optimistic that it will bounce back,” 

she said. 

Her company handles all domestic species, including 

Red and White Oak, Hickory, Maple, Walnut and American 

Cherry. They sell these species in 3/4 solid unfinished 

and 5/8 unfinished engineered. She noted that 

they also use the basic NOFMA system and have Select 

and Clear Select No. 2 Common. She also said that all 

species, in all grades and thicknesses, are currently selling 

at around the same rate. 

CRAFTMANSHIP ISN’T DEAD. 

IT’S HIDING IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. 

# 

2 

WEST COAST 

Sales of Hardwood lumber are not going great guns 

on the West Coast, but lumber is still moving. 

An Oregon lumberman stated, “The market has been 

steady. We are seeing prices drop. So, that’s the challenge: 

No one wants to get stuck with high-dollar inventory. 

I think the key is: we were fighting for product in the 

past and then like a light switch, a month ago, people 

want to sell us lots of lumber. All of a sudden, lumber is 

available, and prices are going down. We don’t get hurt 

too much on lumber prices since we have our own mill. 

So, we’re more versatile. But we’re anticipating prices to 

come down. 

“The market has held over the past several months,” 

he remarked. “We haven’t seen a big drop-off. We add a 

lot of value to what we’re selling, and we have our own 

trucks. Those two things have been advantageous for us 

in the market.” 

He offers all North American Hardwoods and some 

exotics. Poplar is still number one for him, he noted. He 

sells higher ends such as FAS and Select and Better. 


CRAFTMANSHIP ISN’T DEAD. 

IT’S HIDING IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. 

BINGAMANLUMBER.COM 

PO Box 247, Kreamer, PA 17833 

☎ 570.374.1108 | 570.374.5341 

615-740-5100 

WWW.MIDTNLUMBER.COM 




CANADIAN TRENDS 

News from suppliers about prices, trends, sales and inventories 

ONTARIO 

As we head into the Holiday Season, there is the usual 

slowdown in logging activities and sawmill output. Mill 

output, it was reported, had increased compared to the 

previous year. Demand for Hardwood finished goods 

has shifted to a moderated level. The gains in production 

were evident, and demand on the domestic front softened 

along with international demand, which brought 

prices down sharply and quickly this year. The changes 

experienced in the Hardwood sector has been hard on 

businesses. Inflation has pushed the costs of all goods 

and services higher. Contacts commented they are optimistic 

inflation will go down heading into the new year. 

Ash demand continued to be moderate as the Emerald 

Ash Borer affected supplies of timber and log availability. 

Some noted Ash production had risen, especially 

in the U.S. border states, while demand had softened. 

Prices had decreased over the past few months. Some 

said kiln-dried markets weren’t as strong now as in 2021 

and earlier this year, but inventories have increased. 

QUEBEC 

As we head into the Holiday season, and with the U.S. 

Thanksgiving holiday over, businesses are cautiously 

optimistic the new year will bring relief from inflation, and 

that Hardwood demand will improve as prices stabilize, 

along with seeing improvements in economic conditions 

and ongoing supply chain issues get resolved. The challenge 

is to reduce costs for all who are involved in the 

Hardwood sector, from loggers to sawmills to secondary 

manufacturers and of finished goods. 

Depending on areas contacted, producers and resellers 

of the regionally important Hard Maple say market 

conditions are different than earlier this year. While some 

were unable to fill all available orders, others are having 

a hard time moving all their production. It was noted that 

kiln-dried inventories of Hard Maple had risen in the fall 

despite price reductions. With prices dropping, their customers 

hesitated placing orders unless necessary. It was 

noted that the price decrease was smaller more recently. 

Demand for Soft Maple is not great. As new home con- 


We are your Ally 

Domestic • Export • Import 

High Quality Northern Hardwoods 

Specializing High Quality in Green and Northern Kiln Dried Hard Hardwoods 

Maple and Birch 

- QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY SINCE 1882 - 

Specializing in Green and Kiln Dried Hard Maple and Birch 

- QUALITY AND SUSTA INABILITY Contact for more SINCE info: 1882 - 

Over 40 million FBM annual 

production of hardwood makes 

Over J.D. Irving, 40 million Limited FBM one of annual the 

largest producers in Eastern 

J.D. 

Canada 

Irving, 

and 

Limited 

New England. 

one of the 

largest As one of producers the top 5 private in Eastern 

Canada landowners and in New North England. America 

we ensure a long term quality 

As wood one supply. of the top 5 private 

landowners in North America 

we ensure a long term quality 

wood supply. 

Denis Dubé, Sales Manager 

506.992.9025 

dube.denis@jdirving.com 

Contact for more info: 

Jan Coburn, Sales Coordinator 

506.992.5360 Denis Dubé, Sales Manager 

coburn.jan@jdirving.com 

506.992.9025 

dube.denis@jdirving.com 

Eric Desjardins, Sales/Marketing Support 

506.401.0060 

Jonathan Connely, Sales Representave 

desjardins.eric@jdirving.com 

506.992.9024 

connely.jonathan@jdirving.com 

Jan Coburn, Sales Coordinator 

506.992.9040 

coburn.jan@jdirving.com 

781.544.3970 

sales@allygloballogistics.com 

WEYMOUTH, MA • JACKSONVILLE, FL 

www.allygloballogistics.com 


Visit Visit us online: us online: 

www.JDIrvingLumber.com

NEWS DEVELOPMENTS 

NEWS ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL 

HARDWOOD CONSUMERS INCLUDING MERGERS, 

PLANT EXPANSIONS & ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES 

CABINETWORKS EXPANDS ITS 

PENNSYLVANIA PLANT 

Cabinetworks Group (“Cabinetworks” or “the Company”), 

the country’s largest independently owned manufacturer 

and distributor of kitchen and bath cabinetry, 

headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI, announced recently, in 

collaboration with the State of Pennsylvania, a plan to 

expand its Mount Union facility in Huntingdon County, 

PA and retain 1,694 quality manufacturing jobs, which 

includes an additional 300 new jobs. 

Cabinetworks is investing $23 million to transform its 

206,000 square foot Mount Union facility from a component 

plant into an advanced manufacturing and assembly 

operation that can build and ship fully assembled 

cabinets. Cabinetworks will revamp 

the facility layout and implement a 

highly efficient, high-speed cabinet 

production model with state-of-theart 

equipment to meet a production 

goal of 5,000 or more cabinets per 

day by the end of 2025. 

Cabinetworks uses solid U.S. 

Hardwoods in its manufacturing 

including Cherry, Hard Maple and 

Red Oak. The firm manufactures its 

products across the United States. 

This is the second time the company 

has joined forces with the Governor’s 

Action Team, which assists 

businesses looking to move to or 

expand in Pennsylvania. In 2016, 

Cabinetworks made a $10.7 million 

investment to purchase the Mount 

Union plant, which made it the company’s 

fourth location in the state, 

where it has been manufacturing 

since 1970. 

Cabinetworks Group is the largest 

independently owned manufacturer 

and distributor of kitchen and bath 

cabinetry in the United States. To 

learn more, go to www.cabinet 

worksgroup.com. 

WISCONSIN SENATOR 

INTRODUCES RELIABLE 

RAIL SERVICE ACT 

According to the Hardwood Federation, 

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) 

recently introduced the Reliable Rail 

Service Act, a bill to help untangle 

supply chain bottlenecks plaguing 

the Hardwood industry and other 

shippers around the country. The 

bill aims to codify requirements that 

rail carriers provide service to a 

broad swath of users, including the 

Hardwood sector, “on reasonable 

request.” While a path forward for 

the bill is limited this year, the legislation 

lays down an important marker to be picked up 

in 2023 when a new Congress convenes and considers 

measures to re-balance the nation’s supply chains. 

To learn more, go to www.hardwoodfederation.com. 

REMODELING MARKET SENTIMENT 

SOFTENED IN THIRD QUARTER BUT REMAINS 

POSITIVE 

The National Association of Home 

Builders (NAHB) recently released 

its NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling 

Market Index (RMI) for the third 

quarter, posting a reading of 77, declining 

10 points compared to the 

third quarter of 2021. 

“Remodelers in many parts of the 

country remain positive about the 

market,” said NAHB Remodelers 

Chair Kurt Clason, a remodeler from 

Ossipee, NH. “In some areas, however, 

a growing number are seeing 

signs of a slowdown due to the ongoing 

problems of labor shortages, 

high material prices and rising interest 

rates.” 

The NAHB/Westlake Royal RMI 

survey asks remodelers to rate five 

components of the remodeling market. 

Each question is measured on 

a scale from 0 to 100, where an index 

number above 50 indicates that 

a higher share view conditions as 

good than poor. 

The Current Conditions Index 

averaged 82, dropping eight points 

compared to the third quarter of 

2021. All three components declined 

as well: the component measuring 

large remodeling projects ($50,000 

or more) fell six points to 80, the 

component measuring moderately 

sized remodeling projects (at least 

$20,000 but less than $50,000) 

dropped eight points to 83 and the 

component measuring small remodeling 

projects (under $20,000) declined 

by six points to 85. 

The Future Indicators Index fell 13 

points to 71 compared to the third 

quarter of 2021. The component 

measuring the current rate at which 

leads and inquiries are coming in 

dropped 17 points to 66 and the 

component measuring the backlog of remodeling jobs 

decreased by eight points to 77. 

“Home equity and ongoing strong demand for work at 

home and an aging housing stock are supporting demand 

for remodeling,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert 

Dietz. “Interest rates are having a negative effect, 

Please turn to page 57 

12 DECEMBER 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 




HMA UPDATE 

MAKING CHANGES AND MOVING FORWARD 

HMA’s 2023 National Conference and 

Expo is set for March 22–24 at the JW 

Marriott Nashville, and all Hardwood 

industry stakeholders are welcome to 

attend. Yes, this HMA event is open to all 

Hardwood associates, and I encourage 

you to join us in Nashville because our 

Conference agenda has something for 

everyone, both newcomers and seasoned 

participants! 

The Opening Reception and Expo, the evening of 

Wednesday, March 22, will set the tone of comradery and 

hospitality. Plan on a sumptuous array of refreshments. 

Browse the technology Expo. Meet, greet, catch-up, 

make new contacts, connect with industry colleagues 

and old friends. It will be the perfect venue to network! 

And that’s just for starters. 

If your strategic plan is all about making changes 

and moving forward, this industry event is for you. Our 

Conference theme is “Agents of Change,” and the 

dais of presenters will be addressing the critical issues 

impacting us all – leadership, communication, innovation, 

AGENTS OF 

CH NGE 

2023 HMA National 

Conference and Expo 

JW Marriott | Nashville, TN | March 22–24, 2023 

Register online at HMAmembers.org 

technology challenges, manufacturing, 

domestic and global economies, Hardwood 

market trends and forecasts. 

Among the presenters is Dr. Chris 

Kuehl, Analyst, Economist, Thought- 

Leader, Managing Director, and co-founder 

of Kansas-based, Armada Corporate 

Intelligence. As Armada’s economic 

analyst, Dr. Kuehl has worked with a wide 

variety of private clients and professional associations. 

His presentation, “Trends and Forecasts,” will include a 

current assessment of the of the U.S. economy and a 

forward-looking analysis of trends to watch. 

Other presentations on the 2023 Conference agenda: 

•“Implementing Agents of Change with Effective 

Communications and Leadership,” Steve James, 

certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, Speaker 

and CEO, Frank Miller Lumber Company 

•“Taking Your Operation to the Next Level,” Panels of 

industry experts + HMA members addressing today’s 

challenges and tomorrow’s strategic solutions 

•“Hardwood Markets: A Forward-Looking Conversation,” 

Judd Johnson, Editor, Hardwood Market Report 

•“Industry Updates,” from Association Executives and 

Representatives of the American Hardwood Export 

Council, the Hardwood Federation and the Real 

American Hardwood Coalition 

So, if this sounds like your kind of industry event, clear 

your calendar and plan to be with us in Nashville. You’ll 

find all the Conference details - meeting registration, 

hotel information, a listing of participating exhibitors, 

available event sponsorships, and the complete 

Conference agenda – at HMAmembers.org. Or contact 

me, ljovanovich@hardwood.org, should you have any 

questions. 

Join us in being ‘Agents of Change.’ I hope to hear 

from you. n 

BY LINDA JOVANOVICH, 

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, 

HARDWOOD MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, 

PITTSBURGH, PA 

412-244-0440 

WWW.HMAMEMBERS.ORG 


CLEEREMAN The most trusted name in carriages 

n Over 1220 Carriages sold 

n Lowest cost of ownership 

n All parts in stock and reasonably priced 

n In-house engineering department 

n Everything from single piece equipment to 

turn-key mills 

STEFAN DRACOBLY 

President Of 

Controls 

Now, TWO ENTITIES TO SERVE YOU BETTER! 

PAUL CLEEREMAN 

VP Cleereman 

Industries & Controls 

Sales 

DAN TOOKE 

Senior Optimization 

& Controls Engineer 

INDUSTRIES 

TODAY 

CLEEREMAN the newest name in sawmill controls and optimization 

n Simple easy to use touch 

screen with additional 

tactile buttons 

n Remote access for 

troubleshooting 

n No custom electrical 

hardware, all parts are 

off-the-shelf components 

n Industry Standard 

JoeScan X6 heads 

CONTROLS 

CLEEREMAN LUMBER COMPANY 1930’s CLEEREMAN INDUSTRIES 1955 CLEEREMAN CONTROLS 2019 

For optimal efficiency. . . 

knows what a sawmill needs: 

n 3D data used for 

opening the log and 

estimating the back of 

log profile 

n Realistic views of the log 

n Sure Grip Joystick 

handles 

n Operational statistics and 

reports 

n Over 120 systems sold 

Cleereman Industries 

and Cleereman Controls 

715-674-2700 

www.cleereman.com 

info@cleereman.com

NHLA: Why Knot... 

REMEMBER THE GOOD WE DO 

Life, business, the economy, 

the environment, and just about 

everything else are cyclical, like 

the leaves of a deciduous tree 

that grow big and fall off again 

and again and again. In good 

times or bad times, there really 

is only one answer for the Hardwood 

industry - keep on producing the best you can. 

Sure, ROI and EBITDA are a business’s bottom-line focus, 

and they are always changing, but remember we 

are not just appearance grade we are also pallets and 

ties. So, they can’t transport without us. We are the floor, 

door, cabinet, and furniture in every home. We are the 

sustainable supply moving products across this country. 

We are not a fly-by-night industry. It is clear, that what 

is in your phone today will not be in your phone 25 years 

from now. But that is not the same for Hardwood. The 

way we use Hardwoods may change but the functionality 

won’t. The forest jobs are not going away or being 

outsourced. No matter how far you look into the future 

we will always need to manage our forest and thus use 

wood products from that forest. We are the foundation 

on which this country builds and has been for more than 

100 years. We have our act together and anyone would 

be hard-pressed to find an industry as environmentally 

leading as we are. 

We have cleaned up our products' protection and fiber 

recovery and created voluntary grading rules. The 

benefit of being the low-hanging fruit, the easy target is 

that we have taken the first crack at the bat and hit a 

home run with a low carbon footprint and long-term carbon 

sequestration, while other industries are still thinking 

short-term singles and talking 

recycling. Renewable is better 

than recyclable and we are both. 

So yes, we have had hard 

times before and we will have 

them again. There is no end to 

complaining about the government 

no matter who is in power 

and there is no end to working to ensure our products 

get a fair shake. But that means there is no end to Hardwood. 

Just think the Hardwood you sell today may still be 

in service until the next century. That is longevity, which 

is a good story, even during bad times. 

