WCLBMA SO. CAL. GOLF TOURNEY

Nic Matute. [5] Kobie Jacobs, Danny Sosa, Jen Burford, Steve Knight. [6] Jason Allen, Bobby Fisher, Victor Salvatierra,

Phil Tachiki. [7] David Rodriguez, Carl Suderman, Chuck Hendrickson, David Baron. [8] Brandon Wert, Jorge Espinoza, Eliazar Guzman, Jonathan Shelton. [9] Brian Kiphen, Zoey Stapenhorst, Robert Rosales. [10] Jeff Scott, Sam Sanregret, Pete Ganahl, Jeff Logue. [11] Madison Miller, Chad Burge. [12] Jeni Selis, Tony Rodriguez. [13] Valentina Saltalamachia, Jackie Vega. [14] Barbie Molina, Leo Delgado. [15] Chuck Casey, Augie Venezia. (More photos on next two pages) photos on next page)

Rick Michael Manning, Reno, Nv.-based territory salesman with Redwood Empire, Morgan Hill, Ca., lost his life in an auto accident on March 24—one week after his 50th birthday.

He was a 1997 graduate of Penn State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences with a degree in wood products. He began his lumber sales career in the Midwest, and had been with Redwood Empire/Pacific States Industries since February 2020, selling redwood lumber products in Northern California, Northern Nevada, and Lake Tahoe.

At the time of his accident, Rick and friends were driving to Phoenix to spend the weekend watching spring training baseball games in Tempe and Peoria, Az.

James Draper, 70, longtime Idaho lumberman, passed away April 1.

After attending Boise State Univer-

Improving Employee Engagement

(Continued from page 27) more autonomy and flexibility in how they do their jobs. Many managers succeed in positions similar to those they supervise so feel they know the “best and only way” to accomplish a task. However, allowing employees to experiment and find what works best for them gives them buy-in and could result in a more efficient and productive process.

• Provide regular job-skills training so employees know the latest expectations and work methods. Assist employees to develop job-related skills even if they are not traditionally associated with the position, such as learning a new language. Pay for employees’ licensing, certifications, professional development, and continuing education, asking them to share some of what they learn with others to multiply the return on investment.

• Develop objective performance management tools to have employees set SMART goals, document job expectations, and track their performance. Reward high-achievers with increases, promotions, and empowerment. Assist employees with potential by giving them more sity, Jim started his 50-plus-year lumber industry career with Hoff Lumber Mill, Horseshoe Bend, Id., before moving on to Boise Cascade, Idaho Pacific Lumber, and BMC West. He spent the last 15 years of his career working for Franklin Building Supply, Boise. frequent communication and training. Remove low-performers to eliminate the stress, burden, and toxicity that they can cause.

David Franz William Ramos, 65, owner of J&D Lumber Services, Placentia, Ca., died March 18.

He entered the lumber industry in the late 1970s, working for yards in the Chino area before starting his own brokerage in 2004.

Dean Alan Martin, 56, lumber trader for BlueLinx, Englewood, Co., April 3 in Littleton, Co.

After graduating from high school in 1985, Dean followed in his father’s footsteps by joining the lumber industry. He began his career in 1984 working for Diamond Lumber Co.

Making institutional changes takes a lot of work and is a long-term commitment which may involve disruptive decisions such as ending established practices or letting go of employees who do not fit the vision. Taking deliberate action to include all employees in the company’s journey will make them feel valued leading to higher engagement, productivity, and retention and will make your company more attractive to prospective employees, allowing you to develop a strong, successful workforce to represent and grow to your company now and in the future. MM

PAIGE McALLISTER

Paige McAllister, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is vice president for compliance with Affinity HR Group. Reach her at (877) 660-6400 or contact@ affinityhrgroup.com.

and, through a series of corporate acquisitions, would later work for BMC West, Boise Cascade, All-Coast Forest Products, Cedar Creek, and BlueLinx.

Lawrence Christopher “Larry” Powers, 94, formerly branch manager for the old O’Malley Building Materials, Nogales, Az., died March 12.

A 1st lieutenantt and communications officer in the U.S. Army, he fought in the Korean War.

Javier Oliva Gonzalez, 72, retired lumber salesman for J.D. Fields Lumber Co., Gardena, Ca., died of cancer on March 30.

John Michael “Mike” Gwartney, 82, retired vice president with Boise Cascade, Boise, Id., died March.

During high school, Mike worked in his grandparents’ hardware store and father’s welding shop. After receiving a degree in finance in 1963 from the University of Idaho-Moscow, he joined Boise Cascade, retiring in 1999 as vice president of human resources and labor relations.

Edwin Ochs Pohle, 88, formerly of Southern Lumber, San Jose, Ca., died Dec. 2, 2022.

Ed attended San Jose State University, then spent two years in the U.S. Army. After his discharge, Ed returned to SJSU to earn a bachelor’s degree in business in 1958. He worked in sales for FMC Corp., U.S. Steel, and the family lumber business—Southern Lumber—before entering the securities industry. He retired in 1996.

Shannon Patrick Jaeger, 73, co-owner of Madrid Inc., Pico Rivera, Ca., died Jan. 2.

A master woodcrafter, he earlier worked for Boyd Furniture, Commerce, Ca., from 1980 to 1995

Bruce Lipke, professor emeritus of University of Washington and founding director of CORRIM (Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials), died on Feb. 14. He was 89.

Bruce was one of two founding directors of CORRIM and served as its president for 14 years. A professor in UW’s College of Forest Resources, he also served as a director of the Center for International Trade in Forest Products (CINTRAFOR) and the Rural Technology Initiative (RTI).