Millwork lndustry Looks Online for Training

The Association of Millwork Distributors' Learning Management System for its online education programs has quickly become one of thc preferred education training systems for AMD members and non-members alike.

In less than two years, the Program has grown to currently offer more than 20 online courses and has become the "go to" source for millwork companies to train their employees on a wide range of industry topics, including mouldings, doors, door frames, windows, stairs, and cabinets.

The latest addition is a l6-hour online course on the "Principles of Professional Sell ing."

By request, AMD also recentlY introduced a Spanish version of its most popular program, "Millwork Principles and Practices," to accommodate employees whose PrimarY language is Spanish.

To date, more than 900 students have taken over 5O00 hours of AMD online education since the program was launched.

This year, AMD will look at enhancing the curriculum of online education courses by partnering with other organizations to make available a broader anay of education topics as related to the millwork industrY.

For 2012, AMD plans on develoPing of a series of safety courses and instruction on door, window and skylight installation.

Mid-State Lumber Makes lts Mark in New England

Micl-State Lumber Corp., Branchburg, N.J., has completed its gradual , 1S-month launch into the New England murkets. now serving dealers in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New HamPshire.

Headed by Mike Kelly, sales manager for New England, the team includes John Fijalkowski, Connecticut territory manager; Dennis Brooks, Massachusetts South Shore territory manager; Jack Knight, Massachusetts North Shore territory manager, and Otto Kinzel, New England field marketing.

MSL has also secured the rights to distribute Tamko's Evergrain decking and Tam-Rail railing in New England markets. MSL is also suPPlYing the region with Royal Building Products PVC trim and mouldings, FastenMaster products, Blue Star meranti, World Class ip6, Jamcs Hardie fiber cement. Interfor western red cedar, Selkirk specialty cedar, Pacific Western Woods cedar Products, Evergrain Decking, Windstorm wall sheathing, and other branded lines.

According to co-owner Ken Bernstein, "Mid-State Lumber will be the first family-owned independent distributor that currently offers the 'complete business package' for dealers from Delaware to southern New Hampshire. Typical delivery service is within 48 hours throughout our footprint. Mid-State Lumber offers experienced outside sales representation, active pull-thru support, weekly product demos, full marketing support, plus a product line in which the dealer can expand."

ldled Potomac Supply Seeking Investors

After temporarily shutting down its manufacturing operations in Kinsale, Va., Potomac Supply Corp. is aggressively pursuing the capital required to restart operations, according to c.e.o. William T. Carden Jr.

Options include new financing, private-equity investment, divisional divestitures, or sale of the company. The company plans to continue serving customers from existing inventories until supplies are depleted.

Founded in 1948, the company had been buying $35 million of standing timber and selling $150 million worth of wood products annually, including treated wood, treated wood fencing and decking, and wood pallets and wood-fuel pellets.

Twin Cities Hoo-Hoo Club Gets Swindled

The former treasurer of the Twin Cities Hoo-Hoo Club has pleaded guilty to swindling $154,000 from the local chapter of the lumber fraternity.

Minnesota lumber wholesaler Donald Peter Boehmer. 60, who served as treasurer of the club between 2006 and 2010, was charged with nine felony counts of theft bY swindle. His sentencing date is scheduled for Feb. 21 in Dakota CountY District Court.

Under Minnesota senlencing guidelines, the maximum sentence fbr conviction of these crimes is 57 months.

Il/lichigan Dealer Puts Finishing Touches on New Warehouse

D. Baker & Son Lumber is planning a March move-in at its new storage warehouse in Grand Haven, Mi., a little more than a year after heavy snow caused the roof on the original building to collapse.

"We're doing great," said business manager Nada Edson. "The project has really come along quickly since the foundation started."

During construction, the 14O-year-old business has operated from nearby leased space. Edson said it was difficult to adjust to the new building, but her staff pulled together and made it through the transition period.

The new 15,706-sq. ft. building is being built on the same footprint as the old one, although it is taller and customers can drive through the 66-ft. long space. Other improvements include a larger office, additional showroom space, and a new computer system-which hadn't been upgraded since the 1990s.

"It's been a very emotional year for all of us at Baker Lumber," said Edson. "We're excited to eet back there and be back for another 140 years."

Boise Moves New Hampshire DC

Boise Cascade's Building Materials Distribution has moved its operations in Portsmouth, N.H., four miles away to a larger facility in Greenland, N.H.

The DC includes 15 acres of yard space, 120,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, and 9,000 sq. ft. of office space.

"This move represents a very significant increase in the physical size of our location," said manager John Tiano. "This will be a safe and more efficient operation. In addition, the increased capacity is going to allow us to significantly increase our product offering."

Strong-Tie Acquires Truss Plate, Goncrete Repair Businesses

Simpson Strong-Tie, Pleasanton, Ca., has acquired the majority of the assets of truss plate firm Automatic Stamping LLC and Automatic Stamping Auxiliary Services LLC, Edenton, N.C., and has entered the concrete repair, protection and strengthening business with the purchase of Fox Industries, Baltimore, Md., and Switzerlandbased S&P Clever Reinforcement Co.

The former owner of Automatic Stamping, Bill Black, will continue to lead the manufacturing and plate innovation operations.

In addition to the new truss plate offering, Simpson Strong-Tie will launch an initial release of its new truss plate software later this year. The company acquired the source code of Keymark's truss software last fall and has been aggressively developing its software and technical support capabilities.

Founded in 1969, Fox Industries manufactures a complete line of cementitious, epoxy, urethane, elastomeric and polyester coatings, grouts, mortars, adhesives, sealers, sealants, membranes and custom-manufactured fiberglass parts for the marine, industrial, transportation, commercial building, and public works industries.

Formed in I 998, S&P Clever produces epoxy resins and fiber-reinforced polymer materials for concrete and asphalt reinforcement. Its systems are manufactured from fiber made of materials such as carbon, glass and aramid.

S&P also provides static design software to engineers and planning and design offices. S&P's manufacturing and distribution facilities are located in Switzerland, Poland. Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

"Simpson Strong-Tie has been in this industry for more than 15 years with its Anchor Systems product line and is excited to bring complementary product lines to our customers in the U.S. and in Europe," said SST president Terry Kingsfather.

Arson Suspected after Two Fires at Kentucky Hardwood Mill

Arson is suspected for fires that hit East Anderson Hardwoods, Waynesburg, Ky., on Dec. 20 and Jan 2.

"It was just fully involved, and the roof had fallen in," said fire chief Danny Glass of the second fire. "We let it extinguish itself."

Co-owner Lowery Anderson said he lost about onethird of the company's finished inventory-about $600,000-in the Dec. 20 fire.

Arson investigators from the Kentucky State Police are assisting in investigations of both fires.