When times are bad, that is when associations have 

the most value. But is also the time when companies 

look to cut back on expenses and look for places they 

can save. Dues to the NHLA and allied associations are 

not wasted but are critical roots of our industry. We use 

your hard-earned dues to support the Hardwood Federation 

(10 percent) and the Real American Hardwood 

Coalition (5 percent), whose advocacy and promotion efforts 

are critical to turning the market around. Your NHLA 

dues also fund the Inspector Training School building 

the next generation of workforce, inspectors, managers, 

and leaders within your organization. Additionally, they 

support the rest of the foundation the NHLA requires to 

keep staff inspectors in the field, perform QC and yield 

analysis, as well as provide industry publications and the 

annual convention. So, when times are bad don’t cut off 

the root. Instead, trim a few branches and remember the 

leaves will grow again. Why knot remember the good we 

do? n 

BY DALLIN BROOKS, 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 

NATIONAL HARDWOOD LUMBER ASSOCIATION, 

MEMPHIS, TN 

901-377-1082 

WWW.NHLA.COM 

16 DECEMBER 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE www.RealAmericanHardwood.org

NAFF BULLETIN 

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE 

When you look toward the future, what do you see? 

The year 2050 is not much more than 25 years away— 

roughly a generation and much less than the typical lifetime. 

What changes can we expect to see in the years 

ahead? Population growth will continue, and it’s anticipated 

that by 2050, the population distribution could be 

70 percent urban, up from over 50 percent living in cities 

today. 

The more people, the greater the demand for housing, 

and greater need for clean air and water. Added to this is 

the need to protect the health of our planet by removing 

carbon from the atmosphere. That’s a tall order, but one 

that forests can address. 

Solutions to these challenges share a common component: 

sustainable forest management. 

As a building material for housing, wood is a star. It’s 

a renewable resource. Mass timber in particular offers 

valuable properties for builders, even for high-rise structures. 

It provides a biophilic environment for residents, 

enhancing life inside the built environment. Mass timber 

has inherent fire resistance and components for structures 

can be partially premade off site, which reduces 

noise and potentially accelerates the construction process. 

As a building material, less carbon is released 

during the manufacture and transportation of timber 

building products. In addition, because the timber comes 

from trees that absorbed carbon during their lifetimes, 

the lumber locks in the carbon that has been sequestered. 

Wood and mass timber building materials also 

reduce the need for plastics and other non-renewable 

components. 

Choosing to build with wood means that the wood 

products are coming from a managed forest, one which 

employs state-of-the-art technologies and best practices 

for careful harvesting, extensive replanting, and a longterm 

view that considers forest health in 100-year cycles. 

Active management of a forest keeps it healthy and protects 

it from the encroachment of developers and others 

seeking to put those lands to a different use. 

As trees grow, they efficiently take in carbon from the 

air, providing a carbon sink and each year storing more 

than one and a half times as much carbon dioxide as the 

U.S. produces, according to the World Resources Institute. 

Using more wood in cities, paying attention to urban 

development and increasing tree planting in cities, as 

well as careful stewardship of forested land all point toward 

a reason to hope for the future. But one more component 

needs to be added to see the positive change we 

all seek. 

The wider population needs to understand the vital role 

that wood plays in protecting life and the health of the 

planet. People need to know all the areas of our daily 

life where we depend on wood products and how it is 

harvested and processed. This understanding needs to 

reach current and future generations and become part 

of a deeper collective knowledge that explains the truth 

about trees. 

Your work and daily practices support the continued 

demand for wood and the technologies you apply increase 

the efficiency of the process. Certainly, too, you 

strive to communicate the benefits of wood to all those 

you interact with, but it takes more than that to fuel the 

change in thinking that’s needed. 

Changing hearts and minds about sustainable forestry 

and wood products, for good, is where the North American 

Forest Foundation comes in. We’re on a mission to 

educate 1 million children by 2030, by helping them become 

#exTREEmelysmart. We provide teachers across 

North America with Truth About Trees kits for their classrooms—at 

no charge—to introduce these vital concepts 

to kids in grades K-3. Each kit reaches a classroom – or 

more – filled with kids, and helps teachers convey scientific 

facts that dispel common myths about wood while 

teaching about the many ways wood touches our daily 

lives. 

The next aspect of our education program, a digital educational 

tool directed to junior high kids, is in the works. 


BY ALLISON DEFORD, 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 

NORTH AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION, 

COLLIERVILLE, TN 

901-860-4131 

adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org 




Building Lifetime Tables At 


By Michelle Keller 

Fine billiard tables are proudly displayed in A.E. Schmidt’s showroom. 

A.E. Schmidt has 25 pool tables standard in their line, including the Webster. 



St. Louis, MO—Schmidt Billiards, based here, 

manufactures pool tables and shuffleboards. The 

company purchases an estimated 100,000 board 

feet annually in Oak, Cherry, Walnut, Maple and 

Quartersawn Oak (Select and Better, 4/4 

through 8/4). 

In an industry that is filled with imports, 

A.E. Schmidt proudly builds 

its tables in the USA. The factory 

uses the highest grades of wood 

(flat, clear and split free), machinery 

and materials to make 

tables that last. 

Founded by Ernst Schmidt, 

who immigrated to St. Louis 

in 1849, A.E. Schmidt Billiards 

opened in 1850. Schmidt was 

a master craftsman and more importantly 

an ivory turner of high skill. 

Seeing the demand, he quickly set up 

shop. 

A successful businessman, he was a craftsman 

and thought like one. While he could speak English, 

most of his instructions were written on a chalkboard 

in German. Specializing in turning ivory, the company 

later began advertising for billiard balls, ten pin balls, 

and smoking pipes. Schmidt also began servicing billiard 

tables. 

He brought his son Oscar into the business at age five 


to learn the trade (a tradition that still continues today). 

It was very much a working man’s type of existence, 

much like a plumber, electrician or other trade. The second 

generation, Oscar, moved to Kansas City 

for a few years to learn woodworking and 

“You don’t need a 

service contract with a 

Schmidt table; they last 

forever. It’s true: you get 

what you pay for. Import 

brands skimp on the 

construction, finish, lumber 

and are mass produced. Our 

tables will stand the test of 

time from generation 

to generation.” 

– Kurt Schmidt, president 


brought his skills back to A.E. Schmidt 

Billiards, manufacturing the first 

pool table for the company. 

He apprenticed and learned 

how to build pool tables. 

Thanks to his talent, the company 

began to expand into the 

manufacturing and repairing of 

pool tables. Oscar realized that 

bars were the perfect place for his 

type of sturdy pool tables, and he 

realized that those tables would need 

frequent repairs. The company began to 

grow under his direction, and he began training 

his sons, Edwin and Ernest, to put their own stamp on 

the business. 

“Throughout the years and generations our line of pool 

tables has become more evolved in regard to style and 

design,” current President Kurt Schmidt said. “We now 

have 25 pool tables standard in our line with countless 

custom models built every year.” 

Please turn the page 


A.E. SCHMIDT BILLIARDS Continued 

The Windsor billiard table from A.E. 

Schmidt has a sturdy and minimalist 

structure. 

A.E. Schmidt builds shuffleboards, like these, in addition to billiard tables. 

Now in the 6th 

generation, just like the 

preceding generations, 

current management has 

been working at the company 

doing small jobs here and there 

since they were young. Currently the 

6th generation is helping increase the 

wholesale production of the 5th generation 

and bringing the company into the digital age. 

Each of Kurt and Karen’s kids have their own 

passions and strengths within the company. Michael 

oversees the factory and makes sure production goes 

smoothly. Stephanie excels at selling and handles most 

of the wholesale operations. Rachel is passionate about 

designing tables and the behind-the-scenes analytical 

work. 

When asked about new lines and features, Kurt noted, 

“Typically, we will add about four new pool table designs 

every year to our standard lineup. We bring them to our 

annual BCA Expo, where our industry gathers to display 

and view the newest products in game-room design.” 

He explained how the manufacturing process works: 

“We use mostly Oak, Maple, Walnut and Poplar. We 

typically like to use what the customer wants, and those 

four cover the majority of requests. We used to use exotics 

but price and availability have reached a point where 

it doesn’t make sense to even offer it much anymore.” 

He continued, “We use either a unibody or dowel pin 

type construction. Dowel pin allows for a perfect frame 

alignment every time, not to mention we have been using 


this technique since the early 1900’s, so you 

can be guaranteed old-world quality. All frames 

have little to no shake and are milled flat within 1/64” 

corner to corner. We don’t use plastic. All sight material 

is the natural mother of pearl or wood inlay. Sights are 

sanded before finishing so that you get a silky uniform 

feel. We brush and then hand wipe our stain to allow 

the natural grain pattern to shine through. Next, we apply 

four coats of sealer/finish and hand-rub with 400 grit 

between all coats. Tough, sturdier rails are the name of 

the game. We use 3/8” threaded inserts which gives better 

resistance to over-tightening. All rails are lined with 

Hardwood on the bottom to add maximum strength and 

resist warping. All our tables use a 3-piece 1” slate from 

Brazil. Each piece of the configuration is diamond honed 

on both sides for maximum flatness.” 

Mass production is common in a “right now” society. 

Kurt said A.E. doesn’t sign on for that type of business. 

“We typically build three tables a day. Each table moves 

through our factory as a unit, so we can assure perfect 

fit every time. Our customers can be assured the table is 

getting the TLC it deserves.” 


In a competitive market, Kurt said quality and consistency 

are the keys to success. “We have maintained a 

remarkable allegiance to the original ideas of the founder,” 

he explained. “It has remained family owned and 

operated since 1850. We have always maintained that 

‘quality pool tables’ should be the focus of our business, 

that we should be the ‘go-to company’ when no one else 

can help. A pool table hasn’t changed that much in 100 

years; in fact we still build one model that came out in 

1924. You don’t need a service contract with a Schmidt 

table; they last forever. It’s true: you get what you pay 

for. Import brands skimp on the construction, finish, lumber 

and are mass produced. Our tables will stand the 

test of time from generation to generation.” 

As for key people, Kurt said every employee is key 

to making the operation successful. “Currently, we have 


five family members working at the company: Karen, Michael, 

Stephanie, Rachel and myself. Together we make 

up the 5th and 6th generations of the company. We also 

have 20 employees, many who have been with us 20- 

plus years. Our foreman Dan Julaton is a key member of 

operations who ensures everything runs smoothly. His 

two kids also work for us part-time while in college.” 

Looking ahead he indicated expanding markets will be 

key for the operation. “Future plans involve expanding 

our ever-growing dealer base and continuing to design 

pool tables for every type of customer and game-room 

space.” 

A.E. Schmidt Billiards is a member of Billiard Congress 

of America (BCA): Stephanie Schmidt holds a position 

on the board of directors. n 

For more information visit www.aeschmidtbilliards.com. 

A.E. Schmidt is located in St. Louis, MO. 

Cushions are lined up at A.E. Schmidt, ready for installation. 


“This mill is going on its 22nd year 

and there are many 20-plus-year 

employees. I know we all feel pretty 

much the same way, that it’s a unique 

commitment from ownership.” 

- Scott Ferland, General Manager, 

Maine Woods Co. 

The timberland is managed by Seven Islands Land Co. and is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative 

(SFI) certified, with logs coming from a 200-mile radius of the mill. 

Maine Woods: 

Doing What’s Right For The Forest 

Portage Lake, ME - Maine Woods Company (MWC), 

located here, in the middle of 4.5 million acres of 

timberland, manufactures 14 million board feet 

per year with 60 percent Hard Maple, 25 percent Yellow 

Birch, 10 percent Soft Maple, 5 percent Ash, ranging 

in thickness from 4/4 to 9/4 in grade lumber and pallet 

cants. Over 800,000 acres of the timberland is privately 

owned by the Pingree family, who has been in the forest 

management business for over 180 years. The timberland 

is managed by Seven Islands Land Co. and is 

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry 

Initiative (SFI) certified, with logs coming from a 

200-mile radius of the mill. The plant, along with all other 

facilities combined totals 170 acres, with Scott Ferland 

as the General Manager. 

By Terry Miller 

Ferland has been the general manger at MWC for the 

past six years, and has been in the forest products industry, 

particularly the Hardwood sawmill side of it, for 

nearly 30 years, with his time spent between Turnquist 

Lumber Co., Inc., and Cersosimo Lumber Co. after he 

graduated from National Hardwood Lumber Association 

Inspector Training School in their 189th class. With 

his expertise, as well as the skill of their 55 employees, 

the Pingree family has a lot of trust in Ferland and his 

crew at the sawmill. As he says, “This mill is going on its 

22nd year and there are many 20-plus-year employees. 

I know we all feel pretty much the same way, that it’s a 

unique commitment from ownership.” 

MWC’s products include KD and Green Hardwood 

lumber, both of which are double end trimmed and 

Chris Castano, sales and marketing director, of Maine Woods 

Company (MWC) located in Portage Lake, ME. 

waxed with U-C Coatings’ Anchorseal prior to going into 

the kiln, and they use a uniform grooved sticker to eliminate 

sticker shadows. They have six American Wood 

Dryers with 500,000 board feet capacity, with enough 

storage and warehouse space to store 3 million board 

feet of dry lumber. MWC tarps all lumber that has been 

kiln-dried before it leaves the mill. 

Recently they added a Newman 308 planer, which 

is a stand-alone operation, and has been incorporated 

into their grading facility. This allows them to dress the 

lumber as it is graded and enables them to be more efficient, 

giving their customers quicker turnaround times. 

Ferland said, “We are a typical New England mill, with 

our average length being a little longer than eight feet. 

We have decent diameters of our logs, with average 

width. We have flexibilities in our systems that we can 

put up lumber any way a customer would like. Any color 

designation, any width designation, length designation, 

special packaging, we try to be flexible with not only the 

forest product that we receive and how we must make 

good lumber out of it, but also on the customer’s end. If 

there are some needs that make their life easier, we will 

try to accommodate them,” Ferland remarked. “Should 

we need to do width sorts for our valued customers, we 

do it with a can do attitude!” he added. 

“Maine Woods has a diverse customer base by design 

which allows us to be flexible when deciding our sawing 

pattern for each species. We market our lumber to longterm 

customers who have come to rely on our consistency 

and quality for their needs while also keeping our 

eye on new opportunities that present themselves for 

potential new clients,” said Chris Castano, MWC’s sales 

and marketing director. “Since MWC only produces four 

different species, we are able to develop loads quickly 

and efficiently to the specifications that our customers 

need,” he continued. 

In order to provide their customers with consistency 

and allow them the ability to practically customize their 

lumber in the way they like, MWC uses a host of equipment: 

ring debarker by VK North America, a small diameter 

log break down by Maxi-Mill, a short log carriage 

by Sering Sawmill Machinery with a USNR scanner, a 

double cut slant carriage with a McDonough Manufacturing 

band saw, a Corley carriage with Lewis Controls 

scanner, a McDonough lumber re-saw, a Valley Edger 

with USNR optimization, an Autolog grading and sorting 


MWC has flexibilities in their systems that help them put up lumber 

any way a customer would like. 




MAINE WOODS Continued 

Over 800,000 acres of the timberland is privately owned by the Pingree family, who has been in the forest management business for 

over 180 years. 

MWC manufactures 14 million board feet per year with 60 percent Hard Maple, 25 percent Yellow Birch, 10 percent Soft Maple, and 5 

percent Ash. 

system, Piche Inc. grading and sorting system, Precision 

Lumber Inc. chippers, PHL stacker, Rawlings Manufacturing 

bark hog, and Caterpillar rolling stock. 

All this equipment allows them to produce 14 million 

board feet per year for their many customers that are 

secondary wood manufacturers in the furniture, moulding, 

cabinet, and flooring industries. Their lumber also 

is marketed to distribution yards throughout the United 

States, as well as to North American exporters that help 

MWC’s products include KD and Green Hardwood lumber, both 

of which are double end trimmed and waxed with U-C Coatings’ 

Anchorseal prior to going into the kiln. 

distribute their product overseas. “We have a company 

policy of not directly exporting lumber, so we partner 

with reputable companies that do,” Castano noted. 

While they currently purchase power from the grid, 

they have plans to install a generator within the next 18 

months that will displace about 30 percent of the electricity 

that they purchase. 

MWC’s processes to convert logs to lumber is efficient. 

They sort the logs after debarking, ranging between five 

A new surfacing line has been installed to increase efficiencies 

and provide better customer service. 

There is a tremendous team that MWC has helping take care of the vast amount 

of acreage that supplies MWC. 

to nine feet logs. They send smaller diameter, lower 

grade logs to a Maxi-Mill. All other logs go to a more 

traditional head rig. Maxi-Mill material goes to a gang 

edger, and cants are further processed at the re-saw. 

Mini-mill material will get sawn up on a carriage. Lumber 

is edged, then graded before trimming. After trimming, it 

is dropped into a sling sorter where they put it on sticks 

if it is going to the dry kilns. The industrial 

products are dead packed. The kiln-dried 

lumber is re-graded and trimmed, with the 

option of going through the planer before final 

packaging. 

Ferland stated that it is a tremendous 

team that they have helping take care of 

the vast amount of acreage that supplies 

MWC. Seven Islands Land Co. has a team 

of about 20 for mapping, planning, forester 

operations, and contract negotiations, all of 

which have their forestry licenses. “In good 

times and bad we are going to continue to 

do what is right for the forest, something 

that Chris Castano lets our customers know, 

with some of our better customers being 

better customers for that reason,” Ferland 

stated. 

MWC belongs to Hardwood Manufacturers 

Association, Wood Products Manufacturing 

Association, New England Lumbermen’s Association, 

Forest Stewardship Council, New England Kiln 

Drying Association, and Real American Hardwood Coalition. 

n 

For more information, visit 

www.mainewoodscompany.com. 




2023 

FORECASTS 

2022 Was Good For 

Some, Not For Others; 

’23 Portends 

Challenges And Hope 

By Mattew Fite 

In assessing the Hardwood lumber market for 2022, lumber 

providers participating in this forecast took two approaches. 

One was to say that this was a successful year. The other was 

to say that 2022 was a great year until midway, at which point 

things didn’t go so well. 

One participant stated, “We always like to look back on history 

to help us plan for the future, but our industry has faced 

many unprecedented events recently, so we have no real track 

record to gather information from.” 

Another lumberman called 2022 “overall a good decent 

year.” 

“In order for 2023 to be successful,” said still another, “the 

overall market and demands will need to bounce back.” 

Said one lumber representative: “At the end, everything will 

stabilize, and it will begin to take shape.” 

JOE GORI 

LAWRENCE LUMBER COMPANY 

MAIDEN, NC 

2022 definitely had a great start but started taking a 

drastic turn towards the end of the 2nd quarter; prices 

started to crumble and fell very fast. 

We expected prices to start falling sooner or later as 

they went up to record highs in 2021, but they fell much 

faster than anticipated. Every week we saw it falling, and 

you find yourself with high cost inventory that now you 

are having to sell at lower prices if you want to be in the 

market. 

At the same time exchange rates with the EU and UK 

began to be a negative effect for the export market as 

the dollar is gaining strength and creating difficulties with 

our export customers as that is going against them. 

To keep going with challenges let’s not forget freight, 

especially domestic freight. The cost from our yard to 

the ports is greater than the ocean freight to Europe or 

Asia, and that is also making prices higher. 

So, if you see it all in a big picture, prices are falling, 

freight is increasing; what more challenges can we face? 

But at the end, everything will stabilize, and it will begin 

to take shape, so it’s always like this; if there is a big 

increase go ahead and plan for the decrease. 

The Poplar is our “Bread” quick turn around, always 

requested everywhere, but this year despite the price 

fall, Hickory has been a strong one, and a great one for 

us. We have great sources and the prices have been 

pretty stable. 

Our ripping and surfacing line has also been a great 

addition for us. We are using it very often and have a 

new customer base that buys surface and ripped lumber, 

so this has been helping us a lot and customers have 

been liking our production. 

As mentioned, the transportation for inland has been 

difficult, more for the prices that are very high, or else 

availability is OK, we are able to get trucks every day. 

The ocean freight instead has been much better. 

Quicker services and booking are not rolling as much as 

they were, so that’s good and stable. So, we hope this 

keeps going, but I’m not trying to be pessimist but I’m 

sure rates will definitely increase soon. 

The only thing about exporting that worries me are the 

exchange rates due to a strong dollar. I believe there will 

be orders to export but not as much volume. They will 

buy what they need, instead of taking an extra container 

to have in stock. v 






2023 FORECASTS Continued 

ERIC PORTER 

ABENAKI TIMBER CORP. 

KINGSTON, NH 

I believe that 2022 will turn out 

to be one of the most challenging 

years in recent memory. We started 

the year in great shape and continued 

experiencing record breaking 

months until about mid-June. Then 

everything seemed to stop and the 

“race to the bottom” was on. The 

rest of the year will be trying to hold 

on to whatever gains we have made 

in the previous 18 months. As of this 

writing I can say that we are hoping 

that we have reached the bottom 

as far as pricing goes and we are 

working to get back to positive numbers 

by the end of the first quarter 

in 2023. For 2023 our challenges 

will be getting the material we need 

at numbers that work with what we 

are able to get when the material is 

through our processes. 

Transportation still remains an issue, 

but we have seen that open up 

a bit to date and we are hoping to 

see that trend continue. 

Our customers include manufacturers 

of Hardwood products, distribution 

yards, and importers of American 

Hardwoods. Biggest sellers 

were cabinet manufacturers, flooring 

companies, and distribution yards as 

well as Asian importers. 

We installed all new Messersmith 

boiler controls for our wood waste 

system in New Hampshire. They are 

much more efficient and user friendly 

as well as easier to maintain. 

We are constantly dealing with 

lack of enough labor at both of our 

plants. 

In shipping, the port issues and 

lack of containers and vessels are 

big issues for us. 

As an exporter, we simply deal 

with tariffs as they happen. We have 

kept in touch with our local legislators 

and use the Hardwood Federation 

for help and tips. v 

WENDELL CRAMER 

W.M. CRAMER LUMBER CO. 

CONNELLY SPRINGS, NC 

The first part of 2022 was exceptional with prices going 

up and from August until now going straight down so 

overall a good decent year. 

The first part of the year everything was selling well 

except Red Oak and Cherry and now everything is pretty 

slow. 

Having enough employees is a big problem. We are 

TROY BROWN 

KRETZ LUMBER CO., INC. 

ANTIGO, WI 

just going slower on everything. 

In transportation and shipping, prices were so high 

early this year. They have now come down in trucking 

and water freight. 

Export shipments need to pick up so customers can 

share better prices on shipments. v 

BRANDON CLARK 

CLARK LUMBER COMPANY 

RED BOILING SPRINGS, TN 

The first half of 2022 was just as good as 2021 but it 

has been all downhill since July. We are seeing less and 

less demand for lumber primarily overseas, but domestic 

demand has slowed also. Export freight is a major challenge 

at the Nashville rail yard which is another added 

challenge. In order to have a successful remainder of 

this year and 2023, we have to have a steady demand 

for the grade lumber that is being produced. 

Domestic distribution is the strongest sector we have 

been selling to with domestic flooring coming in second. 

Crossties and cant customers have been steady as well. 

A new Cleereman carriage was installed at one of our 

locations to replace the older one that had been running 

for 20 years. The upgrade will increase production by 

5-8 percent without adding any employees. This will improve 

efficiency for that location. Two new Hurdle mills 

are being installed at other locations to replace older 

equipment there also. 

Having enough employees was a struggle for 2021 

and the first half of 2022 but it does seem to be getting 

better now. We are fully staffed at each location. 

In transportation, the entire process of trying to get 

containers and then get them to the rail and the boat has 

been extremely challenging for the last two years. 

Current and expected tariffs would probably finish off 

what is left of the export market we have now. v 

Though there were challenges in 2022, it was successful. 

We have been able to replenish our customers’ 

supply requirements and retain our core customers. 

That always falls in the success category. 

Almost all of our customers are associated with the 

housing industry. Lumber that is manufactured in cabinet 

components is solid. I think a crucial metric to watch 

is the impact of interest rates on the housing market. If 

the fed gets over-aggressive in its policy, there could be 

some tough sledding for housing and other industries. 

We have increased our custom rip services, but we 

stay steady with our services and products. We believe 

in staying with what we know and doing it to the best of 

our abilities. 

We are finishing the installation of a new 500HP, 

high-pressure steam wood-fired boiler and steam turbine. 

The boiler will allow us to expand our kiln-drying 

capacity in the future and provide steam for the co-generation 

of electricity for the kilns and boiler. Additionally, 

we will produce enough steam for another co-generation 

unit if necessary. 

Like everyone, there are challenges for hiring, but we 

are 100 percent employee-owned, which helps with retention. 

Our biggest issue in transportation is internal. Hiring 

drivers that can run over the road and a log loader is a 

position that has been open. This becomes more important 

in the winter months here in the north because that 

is when our timber harvesting is at its peak. 

We favor fair and free trade. In theory, fair trade is unattainable, 

and free trade is susceptible to unfair trade 

practices. However, the Hardwood industry relies on 

export markets in the current economic environment. 

Therefore, back to my first statement, we support fair 

and free trade. v 






2023 FORECASTS Continued from page 31 

BUCKY PESCAGLIA 

MO PAC LUMBER CO. 

FAYETTE, MO 

2022 would be considered a very successful year for 

MO PAC lumber Co, although the last quarter is looking 

to be less than stellar. The Hardwood market must overcome 

the uncertainty that is everywhere before it can 

begin to equal the successes of the past two years. We 

always like to look back on history to help us plan for the 

future, but our industry has faced many unprecedented 

events recently, so we have no real track record to 

gather information from. We are also experiencing higher 

production costs from increased wages, insurance, 

and energy costs that will impact profitability. This lack 

of certainty is going to create opportunities for some but 

will likely force others out of business. 

Our mill’s production is over 90 percent Walnut and it 

has been selling at a record pace for the past 2 years. 

We do some Soft Maple, White Oak, and Aromatic Red 

Cedar and those items moved well through the first 

three-quarters of the year. 

We have increased all of our wages from $4-$5 an 

hour in the past year which has helped us stay fully 

staffed for the better part of 2022 but we continue to 

struggle with attracting skilled labor. 

Domestic truck availability has improved in 2022 but 

delays are the biggest issue we are having with our exports. 

Once we finally get the booking in place, nearly 

every container will get delayed from either schedule 

change, rail delay, port congestion, ship weight issues, 

or any number of other “delays” that we are given as 

reasons. Most shipments are ultimately delayed an average 

of 30 days from the original ETA. 

Tariffs have their place in creating a level playing field 

with international business, but they can become a political 

tool that greatly impacts certain industries. They 

must be handled with tremendous care and planning to 

avoid disastrous repercussions. v 

BRANT FORCEY 

FORCEY LUMBER COMPANY 

WOODLAND, PA 

2022 has been successful for our company. Only disappointment 

for the year so far has been that we haven’t 

been able to completely capitalize on the good market 

because of labor issues. 

We are a wholesale concentration yard and also a veneer 

manufacturer. All of our products from KD rough 

lumber, to sliced veneer, and also our veneer components 

operation have been in strong demand equally. 

Only lately KD lumber has slowed some but our veneer 

programs remain strong. 

Our newest service is our door component product 

and we are currently building a 20,000 square foot facility 

to better serve our customers with those products. 

We are in the process of installing numerous end clippers, 

jointers and splicers in our new facility, mainly to 

enhance our veneer component operation. 

We seem to never have enough employees at this 

point. We have done a lot more local advertising for employment 

and raised our entry level wage considerably. 

Shipping is unpredictable at best right now, mainly internationally. 

Domestically we are able to get trucks. It 

may take a day or two longer than we want it to but not 

nearly as bad as export containers. 

Tariffs are a very real problem for the future. If the 

deadline is only extended it won’t solve the problem. We 

will still have the problem to deal with down the road. 

We need a clear direction when it comes to the tariffs 

and hopefully this will happen sooner rather than later, 

but not likely. v 

ROB PARADISE 

DEVEREAUX SAWMILL 

PEWAMO, MI 

2022 has been a successful year but has slowed down 

into the last quarter. In order for 2023 to be successful 

the overall market and demands will need to bounce 

back. 

Most products seemed to be strong for the 1st half of 

the year, RV and flooring have fallen off while cabinetry 

and millwork have remained stronger, relatively speaking. 

CHELSEA ZUCCATO 

PATRICK LUMBER 

PORTLAND, OR 

2022 was successful for our company, 

but the contrasts between ‘21- 

‘22 are evident. In 2023 we will face 

many of the same challenges as the 

industry. The PO’s will not be falling 

into the laps of the sales team. Anyone 

hired after 2010 does not know 

or remember what it is like to work in 

a tough market. We will have to work 

hard, add value internally and externally, 

and remind ourselves why 

Patrick Lumber has stood the test 

of time for over 107 years and many 

market conditions. We care about 

our suppliers and our customers, 

not only when things are easy, but 

we show up when things are challenging. 

Our Hardwood distribution customers 

were able to get our Clear 

Douglas fir rough and finished products 

more readily available than most 

other high grade softwood products. 

While many other products suffered 

price increases, lowered availability, 

and tariffs, Douglas fir thrived in supply 

in the Pacific Northwest thanks to 

domestic mills, and an abundance of 

fire salvage wood that made Douglas 

fir a sustainable and economical 

choice. 

At the mill level, physical labor is 

always a challenge we are faced 

with. We continue to offer competitive 

benefits for all our employees 

that contend with major companies 

in our market such as Nike and Intel. 

We believe we offer some of the best 

benefits in the industry with 401k 

matching, PTO, paid volunteer days, 

Three new kilns adding 180,000’ of kiln capacity will be 

fired up by year’s end. 

Having enough employees had been worse but is improving. 

However, an additional 2-3 people would be 

ideal. 

As for transportation, trucks are readily available. 

Lack of a demand and low pricing is currently the biggest 

issue on the export market. v 

healthcare, ICP bonuses; we even 

pay for subscriptions to applications 

that offer guided meditation and 

mental health exercises. We believe 

that our employees are as important 

as our customers; we cannot have 

one without the other. 

Also, we installed and tested a 

Nyle dry kiln controller for our dehumidification 

dry kiln. It provides a 20 

percent reduction on drying hours 

and increased drying quality. Additionally, 

we designed and installed a 

shade dry enclosure utilizing 80 percent 

reduction cloth which protects 

product in the green yard prone to 

checking, splitting and color degradation. 

v 




At Fall Meeting, CHB Describes 

Promotional Efforts Through 2023 

Cleveland, OH–The 2022 Fall Meeting of the Canadian 

Hardwood Bureau (CHB) was held here at the 

recent National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) 

convention with 40 delegates attending. 

The guest speaker was Michael Snow, executive 

director of the American Hardwood Export Council, 

whose presentation was entitled “Hardwood Exports in 

a Changed World.” 

The group was also pleased to have the new NHLA 

executive director, Dallin Brooks, attend the meeting and 

Allison DeFord, executive director of the North American 

Forest Foundation, also made a brief presentation. CHB 

reiterated its support for the work of the North American 

Forest Foundation. 

Chairman Shaun Rowe, of Quality Hardwoods Ltd., 

noted that CHB had a very busy year. Thanks to Haliburton 

Forest Products and Quality Hardwoods Ltd., 

along with NHLA and CHB, a 7-Week Lumber Inspector 

Training program was held in the spring. A total of 

Photos by Terry Miller 

15 students registered, 14 for the 7-week program and 

one for the 2-week course. Interest in holding a similar 

course in 2023 exists, so members were invited to send 

employees to this unique opportunity in Canada. 

Rowe also outlined the CHB’s Promotion Program, the 

goal of which is to tell the story of Canadian Hardwoods 

as beautiful, durable, and sustainable interior building 

materials to as many potential customers as possible. 

The program targets U.S.-based designers and architects, 

who will promote the industry’s story to homeowners 

and commercial end users. Last year, CHB presented 

12 online webinars, reaching almost 1,400 designers 

and architects. This year’s program will exceed those 

participation numbers. Rowe urged members to support 

the promotions efforts. 

The next meeting of the CHB will be held in April 2023 

in Montreal. Visit www.canadianhardwoodbureau. 

com for updates on the next meeting. n 

Michael and Allison Brooks, Quality Hardwoods Ltd., Powassan, 

ON; and Parker Dukas, Abenaki Timber Corp., Kingston, NH 

Terry Miller, National Hardwood Magazine, Memphis, TN; Michael 

Snow, AHEC, Washington, DC; Riley Hogan, Upper Canada Forest 

Products Ltd., Burnaby, BC; and Stephanie Van Dystadt, DV Hardwoods 

Inc., Fassett, QC 

Clayton Miller and Ian Rowe, Aurora Timberland/Alexandria 

Moulding Inc., Bradford, ON; Simon Larocque, NHLA, Montreal, 

QC; Dallin Brooks, Executive Director, NHLA, Memphis, TN; and 

Bill Miller, Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve Ltd., Haliburton, 

ON 

Tom Byers, NHLA, Tionesta, PA; Dana Spessert, NHLA, Memphis, 

TN; and Doug Zimmerman Jr., Matson Lumber Company, 

Brookville, PA 

Roy Reif, Lumber Resources Inc., Quebec City, QC; Chris Castano, Maine Woods Company LLC, Portage Lake, ME; Philippe LeBlanc, 

Lumber Resources Inc., Quebec City, QC; and Richard Lipman, Executive Director, Canadian Hardwood Bureau, Ottawa, ON 

Cameron McRae, McRae Lumber Company, Whitney, ON; Burt 

Craig, Matson Lumber Company, Brookville, PA; Brin Langmuir, 

Falcon Lumber Ltd., Toronto, ON; and David Hubbard, GMC Hardwoods 

Inc., Norwich, VT 

Malcolm Cockwell, Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve Ltd., 

Haliburton, ON; Chris Fehr and Mark Metzger, U-C Coatings LLC, 

Buffalo, NY; and Shaun Rowe, Quality Hardwoods Ltd., Powassan, 

ON 

Judd Johnson, Hardwood Market Report, Memphis, TN; Sam 

Glidden, GMC Hardwoods Inc., Medfield, MA; Luke Martin, Upper 

Canada Forest Products Ltd., Mississauga, ON; and Brian 

Cruzen, Hardwood Market Report 

J.R. Queensberry and Michael Penner, Breeze Dried Inc./ 

Townsend Lumber Inc., Tillsonburg, ON; and Simon Larocque 

NHLA, Montreal, QC 




AWMA Discusses Ways To Promote 

Walnut, Especially Abroad 

Cleveland, OH–The American Walnut Manufacturers 

Association (AWMA) met here in conjunction with 

the National Hardwood Lumber Association convention 

recently to conduct their bi-annual membership meeting 

of the association. A primary discussion point was the 

concern for continuing declines in both green and kilndried 

lumber pricing. The entire membership is faced 

with declining pricing but demand for products varied by 

region. Exporting to Southeast Asia and Europe has declined 

for most members and for some, it has stopped 

for the time being. Concerns about exporting to China 

were expressed by the entire membership. 

Executive Director Brian Brookshire discussed his recent 

trip to Bangalore, India on behalf of the membership. 

AWMA is interested in increasing Walnut’s presence 

in India and feels that it is a focal point for new 

marketing efforts. The decision was made for AWMA to 

have a presence at Indiawood and Dubai WoodShow 

in 2023. 

AWMA’s next meeting will be held in conjunction with 

the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association (IHLA) 

meeting in 2023. n 

To learn more about AWMA, visit 

www.walnutassociation.org. 

Photos by Terry Miller 

Brian and Laura Brookshire, Executive Director, American Walnut 

Manufacturers Association, Jefferson City, MO; Bill Long, 

Midwest Hardwood Company, Maple Grove, MN; Tony Pescaglia, 

MO PAC Lumber Co., Fayette, MO; and Matt Yest, Kendrick Forest 

Products Inc., Edgewood, IA 

Fellowship Of Christian Lumbermen 

Hold End-Of-Year Meeting 

Cleveland, OH–The Fellowship of Christian Lumbermen 

(FCL) welcomed members to a meeting here 

at the Huntington Convention Center in conjunction with 

the National Hardwood Lumber Association Convention 

and Exhibit Showcase. 

The FCL exists, according to their website, to encourage 

and support one another with the following purposes: 

•To be a group of people united by faith and work, 

striving together to make a difference in their businesses, 

industry and community. 

•Striving, in all things, to glorify God and strengthen 

each other in faith. 

•To be a mentor. 

•To lean on each other when faced with difficult issues. 

•To step out and stand for what is right and acceptable 

in God’s sight, in accordance with His Word. 

Photos By Gary Miller 

Dean Alanko, Allegheny Wood Products International Inc., Petersburg, 

WV; Wayde Day, Beaver Freight Services, Portland, OR; 

Rob McCarthy, NWH, Apple Creek, OH; and Brian Gibson, Cole 

Hardwood Inc., Logansport, IN 

•To be a shining example of what a Christ-like life 

should be. 

•To offer ourselves for accountability and to challenge 

us to excellence. n 

Learn more about how to become a member of this group by visiting 

www.christianlumbermen.wordpress.com. 

Phillip Smith, Stoltzfus Forest Products, Millersville, PA; and 

Dathan Gruver and Ronnie Smith, D & D Hardwood LLC, Racine, 

MO 

Terry Miller, National Hardwood Magazine, Memphis, TN; Coby 

Short, Hartzell Hardwoods Inc., Piqua, OH; and Brian Brookshire, 

Executive Director, American Walnut Manufacturers Association, 

Jefferson City, MO 

Andy Johnson, Hardwood Market Report, Memphis, TN; Ed Weiner, 

Emporium Hardwoods Inc., Emporium, PA; and Lee Stiles, 

A.W. Stiles Contractors Inc., McMinnville, TN 

Gary Miller, National Hardwood Magazine, Memphis, TN; Scott 

Seyler, Northland Forest Products Inc., Kingston, NH; Jason 

Johnson, Winston Hardwood Inc., Double Springs, AL; and 

George Crawford, Merrick Hardwoods, Burnside, KY 

Alex Wiezorek and Steve Bruggeman, Bruggeman Lumber Inc., 

Hopkinton, IA; Darrell Gruver, D & D Hardwood LLC, Racine, MO; 

and Thomas Braun, Holz Braun GmbH and Co. KG, Reutlingen, 

Germany 

Bucky Pescaglia, MO PAC Lumber Co., Fayette, MO; and Tyler 

Kamps, Paul Kamps and Rob Kukowski, Kamps Hardwoods Inc., 

Dutton, MI 


Nathan Hascher, ETT Fine Woods, Donalds, SC; Kim Vollinger, 

W.M. Cramer Lumber Company, Hickory, NC; and Ray White Sr., 

Harold White Lumber & Millwork Inc., Morehead, KY 


Bryan Blankenship, Forest Investment Associates, Atlanta, GA; 

Lee White, Harold White Lumber & Millwork Inc., Morehead, KY; 

and Scott Hutton, A.W. Stiles Contractors Inc., McMinnville, TN 


Rossi Group Hosts Reception 

Cleveland, OH–The Rossi Group, headquartered in 

Cromwell, CT, recently welcomed guests to a reception 

here at the Huntington Convention Center in conjunction 

with the National Hardwood Lumber Association 

Convention and Exhibit Showcase. 

Rossi Group has been helping customers navigate 

the complexities of the Hardwood industry for nearly 

a century, according to the company’s website. Rossi 

Group produces some of the highest quality Hardwoods 

in the country, including, Red and White Oak, Maple, 

Ash and Cherry. n 

Learn more at www.rossigroup.net. 

Photos by Paul Miller Jr. and Terry Miller 

Bucky Pescaglia, MO PAC Lumber Co., Fayette, MO; and Tyler 

Kamps, Paul Kamps, and Rob Kukowski, Kamps Hardwoods Inc., 

Dutton, MI 

Stephen A. Zambo, Ally Global Logistics LLC, Jacksonville, FL; 

Marc Legros, Prolam/Boa-Franc G.P., St. Georges, QC; and Joe 

Benko and Joe Zona, Deer Park Lumber Inc., Tunkhannock, PA 

Stephen J. and Cindra Zambo, Ally Global Logistics LLC, Weymouth, 

MA; and Eric Porter, Abenaki Timber Corp., Kingston, NH 

Hud Caldwell, The Rossi Group, Scottdale, PA; Kris Long and 

Dean Miller, AHC Hardwood Group, Cleveland, GA; Steve Bukowski, 

Bradford Forest LLC, Bradford, PA; and Tony Machamer, Koppers 

Inc., Canal Winchester, OH 

Mark Miller, Frank Miller Lumber Co. Inc., Union City, IN; George 

Bach, East Ohio Lumber Co. Inc., Salineville, OH; and Hud Caldwell, 

The Rossi Group, Scottdale, PA 

Eric Terp, Global Timber, Hojbjerg, Denmark; Wesley Robinson, 

Robinson Lumber Company, New Orleans, LA; and Jordan McIlvain, 

Alan McIlvain Co., Marcus Hook, PA 

Terry Miller, National Hardwood Magazine, Memphis, TN; Fredrik 

Sturesson, Bradford Forest LLC, Bradford, PA; Russ Shamblen, 

B & B Lumber Company Inc./Premier Hardwood Products Inc., 

Jamesville, NY; and Jesse LaSon, The Rossi Group, Cromwell, 

CT 

Derek Wheeland, Wheeland Lumber Company Inc., Liberty, PA; 

William Heidler, Heidler Hardwood Lumber Co., Chicago, IL; Steve 

Stoufflet, Robinson Lumber Company, New Orleans, LA; and Fred 

Coffrin and Thomas Hibdon, Beacon Hardwoods LLC, Fort Myers, 

FL 

Chris Rider, AHC Hardwood Group, Mableton, GA; Ted Rossi, The 

Rossi Group, Cromwell, CT; Jim Howard, Atlanta Hardwood Corporation, 

Mableton, GA; and Rick Wagar, Deveraux Sawmill Inc., 

Pewamo, MI 

Steve Bukowski, Bradford Forest LLC, Bradford, PA; Randy Flament, 

Emporium Hardwoods Inc./The Rossi Group, Emporium, 

PA; and Bill Baker, Sean Kaczynski and Ray Wheeland, Wheeland 

Lumber Company Inc., Liberty, PA 

Doug Wirkkala, Hilary and David Wirkkala, Teresa Wirkkala, 

Hardwood Industries Inc., Sherwood, OR; Ted Rossi, The Rossi 

Group, Cromwell, CT; and Jaynie and Jeff Wirkkala, Hardwood 

Industries Inc. 

Tom Inman, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., High 

Point, NC; Jean Francois Audet, Primewood, Drummondville, 

QC; and Mark Barford, National Wooden Pallet & Container Association, 

Charleston, SC 

Jim Howard, Atlanta Hardwood Corporation, Mableton, GA; 

Jeff Meyer, Baillie Lumber Co., Hamburg, NY; and Scott Heidler, 

Heidler Hardwood Lumber Co., Chicago, IL 


Gail and Kevin Gillette, Tioga Hardwoods Inc., Berkshire, NY; Jeff 

Meyer, Bailllie Lumber Co., Hamburg, NY; and Ed Weiner, Emporium 

Hardwoods Inc., Emporium, PA 


Bradley and Beth Weller, TYR Wood Products Inc., Portland, OR; 

Robert Dudek Jr., Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp., East Earl, 

PA; and Darryl Eslinger, Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp., Beavertown, 

PA 

Additional photos on next page 


ROSSI RECEPTION PHOTOS Continued 

Scott Heidler, Heidler Hardwood Lumber Co., Chicago, IL; Dana 

Cole, Hardwood Federation, Washington, DC; and William Heidler, 

Heidler Hardwood Lumber Co., Chicago, IL 

Mark Pierce, New River Hardwoods Inc., Mountain City, TN; Boston 

Howe, Farm Credit Mid-America, Lexington, KY; Wayne Law, 

New River Hardwoods Inc.; Josh Davis, Farm Credit Mid-America, 

Springfield, TN; and David Bailey, New River Hardwoods Inc. 

LAKE STATES Continued from page 8 

As mentioned, his customers include RV manufacturers 

and cabinetmakers. “The cabinet business is still 

pretty good,” he remarked, “but they are losing some of 

their backlog of orders.” 

Transportation has improved, he noted. He buys lumber 

from a wide area in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and 

Minnesota. “People I talk to are not having a hard time 

with transportation. It’s definitely better than last winter.” 

By contrast, a lumberman in Minnesota said his market 

is “extremely tough. Markets are tight, lumber prices are 

extremely weak and loggers have no reason to go into 

the woods and bring back logs with the higher price of 

fuel and the lower cost of lumber. Also, my customers 

are curtailing lumber purchases for three months.” The 

market is “way worse” than it was a few months ago, he 

remarked. 

He sells Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, 

Birch, Basswood, Aspen and White and Black Ash, in all 

grades; primarily in 4/4 thickness. 

He sells green lumber to companies with dry kilns. 

Those customers sell the dried lumber to a variety of end 

users, from moulding to wood craft to cabinets. He also 

produces some cants and pallet lumber. 

“Transportation is difficult,” he stated, “especially with 

the high cost of fuel.” 

A Wisconsin lumber provider said, “Our lumber is moving 

pretty decently. Overall the market is pretty strong. 

Prices have gone down some but it’s not affecting us too 

badly right now. I liked it when lumber prices were higher, 

but it isn’t affecting us a lot.” 

The market is “about the way it has been for the last 

four to six months,” he observed. 

He offers Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, 

Cherry, Hickory, Aspen and Basswood, in 4/4 and some 

5/4, No. 2 Common and Better. 

He sells to distribution yards and end users. “I talked 

to someone in distribution last week and he had a better 

month than he had the same month last year. With end 

users, it depends on who you talk to; a lot of business 

has backed off.” 

For this lumber provider, “Transportation is very good. 

We do business with a local company that does good 

transportation work for us. In export, we’re even getting 

containers in here.” n 

Shaun Rowe, Michael and Allison Brooks, Quality Hardwoods 

Ltd., Powassan, ON; and Rob Kittle, Cleereman Industries Inc., 

Newald, WI 

Roy Reif, Lumber Resources Inc., Quebec City, QC; Bob Rutledge 

and Bill Miller, Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve Ltd., Haliburton, 

ON; and David Gibson, Ontario Hardwood Products Ltd., 

Toronto, ON 

Bror Moldrup, Biobiowood PTE. LTD., Singapore, Asia; Jos aan 

de Stegge, Brunner-Hildebrand Lumber Dry Kiln Co., Nashville, 

TN; Alex Staalner, American Wood Technology LLC, Jefferson, 

GA; and Lone Moldrup, Biobiowood PTE. LTD. 

Doug Zimmerman Jr., Matson Lumber Company, Brookville, PA; 

Gus Welter, Granite Valley Forest Products Inc., New London, WI; 

and Roy Reif, Lumber Resources Inc., Quebec City, QC 

George Crawford, Merrick Hardwoods, Somerset, KY; Melissa 

and Brant Forcey, Forcey Lumber Co., Woodland, PA; and Kevin 

Smith, Matson Lumber, Brookville, PA 

Keith Price, Corley Manufacturing Co., Chattanooga, TN; Kellee 

Griffith, Cardin Forest Products LLC, South Pittsburg, TN; and 

Tim Girardi, Logs2Lumber2You LLC, Nashville, TN 

NORTHEAST Continued from page 8 

ments that he’s heard, his customers are over stocked. 

“They are holding off purchasing to adjust their inventories,” 

he said. 

He said that while trucking is better than it was six 

months ago, ocean and rail freight are terrible. “Vessels 

keep being removed from service. There are some bad 

delays on export shipments,” he added. 

He said that while labor shortages are an ongoing 

struggle, it is better than it was six months ago. 

“We hope it improves rather than gets worse, but I’m 

not optimistic,” he stated. 

In Maine a lumber spokesperson said that the market 

is terrible for his company, with it being much worse than 

it was six months ago. “There is no more speculation in 

the marketplace right now. Interest and mortgage rates 

are high, and nobody is willing to speculate on the business 

they will have in the future. Everyone has a backlog. 

It’s difficult to find anyone that is buying lumber right 

now,” he said. 

His company deals with Hard and Soft Maple, Ash, and 

Yellow Birch, in grades anywhere from pallet to prime 

FAS with thicknesses in 4/4 through 8/4. “None of them 

are selling well, I’ve never seen it so bad,” he remarked. 

He said that his company primarily sells to kitchen cabinet 

and flooring manufacturers, distribution yards and 

wholesalers. He’s noticed that his customers have started 

to slow, noting that, “I’ve heard of a couple layoffs at 

kitchen cabinet companies. I think everybody I’ve talked 

to echoes my sentiments as to where the market is right 

now.” 

He said that transportation isn’t an issue right now. “I’m 

getting calls left and right from trucking companies look- 

ing for work and I have nothing for them. We haven’t sold 

any lumber in quite a while,” he said. 

Labor shortages have always been a problem for his 

company he said. “It seems to be a blessing in disguise, 

as it limits our production. The last thing we need right 

now is any extra production,” he lamented. 

In Maryland, a lumber representative said that oversupply 

has forced the market into a freefall. “A year ago, 

the prices were going up, they were double what they are 

now. Six months ago, it was good, we were rolling. We 

are less than half of what we were a year ago,” he said. 

His company mostly deals with Poplar, Red and White 

Oak, and a little bit of mixed Hardwood, in grades No. 

1 Common, No. 2 A and B Common and FAS 1. “No. 1 

Common and No. 2 A and B Common has gotten so terribly 

cheap that we are putting it all in pallets. We are just 

selling the FAS and Better as far as selling it as grade. 

We sell a little bit of No. 1 Common as grade, but very 

little,” he remarked. 

He said they sell mainly to the railroad and pallet industries, 

as well as distribution yards, wholesalers, and 

exporters. “They don’t know where the market is going to 

stop. As soon as they find out where the bottom is, they 

will be ready to start buying again.” 

Trucking is one of the least of their problems, he said. 

They have also been blessed that they do not currently 

have any issues with labor shortages. “During Covid we 

didn’t shut down. We lost money staying open, we knew 

we were losing money on everything, but we did that to 

keep our crew together,” he said. 

He said that he wonders where things will level out, “A 

lot of supply comes from Amish Mills and they have a lot 

going on in the winter, so that will slow down production,” 

he remarked. n 





In Memoriam 

Bobby Joe Mayfield 

McMinnville, TN resident and 

Warren County, TN native Bobby 

Joe Mayfield, age 89, was born 

June 5, 1933 and died October 

23, 2022 at his residence following 

a six month illness. 

A United States Army veteran, 

founder of Mayfield Lumber Company 

along with his wife, cattleman and member of Hwy. 

56 N Church of Christ, he was the son of the late Clevie 

and Lillian Ray Mayfield. He was married to Ada Lois 

Glenn Mayfield on August 25, 1953 who preceded him 

in death on July 25, 2005. In addition to his parents and 

wife, he was preceded in death by daughter, Jalesia Hansen; 

son, Jeff Mayfield; granddaughter, Lela Anne; sister, 

Anna McAdams and brothers, Charles and Billy Mayfield. 

Mr. Mayfield is survived by son and daughter-in-law, 

David and Janice Mayfield of McMinnville, TN; son-inlaw, 

Tim Hansen of McMinnville, TN; four grandchildren, 

Joshua Mayfield of Florida, Jacob and Sarah Mayfield of 

Murfreesboro, TN and Brittany and Skip Turner and Michael 

and Lakaryl Mayfield, both of McMinnville, TN; seven 

great-grandchildren, Ethan, Molly and Hannah Mayfield, 

Jenson and Amber Turner and Laurel and Branson 

Mayfield; sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Joe Mingle; 

sisters-in-law, Jimmie Rymer of Georgia and Pam Glenn 

of McMinnville, TN and several nieces and nephews. 

Funeral service was held at Hwy. 56 N Church of Christ 

in McMinnville, TN with Charles Pearson and Wayne 

Cantrell officiating. Burial followed at Mt. View Cemetery 

in McMinnville, TN. 

A special thanks to Dr. Jimmie Woodlee, his caregivers, 

Jennifer, Pat, Karen, Morgan and Kris Ann and Avalon 

Hospice. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to 

Boyd Christian School, Relay for Life or the McMinnville 

Gideons. 

Online condolences may be made at www.highfuner 

alhome.com. 

High Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. 

Criswell Davis 

National Hardwood Lumber Association 

recently reported: 

It is with a sad heart that we inform 

you of the passing of longtime 

industry friend and advocate 

Criswell Davis. 

James Criswell Davis 

(“Criswell” to the world, “Cheesewheel” 

to some of his closest 

friends, and “Bongo” to his grandsons) passed away 

peacefully on October 3, 2022. He was 71. 

Criswell entered the world in Bryn Mawr, PA in 1950, 

the second of four children born to Mary Jean Tyson and 

Richard Coleman Davis. He is survived by beloved siblings 

Stephen Springer Davis, Scott Tyson Davis, and 

Darragh Davis, to whom he was devoted and with whom 

he remained in contact weekly through the end of his life. 

He began an ultimately storied career in restaurants, 

which also helped introduce him to the light of his life, 

Bridget Walsh. They would end up together for an astounding 

48 years, married for 39 - though of course 

Criswell, always the completist, insisted that he “wanted 

credit for all 48.” Criswell’s love for his family, immediate 

and extended alike, was the stuff of legend. A model sonin-law 

to Barbara and William Walsh (as well as brother-in-law 

and uncle to innumerable Walshes), he adored 

Bridget’s family and was as devoted to them as he was 

to the family the two of them built together: son Cole and 

daughter Teagan, and eventually Cole’s wife Mary and 

their two amazing boys, Max and Murphy. 

In one of the all-time great examples of a college major 

having less than nothing to do with one’s ultimate life trajectory, 

Criswell, a man with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy 

of Religion, ended up as a consultant and one of 

the foremost experts in the world on the topic of sustainable 

Hardwoods. After years working in lumber sales, he 

spent the last decade of his life championing the use of 

these and other natural materials in built environments 

to architects and designers across the globe, promoting 

the physical, psychological, and environmental benefits 

of biophilic design. One of his proudest professional accomplishments 

was the delivery of a TedX talk in Dayton, 

Ohio in October of 2019. 

The family has created a memorial page and encourages 

you to add photos, memories, and any other information 

you might have. Please see www.mykeeper.com/ 

profile/CriswellDavis/. 

“We know that he has many friends and colleagues the 

world over and that it would be impossible to bring you 

all together at the same time to celebrate him; this is our 

solution to that. Please share this link with anyone else 

who may wish to remember Criswell, and thank you for 

your love and support during this incredibly difficult time.” 

- Bridget, Cole, and Teagan n 

Live your best life...on a Maxwell Solid Oak Floor. 

Happy Holidays 

from Cooper 

Machine 

Company!!!!! 

“Provider Of 

Quality Sawmill 

Solutions” 

Optimized 

Edger 

Overhead Scragg 

Don’t wait, give us a call 

Phone: (478)252-5885 

Email: info@coopermachine.com 

Website: 

www.coopermachine.com 

YouTube: www.youtube.com/ 

coopermachinecoinc 

Merchandising 

System 

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1992 

190 Wilson Mill Road 

Monticello, Arkansas 71655 

maxwellhardwoodflooring.com 

NWFA/NOFMA 

WOOD 

FLOORING 




WIDE BAND SAWMILL 




SOUTHEAST Continued from page 9 

Her company sells to distribution yards across the 

country. They have not made any comments to her about 

how their specific markets are doing. 

She said that it has been a problem to get their products 

across the country. They are having to pay more for 

transportation as gas and diesel prices continue to stay 

high. 

In Tennessee a sawmill representative said that sales 

for his company are down from where they were the first 

half of the year, with things being much worse than they 

were six months ago. “I think that manufacturing has 

slowed quite a bit, and fuel prices are definitely affecting 

manufacturers and their deliveries,” he said. 

His company deals with all major Appalachian species 

in all grades, including Poplar, Red and White Oak, Hickory, 

Hard and Soft Maple, Ash, Cherry and Beech. They 

manufacture Poplar in 4/4-8/4, White Oak in 4/4 and 6/4 

and everything else in 4/4. He said that Poplar still seems 

to be the bestselling specie for them right now, and Oak 

is probably the worst, as of this writing. 

He said that they mainly sell to concentration yards, 

distribution centers, floor, moulding and trim manufacturers, 

and door and window casing manufacturers. He 

said that when he has asked his customers about their 

business, they said that their orders have also slowed 

down. “When their orders slow down, it causes ours to 

slow down as well,” he said. 

IN 

STOCK 

CALL 

TODAY! 

Say HELLO to the WB2000 

Industrial Sawmill that combines 

the increased yield of thin-kerf 

blade technology with the 

production demands of 

wideband sawmill blades. 

© 2022 Wood-Mizer LLC 

*Price and specifications subject to change without notice. 

Starting at 

$ 

194,995 * 

Contact your Wood-Mizer INDUSTRIAL specialist today. 

He said that fuel rates for transportation have made 

transporting his products more difficult. “When fuel rates 

rise, so do transportation rates, and that’s definitely affected 

us a whole lot,” he remarked. 

He noted that labor shortages seem to be the general 

theme to all manual labor industries, not just lumber. 

In Georgia a lumber spokesperson said that his market 

is down. “Prices have really fallen off the table,” he stated. 

He also noted that his market is significantly worse 

than it was six months ago. 

He mainly deals with Poplar, and White and Red Oak. 

They handle these species in thicknesses 4/4 and 5/4, in 

grades FAS, No. 1 Common, No. 2A Common and No. 

3A Common. 

His primary customers consist of flooring and furniture 

manufacturers. When it comes to transporting his products 

to the customer, he said, “We are in good shape, we 

own our trucks.” 

He said that when he looked at his market overall that, 

“Hopefully things will stabilize and get back within the 

range where we can break even.” n 

WEST COAST Continued from page 9 

SAY HELLO TO 

HIGH PERFORMANCE 

SAWMILLING 

866.878.9101 | woodmizer.com 

He said, “4/4 is king, but we do carry up to 16/4 on some 

items.” 

Mainly, he observed, he sells to end users such as cabinet 

manufacturers and furniture makers. He also sells 

Features: 

• Heavy Duty Twin Rail Head Construction 

with Quad Post Support 

• Increased Material Drag Back Capability 

• Wideband Performance, 2" and 3" Available 

• 6 Ton Log Capacity 

• HMI Cab Operated Feed Controls with 

Two-Camera Video System 

to other distribution yards. “I think people are booked 

for jobs,” he commented, “but the quoting is slowing for 

future orders. People were busy when their customers 

wanted to spend money, and they still had jobs they were 

waiting to get to. But that has slowed. 

“We have our own trucks,” he stated. “But the price of 

fuel is outrageous. On the West Coast, there is a lack 

of refineries. So, we’re paying a lot for fuel. We pay a 

premium for drivers, too. There’s a lot of competition for 

drivers because there’s a lack of them. So, you’re competing 

with big companies that are offering drivers a lot 

of benefits to join their companies that small companies 

can’t offer. We’re doing everything we can for retention.” 

In Washington State, “It’s been slow the last two months 

as far as sales,” stated a lumber representative. “I’d say 

it has slowed moderately; we’re still moving lumber. But 

definitely, people aren’t buying forward like they would 

buy a month or two out a year ago because lumber was 

hard to come by at the time. Now there’s plenty of lumber 

on the market. Everybody’s flush in lumber now.” 

He sells all grades of Walnut, Poplar, Oak, Maple, 

Basswood and all Eastern Hardwoods, in 4/4 through 8/4 

“but you could see any thickness go out of here,” he noted. 

His best sellers are Hard Maple and Poplar. He sells 

to millwork shops, distribution yards, cabinet shops and 

others. As to how his customers are doing sales-wise, 

“We’re getting mixed results,” he said. “Virtually everyone 

we’re talking to is seeing some slowing. There are a 

few people who are saying, ‘We’re only working three to 

four days a week now.’ “ 

On a brighter note, “Transportation prices went down, 

and availability went up,” he stated. “Transportation is 

pretty easy for us now.” 

In California, a lumber provider commented, “It’s not 

as busy as it was, but there’s still good business. Lack 

of housing starts and people’s lack of confidence in the 

economy are factors. Out here, gas prices and inflation 

are a real problem.” 

Nevertheless, he said the market is “still steady. However, 

you’ve got to work at it.” 

He sells all FAS No. 1 and 2 Common in 4/4 thickness 

in Walnut, Hickory and White Oak all in 4/4. His best seller 

is White Oak. 

He sells lumber to architects, flooring companies and 

retail lumberyards. 

As for transportation, he noted, “Trucks are not a problem. 

However, getting containers from the mills takes a 

little longer than it used to.” n 

ONTARIO Continued from page 10 

Basswood appears to be doing better than many other 

key species. Some non-traditional markets that bought 

Basswood as a lower priced alternative to Poplar have 

decreased their use of this species. However, suppliers 


MUELLER BROTHERS 

TIMBER, INC. 

Tracey Mueller, Log Procurement; Kevin Mueller, Mill Manager; 

and Randy Mueller, Sales 

SAWMILL AND TWIN BAND RESAW 

Manufacturers of: 

4/4 - 8/4 Grade Lumber 

SPECIALIZING IN PLAIN SAWN: 

• WALNUT • COTTONWOOD 

• SYCAMORE • HICKORY • RED OAK 

• WHITE OAK• SOFT MAPLE 

• HARD MAPLE • ASH 

400,000’ DRY KILN CAPACITY 

1,000,000’ DRY STORAGE 

PLANER 

STRAIGHT LINE RIP 

GANG RIPPING 

DOUBLE END TRIM 

EXPORT PACKAGING 

CONTAINER LOADING 

Grooved sticks used on all 

whitewoods and White Oak. 

P.O. BOX 175 

OLD MONROE, MO 63369 

PHONE: 636-665-5193 

FAX: 636-665-5812 

Email: randy@muellerbros.com 

www.muellerbros.com 



DECEMBER 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 47 

NHLA

ONTARIO Continued 

noted they’ve been shipping regular volumes to their 

traditional customers. Sales orders heated up from previous 

oversold levels and transactions point out varied 

lower pricing. Prices have gone down for certain grades. 

Green Basswood lumber production is meeting demand 

for most grades and thicknesses, noted contacts. 

Demand of Birch finished goods decreased but end 

users said they were still busy filling existing orders. 

Cabinet manufacturers were feeling the pinch as the 

slowdown of completing homes under construction was 

holding back demand and fulfillment of some business 

MCDONOUGH 

MANUFACTURING 

Experience matters. 

Call the experts. 

www.mcdonough-mfg.com 

(715) 834-7755 

for them. This slowdown affected Birch, Hard and Soft 

Maple sales. Millwork and moulding producers were also 

seeing similar challenges. Secondary manufacturers and 

lumber wholesalers said they were being more cautious 

with their purchases. Kiln-dried prices softened slightly, 

they commented. 

Sawmill production of Hard Maple continues to be 

steady, with availability outpacing demand, which was 

reported as having declined and buyers were controlling 

their purchases. They were buying for short term or immediate 

needs. Wholesalers are struggling to keep production 

and inventories turning over, resulting in lower 

prices for some kiln-dried items. 

Soft Maple was not a good seller 

for some areas contacted recently, 

compared to it being the best seller 

item only a few months ago. Availability 

is better but demand is weaker 

from most buyers and end users. 

End users are reluctant to buy more 

lumber currently as they have ample 

supplies on hand, and as prices are 

declining, are not purchasing more 

than needed for the short term. Mills 

that process kiln-dried lumber have 

large inventories. Lack of storage 

space and cash are causing stiff 

competition for orders, thus impacting 

kiln-dried prices. 

Demand from export markets has 

waned for Red Oak. Canadian and 

U.S. business is better than international 

markets, although end users 

are not buying as much either. Inventories 

are high compared to buyers’ 

needs, with prices going down. 

Sawmills are having difficulty moving 

production. 

White Oak continues to see high 

demand, especially for high end finished 

goods. Demand, here too, has 

softened due to both weaker domestic 

and export market demand. 

The Bank of Canada governor Tiff 

Macklem said in October more interest 

rate hikes are necessary to bring 

inflation down, despite some early 

signs of a slowing economy. Speaking 

to the Halifax Chamber of Commerce 

earlier that month, Macklem 

said high inflation increasingly reflects 

domestic pressures on prices. 

The governor said while global 

events such as the pandemic and 

the Russian invasion of Ukraine 

have fed into higher prices, demand 

is outpacing supply more broadly in 

the Canadian economy. He said, in 

hindsight, the bank’s early assessment 

that high inflation was temporary was “overly optimistic.” 

As the economy fully reopened in the spring, pentup 

demand for services in travel and recreation began 

driving inflation even higher, he said. Canadians experienced 

these pressures first-hand with travel bookings or 

reserving at their favorite restaurant. 

After inflation reached an annual rate of 8.1 percent in 

June, the pace of price increases in Canada has since 

slowed, largely due to lower gas prices. In August, the 

annual inflation rate was 7.0 percent. However, Macklem 

said the core measures of inflation “have yet to decline 

meaningfully” even as headline inflation 

has come down. 

As the Bank of Canada monitors 

inflation and the effects of higher interest 

rates, the governor said it will 

be paying close attention to its core 

measures of inflation, which tend to 

be less volatile than the overall inflation 

rate. 

Macklem said there are some 

signs that global inflationary forces 

are easing, and that food inflation 

should soon begin to come down. 

Despite prices for goods and 

services falling and global supply 

chains easing, though, these developments 

are not enough to bring inflation 

down, he said. 

With labor markets still tight, the 

economy still in “excess demand” 

and inflation still too high, Macklem 

said more interest rate hikes will be 

necessary. 

The central bank has been monitoring 

inflation expectations among 

people and businesses over concern 

inflation could become “entrenched.” 

High inflation expectations can lead 

to businesses setting future prices 

even higher and workers demanding 

higher wages in future wage contracts. 

Macklem said to keep inflation expectations 

in control, “Canadians will 

need to see inflation clearly coming 

down.” There is more to be done, he 

said. At the time of this writing, the 

bank was set to make its next interest 

rate announcement on October 

26. Since March, the central bank 

has raised its key interest rate from 

0.25 percent to 3.25 percent, one 

of the fastest rate hike cycles in its 

history. Macklem said high inflation 

hurts people and business by creating 

“uncertainty and unfairness” and 

distorting decision making and undermining 

confidence. 

2022 Impact Advertising • 22WLC-PFC-PAHardwoods-ProgAd-Aug-B 

Let’s hope that more will be done and that the Hardwood 

sector can see some relief in the coming year. 

Wishing everyone the best of the Holiday Season and a 

Happy New Year! n 

QUEBEC Continued from page 10 

struction has slowed down both in Canada and the U.S., 

this has impacted Soft Maple demand, as it has for other 

species. Prices are trending down as a result. 

Basswood saw a competitive market atmosphere 

during early fall. Kiln-dried demand was slower and pro- 


A CLEANER, GREENER CHOICE 

Our Specialized Services Include: 

• Shipping Dry Lumber 

• Kiln Dried Lumber 

• Clear Strips 

• Surfacing-2-Sides (S2S) 

• Gang Ripping / Parallel Sawing 

• Straight Line Ripping 

• Optimized Cross Cut 

• Molding Millwork 

• Edged & Face Glued Products 

• End Matching (Cabinet Parts & Flooring) 

Wheeland Lumber Company, Inc. 

3558 Williamson Trail • Liberty, PA 16930-0965 USA 

P: 570-324-6042 • F: 570-324-2127 




QUEBEC Continued 

duction was steady and so some contacts had more 

inventory and some were lowering prices to generate 

sales. 

Cherry is not seeing great performance, as was the 

case in the past on all market fronts. This species does 

not seem to be part of the trend at this time in North 

America as many cabinet, millwork, furniture and wood 

component plants purchased small volumes of this species. 

These sectors have reduced their purchasing as 

they, too, have had reduced order files. The same is said 

Any Way 

You Cut It... 

ISK Protects It. 

Proven Mold Control...Powerful Sapstain Protection 

Trust ISK for Your Wood Solution. 

NeXgen ® End Coatings & Paint PQ-80 ® 

1-800-238-2523 • 416 E. Brooks Rd. • Memphis, TN 38109 • www.iskbiocides.com 

NeXgen ® , Tuff-Brite ® and CosPaint ® are registered trademarks of ISK Americas Incorporated. PQ-8 ® and PQ-80 ® 

are registered trademarks of IBC Manufacturing Company. 

for shipments to overseas markets, noted contacts. As a 

result, supply is exceeding demand, and thus prices are 

affected. 

Hickory demand is based on a replacement basis for 

many buyers at this time. Therefore, prices are edging 

lower. Domestic and international markets have abundant 

supplies of this species. Sawmills are able to meet 

production demand for green Hickory. 

The Number 2A and 3A Red Oak and White Oak prices 

held steady in mid-October, ending the long weekly 

decline of prices for this species. Residential wood and 

truck trailer flooring manufacturers are still controlling 

purchases of these two species for 

these grades, but some were said 

to have stopped lowering prices or 

slowed the rate of decreases. 

Red Oak sales are hard to come 

by due to unfavorable trends in some 

important markets which is negatively 

affecting demand for Red Oak. 

The largest export market for Red 

Oak, China, does not have a strong 

economy at the moment, due in part 

to lockdowns caused by COVID and 

the potential for more. Buyers there 

are being very price conscious when 

placing orders. The other factor is 

the residential wood flooring manufacturers 

who are reducing their 

purchases of this species due to 

slow business, and also consumer 

interest is more for White Oak than 

Red Oak flooring. As well, truck trailer 

flooring companies have ample 

lumber for their needs. Red Oak also 

only has a small share of the cabinet, 

furniture, moulding and millwork 

markets. Contacts noted prices were 

softening as well for most green and 

kiln-dried items. 

As for White Oak demand, it has 

also waned in markets, and so supply 

and demand are not balanced, 

resulting in price pressures. Poplar 

demand, which was very popular until 

recently, is now one of the worst 

sellers, noted some contacts. Although 

domestic end users are still 

purchasing this species, many have 

reduced the amount purchased. Demand 

from Europe and Southeast 

Asia are reported to be down as well. 

According to Royal Bank of Canada’s 

(RBC) Monthly Housing Outlook, 

Canada’s housing market’s 

downturn has longer to run. September 

data gave few indications 

the bottom is near. Both activity and 

prices continued to trend lower in the 

vast majority of local markets. Demand-supply conditions 

generally eased some more. And with further interest 

rate hikes likely on the way, RBC expects more of the 

same in the period ahead across the country. That said, 

activity in Ontario and British Columbia may be closer to 

stabilizing (though not so much for prices due to persisting 

affordability issues). 

September marked the seventh-straight monthly decline 

in home resales in Canada (down 3.9 percent). 

This puts the correction at -36 percent since February. 

While Prince Edward Island (-10.8 percent), Nova Scotia 

(-8.1 percent) and Manitoba (-6.6 percent) saw the 

largest drop in September, it’s been 

British Columbia (-47 percent), Ontario 

(-41 percent) and Alberta (-41 

percent) that fell the most in the past 

seven months. Activity is now below 

pre-pandemic levels in all provinces 

except Alberta, Saskatchewan, and 

Newfoundland and Labrador. Home 

resales in Canada (at 419,900 units 

on a seasonally adjusted and annualized 

basis) are the softest in a decade 

and likely to stay that way for a 

while longer. 

Property values similarly have 

declined in each of the last seven 

months nationwide since September 

and in most of Ontario (including 

Toronto), and the past six months 

in key BC markets (including Vancouver). 

Canada’s composite MLS 

Home Price Index fell 1.4 percent 

month/month (m/m) in September, 

and is now down 8.8 percent since 

the February peak. Leading the 

price correction have been smaller 

markets in Ontario that saw tremendous 

appreciation earlier during the 

pandemic: Cambridge (-20 percent), 

Kitchener-Waterloo (-18 percent), 

Brantford (-16 percent), London (-16 

percent) and Hamilton (-16 percent). 

Chilliwack (-13 percent) and the Fraser 

Valley (-11 percent) in British 

Columbia also recorded outsized 

declines since the peak. 

Prices in larger markets are down 

significantly too—just not quite as 

much, adds RBC. Toronto’s MLS 

HPI has declined 9.2 percent (or 

$118,000) since February, including 

a 1 percent drop in September. The 

correction ranks as the second largest 

in the area since the inception 

of the index in 2000 and is rapidly 

closing in on the downturn that took 

place in 2017-2019 (-10.9 percent). 

Vancouver’s index is off 5.7 percent 

(or $71,000) since March. RBC thinks it has much further 

to go given the intense unaffordability pressures currently 

in place. Their latest Housing Trends and Affordability 

report noted Vancouver buyers face the highest ever 

ownership costs anywhere in the country. Falling prices 

are a more recent phenomenon in Montreal where the 

MLS HPI crested in May. The correction is picking up 

steam, though. September saw the biggest drop (-1.7 

percent m/m) so far, deepening the downturn to -4.7 percent 

(or -$25,600). 

RBC expects home resale activity to stay quiet in the 





ISK BIOCIDES ISLAND.indd 7 

5/18/17 3:14 PM

WHO’S WHO 

IN HARDWOOD PURCHASING 

A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LEADING 

PURCHASING EXECUTIVES IN 

THE HARDWOOD INDUSTRY 

ED PRY is procurement and 

project manager for Lewis Lumber 

Products, Inc., located in 

Picture Rocks, PA. 

Lewis Lumber Products is a 

manufacturer of fine Hardwood 

mouldings and custom architectural 

millwork, flooring, paneling, 

decking and live edge flitches. 

Specifically, they produce Hardwood 

mouldings and blanks, 

Ed Pry 

S2S and ripped one-edge-lumber, 

primed Hardwood mouldings and cut-to-length 

parts. 

The company purchases approximately 4 million 

board feet annually of most domestic Hardwoods, in 

4/4 through 16/4 sizes, along with a dozen or so exotics. 

They purchase approximately half of their lumber 

through various sawmills, and the other half through 

their sister company, Dwight Lewis Lumber Company. 

Value-added services offered by Lewis Lumber Products 

includes complicated or complex moulding packages 

and FSC certification. 

Lewis Lumber Products is a member of the Architectural 

Woodwork Institute, Keystone Wood Products 

Association, Pennsylvania Forest Products Association, 

Wood Component Manufacturers Association and 

Penn-York Lumbermen’s Club. 

Pry has worked for Lewis Lumber Products for 21 

years, with the past three being in his current role. He 

has been in the forest products industry for 32 years, 

starting as a lumber handler for American Lumber Company 

in Williamsport, PA. 

Pry’s outside interests include running ultramarathons 

on behalf of the Herren Project as an expression of his 

faith as an alcoholic in recovery. The Herren Project is 

a nonprofit helping with substance use disorder. He is 

engaged to Jamie Zeilinga and has two twin 16-year-old 

daughters. 

For more information, visit www.lewislp.com. 

BOBBY COMISKY is president of Muscanell Millworks 

in Cortez, CO. Muscanell is a manufacturer of 

Hardwood flooring, with sales throughout North America. 

Muscanell purchases 2 to 3 million board feet of lumber 

per year in Ash, Cherry, Hickory, Red and White Oak 

and Walnut. They buy this lumber in various grades in 

4/4, 5/4, 6/4 and 8/4 thicknesses, surfaced and unsurfaced. 

Muscanell manufactures solid wood flooring in 3/4- 

inch thickness, surfaced, sanded and in textures. They 

also produce stair parts in 4/4, 5/4 and custom thicknesses 

up to 4-inches. They carry out special drying 

for arid climates, offer long average lengths and wide 

widths (ranging from 2-1/4 inches to 10 inches), precision 

milling, adhere to high quality standards and offer 

textures, bevels and sanding. 

Comisky has worked for Muscanell for 27 years, the 

last three as mill president. His involvement in the forest 

products industry began with his employment at Muscanell 

in 1995. His first assignment was learning how to 

build high-quality decorative wooden boxes. 

He attended a National Hardwood Lumber Association 

lumber grading workshop at North Carolina State 

University in Raleigh, NC. He worked as a volunteer fire 

fighter for 26 years. 

In his free time, Comisky enjoys camping, fishing and 

hunting. He and his wife of 21 years, Kelly Comisky, 

have two daughters. 

The company is a member of the National Wood 

Flooring Association. 

To learn more, go to www.muscanell.com. 

JOAN PUFAHL is purchasing manager for Glenn 

Rieder Inc., headquartered in West Ellis, WI. 

Glenn Rieder is a manufacturer of high-end architectural 

millwork, wall and ceiling paneling, bars, casework, 

and standing and running trim. The company purchases 

over 100,000 board feet of Hardwood lumber each year, 

including domestic species such as Walnut, Ash, White 

Oak and Poplar. Imported species used in the manufacturing 

process include Wenge and African Mahogany. All 

lumber is purchased in high grades, such as FAS and 

No. 1 Common. 

Value-added services offered by Glenn Rieder include 

procuring specialty materials for custom projects, including 

fabrics. 

Pufahl graduated from Milwaukee Area Technical College, 

located in Milwaukee, in 1993. Previous to joining 





TRADE TALK 

AN UPDATE COVERING 

THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT 

HARDWOOD SUPPLIERS/VENDORS 

he transitioned into only lumber sales for several years. 

After that he managed the dry end, kilns, lumber yard 

and sawmill. His first job in the forest products industry 

was in 1984. 

Eastman graduated from Kane (PA) Area High School 

and has taken courses in leadership, lumber manufacturing, 

safety and machine maintenance. He served three 

years on the board of directors for the Wood Component 

Manufacturers Association, served on the board for the 

Kane Chamber of Commerce for three years and served 

Paul P. Eastman 

as Sunday School superintendent and as a trustee at a 

Steve Staryak Frances Cooper 

KANE, PA—Paul P. Eastman 

has been named the Hardwood 

Sales Manager for Collins in the 

Kane Hardwood division, based 

here. 

Collins manufactures Ash, 

Birch, Black Cherry, Hard and 

Soft Maple, Poplar and Red and 

White Oak. Domestic and export 

lumber is produced rough 

and surfaced, 5/8 to 12/4. Green 

and kiln-dried lumber comes in 

4/4 to 12/4. Collins specializes in custom-sawn timbers, 

railroad ties and switch ties. All their lumber is available 

as FSC certified, CollinsWood/LEED- and Living Futures-compliant 

and FSC-controlled wood. 

Eastman is responsible for all green and kiln-dried 

lumber produced. He took on this job in August of 2022. 

He has worked for Collins for 38 years. He has spent the 

majority of his career at the mill in Kane, PA, filling many 

different positions from stacking lumber and operating a 

forklift to repairing and setting up machines. He spent 

several years in Collins’ dimension plant as leadman, supervisor, 

dimension mill manager and salesman. Then 

local church for several years. In his free time, he enjoys 

building furniture and cabinets as well as spending time 

outdoors fishing, hunting and bike riding. He also enjoys 

spending time with his family and is a disciple of Jesus 

Christ. He is an active member of a local church. 

To learn more, visit www.CollinsWood.com. 

MOUNTAIN CITY, TN—Steve Staryak is vice president 

of sales and marketing for New River Hardwoods, 

Inc., located here. The company has 3 sawmills and dry 

kilns and manufactures lumber, moulding and millwork. 

Lumber produced totals 35 million board feet per year in 

all grades of Poplar, Red and White Oak, Ash, Hickory, 

Hard and Soft Maple, Cherry and 

Basswood. Thicknesses range 

from 4/4 to 8/4. The firm also offers 

S2S, moulding blanks and 

S4S. New River Hardwoods sells 

its products domestically and internationally. 

Company memberships 

include the Hardwood Manufacturers 

Association, National 

Hardwood Lumber Association, 

Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, 

Inc., Wood Products 

Manufacturers Association, Appalachian Lumbermen’s 

Club and the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association. 

Staryak began working for New River Hardwoods recently, 

but he has 27 years of experience in the Hardwood 

industry. He has worked for GP Hardwood Lumber 

Group and other large manufacturers. A graduate of 

Toms River High School North in Toms River, NJ, he also 

earned a bachelor’s degree in business from The Ohio 

State University in Columbus. Staryak and his wife of 

seven years, Angie, have a son and two daughters. 

To learn more, go to www.newriverhardwoods.com. 

WADLEY, GA—CEO Frances 

Cooper of Cooper Machine 

Co., Inc., located here, has announced 

the recent installation 

of a rebuilt Yield Champ Scragg 

for R3 Lumber in Clarksville, TX. 

“We took a 20-year-old Sharp 

Chain Scragg with 9” Edger and 

made it like new again,” Frances 

Cooper said. “We added two 

three-saw vertical edgers, another 

hold-down, new chain and 

raceway, THK rails and bearings for smooth movement, 

rewired the machine and added an ABB PLC and a new 

starter panel. 

“We also recently shipped out a chipping head assembly 

(using Cortex heads), husk frame and hold-down for 

Gregory Lumber Co. in Java, VA that is currently being 

installed,” Cooper said. 

Cooper Machine also has announced the recent installation 

of a Pole Sorting System with 20 post/pole sorts at 

Pulliam Lumber Co. in Mitchell, GA. This system automatically 

kicks poles and posts by size and length to se- 


FORCEY LUMBER COMPANY, INC. 

Quality Pennsylvania Hardwood Lumber and Veneer 

Red Oak • White Oak • Cherry • Poplar • Hickory • Ash 

Basswood • Birch • Beech • Hard Maple • Soft Maple 

3 True Northern Hardwoods 

3 Prompt Shipment 

3 Consistent Grading 

3 S2S and S3S Available 

3 Competitive Pricing 

2020 Shiloh Road, Woodland, PA 16881 

Office (814) 857-5002 • Fax (814) 857-5000 

info@forceylumber.com 

www.forceylumber.com 

Rustic Wood Products cuts the finest Appalachian Hardwood 

lumber, cants and railroad ties for our customers, and those 

in need of these wood products. 

Call us today at (573) 547-8227 when we can be of service! 

Some of the key products we make, and services we offer, are: 

• green, air dried and/or kiln dried lumber in 4/4 and 5/4 thicknesses 

• S2S Now Available 

• species like Red Oak, Walnut, White Oak, Hard Maple, Ash, Poplar, 

Cottonwood and Cherry, in 6-16 foot lengths 

• all lumber is band sawn and double end trimmed 

• 250,000 board feet per charge of dry kiln capacity 

• 300,000 board feet of kiln dried inventory 

In Business 

• 1,000,000 board feet of air dried inventory under cover 

Harvesting the finest Hardwoods since 1972 

• our own trucks and logging crew 

6347 Highway 51 • Perryville, MO 63775 

Phone: (573) 547-8227 • Fax: (573) 547-2288 

CELEBRATING 

Website: www.rwpinc.net 

Sales: Kurt Rehagen 




EXPERIENCE QUALITY DEPENDABILITY 

975 Conrad Hill Mine Rd. ~ Lexington, NC 27292 

Phone 336-746-5419 ~ Fax 336-746-6177 

www.kepleyfrank.us 

Facilities: 

3 Sawmills Processing 50 Million' • 750,000' Dry Kiln 

Capacity • 600,000' Fan Shed Capacity 

2 382 Newman Planer Mills • 50 Bay Bin Sorter 

Products Available: 

4/4-8/4 Appalachian Lumber • 6/4-8/4 Ship Dry Capacity 

Crossties (100,000 BF per week) • Timbers up to 18' 

1,000,000+ Average KD Inventory • 12,000,000+ 

Average AD Inventory 

Species: 

White Oak • Red Oak • Poplar • Ash • Hickory 

Elm • Beech • Gum • Hackberry • Pecan 

Jimmy Kepley, owner, and Bart 

Jenkins, lumber sales 

The firm manufactures 4/4 through 8/4 thicknesses. 

Sales: 

Bart Jenkins 

bjenkins@kepleyfrank.us 

Jimmy Kepley 

jkepley@kepleyfrank.us 

TRADE TALK Continued 

lect pockets using an A&E Allen Bradley controls system. 

This machine also works well for anything round including 

Hardwood logs. 

Cooper Machine continues to provide quality equipment 

solutions. For more information on their product 

offerings, call them at 478-252-5885. Or you can learn 

more at www.coopermachine.com. 

Jimmy Thornberry 

Butch Bernhardt 

COLLIERVILLE, TN—The North American Forest 

Foundation (NAFF), headquartered here, recently announced 

two new board members—Jimmy Thornberry of 

Powell Valley Millwork and Butch Bernhardt of Western 

Wood Preservers Institute. 

Thornberry is the president and one of the owners 

of Powell Valley Millwork, a domestic manufacturer of 

mouldings and millwork with two manufacturing locations 

east of Lexington, KY. Thornberry entered the millwork 

industry in 1993 when he and his father developed their 

first location in Jeffersonville, KY. 

Since then, the Thornberry family has expanded their 

presence in the market acquiring a second location in 

2014 and grown their business to employ approximately 

200 team members, supplying a diverse customer base 

across North America. 

Communication is paramount to Thornberry, and he 

finds himself at home when walking the facilities, asking 

questions, giving advice, and finding ways to make 

equipment run more efficiently and increase morale 

amongst the team, the NAFF stated. 

He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a 

degree in finance and business management. When not 

in the office, Thornberry is at home with his grandchildren, 

traveling with his wife, or on the family farm raising 

beef cattle. 

Bernhardt is senior program manager for the Western 

Wood Preservers Institute (WWPI), headquartered in 

Vancouver, WA. 

His responsibilities include product education, technical 

publications, standards, distance learning and digital 

design tools for preserved wood products. 

Bernhardt has extensive experience in wood promotion, 

providing product support, user education and international 

market development for nearly four decades in 

positions with WWPI, Western Wood Products Association, 

Softwood Export Council and Western Red Cedar 

Lumber Association. 

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University 

and is the third generation in his family to work in 

the wood products industry. 

Western Wood Preservers Institute represents preservative 

treated wood product producers, chemical manufacturers 

and others serving the industry throughout 

western North America. For 75 years, WWPI has provided 

regulatory and market outreach services aimed at 

sustaining a viable western North American preserved 

wood industry. 

To learn more, contact Allison DeFord at adeford@ 

northamericanforestfoundation.org or visit www. 

northamericanforestfoundation.org. n 

QUEBEC Continued from page 51 

coming months across the country. The sharp interest 

rate increases to date and likelihood of additional hikes 

in the coming months—RBC anticipate the Bank of Canada 

will take its policy rate deeper into restrictive territory 

to 4 percent by December—will continue to hold back 

buyers. They see this depressing demand further though 

some markets may have more limited room to fall. They 

think resales have plummeted to such low levels in many 

areas of BC and Ontario that they will soon reach a floor. 

Rising rates will intensify affordability issues in the 

near term and sustain heavy downward pressure on 

home prices. RBC expects benchmark prices will fall approximately 

14 percent nationwide by next spring from 

the recent peak, with steeper declines (-16 percent) in 

Ontario and British Columbia, and milder corrections in 

Alberta and Saskatchewan (-4 percent). n 

NEWS DEVELOPMENTS 

Continued from page 13 

more so on new construction than remodeling, so it’s not 

surprising that remodeler sentiment has so far managed 

to stay positive. After a decline in 2022, NAHB expects a 

small increase in remodeling activity in 2023, in contrast 

to the rate of new construction which we anticipate will 

continue to decline.” 

For the full RMI tables, please visit www.nahb.org/ 

rmi. 

RUSSIANS HAVE ELUDED U.S. SANCTIONS 

ON RUSSIAN BIRCH 

Decorative Hardwoods Association and Hardwood 

plywood made news in Washington recently as The 

Washington Post reported on Russian Birch imports by 

way of China and Vietnam. Earlier this year, shortly after 

the Russian invasion of Ukraine, DHA reported about 

large volumes of Birch plywood imports through Vietnam 

and noted this material was likely Russian. Now, 

a new study by the Environmental Investigation Agency 

has documented this activity. DHA also reported recently 


Family Owned And Operated Since 1976. 

A.W. Stiles Contractors providing a full line of 

Modern Day Lumber Drying Equipment. New 

Installations and Complete Rebuilds on Existing 

Equipment. Hardwood Package Kilns, Predryers, 

Walnut Steamers. Also manufacturing softwood 

kilns, including Dual Path Continuous Kilns. 

Our kilns are all manufactured in 

McMinnville, Tennessee. 

Complete Kiln and Predryer Rebuilds 

•Roof Replacements 

•Heating Coils and Complete Steam Systems 

•Doors and Carriers 

•Structural Repairs 

• 

seals, etc. 

•Protective Coatings 

•Complete line of replacement parts 

Providing replacement control installations 

and upgrades for existing kilns and pre-dryers. 

Screen shot above. User Friendly, Reliable, 

Compatible with Existing Equipment. 

Contact: Lee Stiles Cell: (931) 409-0144 

286 Bass Lane, McMinnville, TN 37110 

Email: lee@awscontractorsinc.com 

Website: www.awscontractorsinc.com 




Wood: The Natural Choice 

Stay on track: www.rta.org or 

NEWS DEVELOPMENTS Continued 

that the Commerce Department determined that imports 

of Hardwood plywood from Vietnam were circumventing 

duties on Chinese plywood. This story will add additional 

scrutiny to these unfair and illegal trade practices. 

In another sign that further regulatory restrictions on 

domestic forest management may be coming, the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Services has proposed listing tricolored 

bats on the Endangered Species List. DHA and 

the Hardwood Federation will comment on the proposed 

listing and highlight previous findings that bats benefit 

from healthy managed forests and that the decline in bat 

species is unrelated to forestry. 

On a positive note, a bipartisan group of senators introduced 

legislation to improve forest management. Although 

time is running out in this Congress, DHA will 

work with the Hardwood Federation and other allies to 

support the legislation in 2023. 

To learn more, visit www.decorativehardwoods.org. n 

NAFF BULLETIN Continued from page 18 

A game structure and age-appropriate topics take the 

conversation deeper and reinforce the message of truth 

about trees. Donations to NAFF support the creation and 

distribution of these engaging educational resources, 

bringing us closer to reaching our goal and yours. 

We love to open the eyes of the future generation— 

beyond gaining a basic understanding of the benefits of 

wood, we help inspire them to think about careers in forestry. 

Many, many companies in this industry are family 

owned and operated, the kind of business that stays in 

one family for generations...and sometimes the kind of 

business that finds it difficult to attract and maintain a 

strong and vibrant workforce. When you support NAFF, 

your donation nurtures a new generation that can recognize 

the value of the industry, and raises up a new generation 

of leaders that can keep companies vibrant while 

protecting forests and the future of the planet. 

Find out more about our goals and accomplishments 

to date in our 2021 Annual Report. To join us in our mission, 

make your donation at NorthAmericanForest 

Foundation.org or email Allison DeFord at adeford@ 

NorthAmericanForestFoundation.org today! n 

WHO’S WHO Continued from page 53 

Glenn Rieder over 20 years ago, Pufahl’s experience in 

the forest products industry included working as corporate 

accountant for American Woodwork, and as corporate 

accountant, estimator and project manager for 

Stück Wood Works. 

Glenn Rieder is a member of the Architectural Woodwork 

Institute. 

In her spare time, Pufahl enjoys bicycling, hiking, motorcycle 

riding, reading and gardening. She has been 

married to Roger for 19 years and the couple has one 

daughter, one son and two grandchildren. 

To learn more, visit www.glennrieder.com. n 

CLASSIFIED 

PROFIT OPPORTUNITIES 

Kingsford Lumber Company is looking to hire a log yard manager for 

the Kingsford Mill yard in Kingsford, MI. 

Primary duties will include log scaling/grading, boltwood scaling and 

inventory management, veneer sales and trucking coordinator between 

remote yards, woods landings and mills. The yard manager will work 

closely with the mill manager and equipment operator on yard inventory 

and mill cut schedules. Other duties may include open market log 

buying. 

Job requirements – Must be able to identify species and understand 

the official grading rules for hardwood log and tie cuts, cordwood scaling 

(pile and truck scaling), forestry degree or equivalent experience, 

valid WI or MI driver’s license, 

HELP WANTED 

TIGERTON LUMBER COMPANY 

Yard Manager/Buyer – Tigerton Lumber Company – Iron River Landing 

Tigerton Lumber Company is looking to hire a log yard manager for our 

log yard in Iron River, MI. 

Primary duties will include log scaling/grading and inventory management, 

veneer sales and trucking coordinator between remote yards, 

woods landings and mills. Other duties may include open market log 

buying and satellite log yard management at our yards in Bruce Crossing, 

MI and Conover, WI. 

Job requirements – Must be able to identify species and understand 

the official grading rules for hardwood log and tie cuts, forestry degree 

or equivalent experience, valid WI or MI driver’s license, 

Procurement Forester 

Tigerton Lumber Company is looking to expand its procurement group 

and will be hiring a forester for Northeast/East Central WI as well as 

Southwest WI. 

Primary duties will include buying stumpage through private landowner 

negotiations and/or through timber bids (consultants as well as state, 

federal and county forests). Administration of timber sales which includes 

cruising timber, timber sale contracts, property/harvest line establishment, 

marking timber, filing appropriate cutting notices (MFL/FCL 

and County), sub-contracting logging and trucking, harvest inspections, 

sale summary (scale ticket summary and working with accounting on 

payments for loggers and landowners), MFL/FCL cutting reports and 

sale close-outs. Other duties may include: MFL plan preparation, open 

market log buying, log scaling and grading, road building/maintenance, 

educational/outreach programs, participation in WI DNR committees. 

KINGSFORD LUMBER COMPANY 

FISTA/SFI Training – Training/certification will be done yearly 

(if you do not have it currently it will be provided) 

Salary – Based on 40 hour work week - $55,000/year - $XX,XXX 

(negotiable based on experience) 

To Apply – Please send a resume and cover letter to 

Tigerton Lumber Company. 

Tigerton Lumber Company, 

Attn: Ben Knaack, PO Box 70, Tigerton, WI 54486, or 

Email to: ben@tigertonlumber.com 

Job requirements – Forestry degree or equivalent experience, 

valid WI driver’s license 






Tigerton Lumber Company. 




Yard Manager/Buyer – Kingsford Lumber Company – Kingsford Mill Yard 






Kingsford Lumber Company. 




Any questions on any of these job postings please call Ben Knaack at 715-535-2181. 

Flexible work schedule 

Mileage reimbursement program 

Cell phone plan 

Health insurance 

Life insurance 

Disability and dental 

401k with company match (25% up to 6% of wages) 

Vacation and sick leave 

Flex spending account for health care costs 

Seven paid holidays 

Bereavement pay 

Boot allowance 




Benefits

Certified Lumber Grader – Job Description 

Cardin Forest Products is a family owned sawmill and kiln drying operation located 

in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. We are currently seeking a candidate to fill a 

hardwood lumber grading position in our kiln drying operation. 

The ideal candidate will have: 

•Been NHLA certified 

•2 to 3 years of experience grading kiln dried hardwoods 

Duties will include, but not be limited to the following: 

•Grade and mark all lumber to be sorted according to NHLA rules/guidelines 

and industry standards 

•Communicate effectively with your team and other departments 

•Adhere to all safety policies and perform tasks in a safe and responsible 

manner 

Required Qualifications: 

•Minimum of one (1) year experience grading green and/or kiln dried domestic 

lumber 

•Must be NHLA trained or have equivalent knowledge. 

•Must be physically capable of performing all duties of the job and any other 

duties assigned by Crew Leader 

Position 

•Full time position 

•Company offers medical, dental, 401(k), and other benefit offerings 

We are an equal opportunity employer. Employment selection and related decisions 

are made without regard to sexual orientation, race, color, age, disability, 

religion, national origin, citizenship status and creed. 

Salary Negotiable 

Reply to: Jeremy Ball 

Cell: (423) 619-8056 

Email: jball@cardinfp.com 

HELP WANTED 

Northwest Hardwoods, Inc. is a world-class, integrated, global 

supplier of wood products to the furniture, cabinet, flooring, molding 

and millwork industries. We serve the industrial market segment 

worldwide. We are searching for a candidate who is a team player 

and who also enjoys challenging work. 

Skills & Experience Required 

The successful candidate must be NHLA certified or 

equivalent experience, have the flexibility and ability to 

work in a team-oriented, fast-paced work environment with 

primary focus on personal and team safety behaviors. Good 

work history and safety record with a strong desire to learn 

are required. 

•NHLA certification preferred or equivalent experience 

•Exhibit high level of flexibility 

•Excellent attendance record 

•Excellent communication skills 

•Team Player and Self-Starter 

HARDWOOD LUMBER GRADER WANTED 

Key Functions: 

•Grading lumber according to NWH proprietary grades 

•Maintaining grading accuracy in a fast-paced environment 

•Working with QC on current grade guidelines 

How to Apply 

Send your resume to: ndy.starkey@nwhardwoods.com 

Northwest Hardwoods, Inc. 

718 2nd Ave SW 

Onalaska, Wisconsin 54650 

253-568-6800 

SERVICES 

901.767.9126 

or visit us at 

www.hmr.com 

Benchmark pricing and market 

commentary on the North American 

hardwood lumber industry. 

Go online at hmr.com for a sample copy. 

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE 

USNR 4TA30 Top Arbor Three Shifting Saw Edger 

200 hp drive motor, includes unscrambler, control 

cab, infeed and outfeed. $95,000. Please call Jenness 

for more information at 207-745-2223 or Jeff 

at 207-342-5221. 

Phone: (207) 342-5221 

Fax: (207) 342-5201 

PO Box 9, Ghent Road 

Searsmont, ME 04973 

Contact: Jenness Robbins 

Lumber Grading is a critical skill and trade for the success of our 

business. Come bring your skills to a company that values them 

and is willing to help you develop them for your career success! 

Salary & Benefits 

•Competitive Compensation 

•Sign on Bonus 

•Relocation Bonus available 

•Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance 

•401K w/ Company Match 

•Paid Short Term Disability 

•Paid Life Insurance 

•Referral Bonus 

•Employee Assistance Program 

To: Anyone involved in the sawmill controls industry 

SEEKING AN eLIMBS SPECIALIST 

DMSi is currently seeking a candidate to implement and support the eLIMBS inventory 

system. This person will use their industry and product knowledge to help customers 

improve their business processes with the software. 

Duties include 

-Manage implementation projects, including system set up and configuration 

-Train customers and other DMSi personnel on use of the system 

-Help resolve client cases by gathering information and researching issues 

-Create documentation to improve eLIMBS training resources 

Qualifications 

-Knowledge of the hardwood lumber industry and supply chain processes 

-Experience with training end-users (virtual and in-person) on new software procedures 

-Strong logical and problem-solving skills 

-The ability to positively represent DMSi/eLIMBS 

Position Details 

-Full-time position 

-Ability to work from home or Omaha office 

-Travel to customer locations required 

-Medical, dental, vision, 401(K) with match, PTO, and other benefits provided 

Reply to Kevin Peterson (kpeterson@dmsi.com) 

To: Anyone involved in the sawmill controls industry 

FOR SALE 

Dry Kiln Concentration Yard with 470,000 bdft Kiln Capacity 

and 400,00 bdft Predryer Capacity 

LOT – Western Pennsylvania 

26.47 – acre industrial site 

26.31 – acre wooded lot 

70,000 sqft asphalt lot 

100 x 80 vehicle lot 

Enough sq footage to openly store 2,000,000 bdft lumber. 

BUILDINGS: 

80 x 212 Steel storage building concrete floor (blue lumber storage) 

65 x 140 Wood frame equipment building concrete floor (green chain) 

60 x 130 Wood frame equipment building (stacker) 

60 x 80 Steel building high storage (sawdust) 

60 x 60 Wood frame equipment building (grading shed) 

130 x 80 Coe steel building (predryer) 

5 – 50,000 ft SII Kiln Building 

2 – 40,000 ft Irvington Moore Kilns 

2 – 80,000 ft Nardi Kilns 

25 x 160 Garage w/small office and wash area. Parts storage rooms. 

Block and wood structure. 

25 x 160 Open face wood storage shed, gravel floor. 

25 x 160 Open face steel storage shed with a 50 x 60 high overhang roof, 

gravel floor. 

104,000 sqft Asphalt lot 

OFFICE – Roughly 2,000 sqft working space. 

11 Individual offices 

2 large clerical offices 

1 large conference room 

Small kitchen 

2 Restrooms 

Reply to: nhm@millerwoodtradepub.com, put CMP #3578 in subject line. 

Our Classified 

Advertising 

Works! 

FOR INFORMATION CALL: 

800-844-1280 

USED MACHINERY FOR SALE 

●USNR 4TA30 Top Arbor Three Shifting 

Saw Edger 

●Infeed Landing Deck 

●USNR – Lunden Cam Unscrambler 

S/N 41419 

●Even Ending Rolls 

●Queuing Hooks (2) ahead of Scanner 

●Queuing Hooks (2) after Scanner 

●Edger Infeed Model 600 Maximizer 

S/N 2951-A 

●USNR 4TA30 Edger with 200 HP Arbor 

Drive Motor 

●Outfeed Belt with Shifting Edging Shears 

●Specs – Hardwood 1” to 4” Thick x 4” to 24” 

Wide x 6’ to 16’ Long 

●Saw Kerf .160” x Saw Plate .120” 

●Two Hydraulic Units 

●Water Mizer Oil Mist Guide System 

●Set of Babbitt Guide Tools 

Contact: Jenness Robbins 

Cell: (207) 745-2223 

Email: jenness57@gmail.com 

ALL CLASSIFIED ADS MUST 

BE PAID IN ADVANCE 

$45.00 PER INCH 

BLIND BOX NUMBER FEE: $10.00 

DEADLINE: 30 DAYS 

PRECEDING PUBLICATION MONTH 

Classified advertising will not be accepted for Hardwood products such as lumber, 

dimension, turnings, veneer, carvings, new dry kilns or dry kiln equipment, etc. 




COVER TEMPLATE.indd 1 

10/3/16 1:20 PM 

HELP WANTED 

Snowbelt Hardwoods is seeking an experienced Hardwood Lumber KD Sales 

Manager - Responsible for KD Sales of our production. Ideal candidate would 

be positioned in Indiana/Ohio, Southern or Appalachian region of U.S. This 

position is remote but will require travel to visit customers. 

● Must have prior experience in the Hardwood Lumber industry 

with proven track 

● Must be proficient with computers, email, etc. 

Commission only or Base plus commission – Compensation $$ can be discussed. 

Great Health, Dental and Life insurance, plus Profit Sharing Plan, 

Paid Holidays, and Vacation 1st Year. 

Snow Country Hardwoods is seeking an experienced Hardwood Flooring Operations 

& Sales Manager - Responsible for Flooring Operations & Sales of 

our solid 3/4’’ strip flooring production. This position will be required to work 

on site at our Hurley, WI facility with some travel required 

● Must have prior experience in the Hardwood Flooring/Lumber industry 

with proven track record of Operations and Sales 

● Must be proficient with manufacturing, operations, inventory systems, 

computers, email, etc. 

Base plus commission - Compensation $$ can be discussed. 

Great Health, Dental and Life insurance, plus Profit Sharing Plan, Paid Holidays, 

and Vacation 1st Year. 

For either position, please send resume to Brady Francois at: 

bfrancois@snowbelthardwoods.com 

HELP WANTED 

Mail running 

slowwwwwwww? 

We can’t control mail delays so we are 

speeding up the way you can get your 

next issue. Scan and sign-up to get all 

13 digital issues FREE and delivered 

directly to your inbox. 

National Hardwood Magazine keeps YOU 

informed about Hardwood sawmill production, 

lumber distribution and consumption of 

appearance grade Hardwoods throughout North 

America. 

National Hardwood Magazine 

est. 1927 

What is A CUSTOMER? 

A customer is the most important person ever in this office… 

in person, phone or email. 

A customer is not dependent on us… we are dependent on them. 

A customer is not an interruption of our work…they are the 

purpose of it. 

We are not doing them a favor by serving them…they are doing us a 

favor by giving us the opportunity to do so. 

A customer is not an outsider to our business…they are a part of it. 

A customer is not a cold statistic…but a human being with feelings and 

emotions like your own and with biases and prejudices. 

A customer is not someone to argue or match wits with. 

Nobody ever won an argument with a customer. 

A customer is a person who brings us their wants. It is our job 

to handle them profitably for their benefit and ours. 

Forester 

Bingaman & Son Lumber, Inc., a leading wood products manufacturer, is 

seeking a full-time Forester/Forester Tech at our Pine Creek Lumber (Mill 

Hall, PA) and WBL Hardwood (Nicktown, PA) locations. We prefer a 2-year 

Associates degree in Forestry, knowledge of industry software & Microsoft experience. 

In addition, the successful candidate will have a strong work ethic, 

self-motivated and experience working in a team setting. A valid PA driver’s 

license required. We offer competitive wages and some of the best benefits in 

the area - health insurance, 401K, ESOP, vacation, etc. 

If you are interested, please email your resume to Aimee Bowersox at 

abowersox@bingamanlumber.com. E/O/E 

LIKE US ON 

FOLLOW US ON 

@MillerWoodTradePublications 






COLE HARDWOOD 

GET A KICK. 








Scan this QR code with your 

camera phone to sign-up. 

To the thousands of buyers who read National Hardwood Magazine and 

purchase truckloads of appearance grade Hardwoods throughout North 

America, we want to give you a warm and heart-felt THANK YOU! Because of 

you (distribution/concentration yards; wholesalers; flooring, furniture, cabinet, and 

millwork and moulding manufacturers, etc.) and your loyal following, National 

Hardwood Magazine continues to be the leading Hardwood publication serving 

you and your industry! 

To those we represent (sawmills; distribution/concentration yards; wholesalers; 

equipment manufacturers; and software, chemical and insurance providers) you 

have allowed us to be the leader in this unique and fascinating industry serving 

YOU – OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS! 

Sincerely, 

Paul Miller 

President 

Terry Miller 

Vice President 

P.S. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Zach Miller 

Sales 

www.RealAmericanHardwood.org DECEMBER 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 63

ADVERTISERS 

INDEX 

Abenaki Timber Corporation...................... 

Air Systems Mfg. of Lenoir, Inc.................. 

Ally Global Logistics...............................10 

Anderson, Roy, Lumber Company, Inc....... 

Atlanta Hardwood Corporation.................. 

Automation & Electronics USA..............13 

Baillie Lumber Co....................................... 

Beard Hardwoods....................................... 

Beasley Forest Products, Inc..................... 

BID Group.................................................... 

Bingaman & Son Lumber, Inc...................8 

BioLube, Inc................................................ 

Breeze Dried Inc......................................... 

Carbotech International............................. 

Cardin Forest Products LLC....................... 

Church, Bryant, Hardwoods, Inc................ 

Clark Lumber Co......................................... 

Cleereman Controls................................15 

Cleereman Industries.............................15 

Cole Hardwood, Inc............................... FC 

Collins......................................................... 

Continental Underwriters, Inc................... 

Cooper Machine Co., Inc........................44 

Corley Manufacturing Co......................IBC 

Cramer, W.M., Lumber Co........................... 

Cummings Lumber Co., Inc......................3 

Deer Park Lumber, Inc................................ 

Devereaux Sawmill, Inc.............................. 

Distribution Management Systems, inc. 

(DMSi)........................................................1 

Hermitage Hardwood Lumber 

Sales, Inc.................................................... 

HHP, Inc....................................................... 

Hurdle Machine Works Inc.....................19 

Irving, J.D., Limited................................11 

ISK Biocides, Inc....................................50 

JoCo Lumber, Inc........................................ 

JoeScan...................................................... 

Jones, Ron, Hardwood Sales, Inc.............. 

Josey Lumber Co., Inc................................ 

Kentucky Forest Industries Assoc............. 

Kepley-Frank Hardwood Co., Inc...........56 

King City Forwarding USA, Inc...............17 

King City/Northway Forwarding Ltd.......17 

Kretz Lumber Co., Inc................................. 

Lawrence Lumber Company Inc................ 

Lewis Controls, Inc...............................IBC 

Lewis, Dwight, Lumber Co., Inc.5............2 

Limbo.......................................................... 

Lumber Resources Inc............................... 

Lussier, Simon, Ltd..................................... 

MacBeath Hardwood Company.................. 

Maine Woods Company.............................. 

Mars Hill, Inc............................................... 

Matson Lumber Company........................... 

Maxwell Hardwood Flooring..................45 

McDonough Manufacturing Company....48 

Mellott Manufacturing Co., Inc................... 

Meridien Hardwoods of PA., Inc................. 

Merrick Hardwoods.................................... 

Nyle Dry Kilns...........................................7 

Oakcrest Lumber, Inc................................. 

OHC | Overseas Hardwoods Company....... 

O’Shea Lumber Co...................................... 

Patrick Lumber Company........................... 

Paw Taw John Services, Inc...................... 

Pennsylvania Hardwoods Co...................... 

Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual 

Insurance Company.................................... 

Peterson, Keith D., & Co., Inc................58 

Pike Lumber Co., Inc.................................. 

Prime Lumber Company........................ BC 

Primewood............................................ IFC 

Quality Hardwoods Ltd............................... 

Railway Tie Association.........................58 

Ram Forest Products, Inc........................... 

Real American Hardwood Coalition.........4 

Robinson Lumber Company......................6 

Rosenberry, Carl, & Sons, Lumber, Inc...... 

Rustic Wood Products............................55 

Sawmill MD................................................. 

SII Dry Kilns..............................................5 

Sirianni Hardwoods, Inc............................. 

Smithco Manufacturing, Inc....................... 

Snowbelt Hardwoods, Inc.......................... 

Southern Forest Products Assoc............... 

Stiles, A.W., Contractors, Inc.................57 

Stoltzfus Forest Products, LLC.................. 

Taylor Machine Works, Inc......................... 

Tigerton Lumber Co.................................... 

For over a century, Corley has given you the edge in the industry. 

EXPO Richmond.......................................... 

Fitzpatrick & Weller Inc.............................. 

Forcey Lumber Company, Inc.................54 

Messersmith Manufacturing, Inc............... 

MiCROTEC................................................... 

Middle Tennessee Lumber Co., Inc..........9 

TMX Shipping Co., Inc................................ 

Tropical Forest Products............... 32 & 33 

TS Manufacturing...................................12 

Our edger optimizers provide value, grade and volume-driven solutions; true random and fixed-width solutions; simultaneous 

processing of multiple thicknesses, grades and species; taper solutions based on actual shape; online parameter changes 

Frank Miller Lumber Co., Inc...................... 

GF Hardwoods, Inc..................................... 

Graf Bros. Flooring & Lumber.................... 

Midwest Hardwood Company.................... 

MO PAC Lumber Company.......................... 

Mueller Bros. Timber, Inc.......................47 

U-C Coatings, LLC....................................... 

USNR.......................................................51 

Western Hardwood Association................. 

with no downtime; remote troubleshooting and software upgrades; Dynavision scanning in either 1" or 3" profiles; grade 

intensive or pass through type systems; and custom control packages to meet individual mill requirements. What does this 

Granite Valley Forest Products.................. 

GTL Lumber Inc.......................................... 

Hardwood Forestry Fund............................ 

Neff Lumber Mills, Inc................................ 

New River Hardwoods, Inc......................... 

North American Forest Foundation............ 

Wheeland Lumber Co., Inc.....................49 

White, Harold, Lumber, Inc......................... 

Williams, R.J., Inc...................................53 

mean? Maximum returns—year after year! Our experienced professionals can help you realize a profit potential you never 

thought possible. Call us today or visit our website to discover what other lumbermen have known for over 100 years. 

Hardwood Manufacturers Assoc .............. 

Northern Hardwoods.................................. 

Wood-Mizer, LLC......................................46 

Hartzell Hardwoods, Inc............................. 

NWH............................................................ 

York Legacy Mill Inc................................... 

www.corleymfg.com 

www.lewiscontrols.com 

Note: Advertisers with no page number carry an alternating Ad schedule. 

P.O. Box 471 | Chattanooga, Tennessee 37401 | tel: 423-698-0284 | fax: 423-622-3258 




We hope your holidays are filled with 

joy and laughter and that the coming year 

brings you peace and prosperity. 

Ask about our 

FSC ® - certified 

products 

www.PrimeLumber.com 800-786-1164

National Hardwood Magazine - December 2022

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?