the lesson of resilience Green retailing and

lJtHrs rs rHE rrve of I year when we s.et to take a step back froir the day-to day grind of running the business and reflect on the year that was. Why? To learn, so we can do what's necessary to improve in the coming year and into the future.

chains are cut, or fuel prices suddenly skyrock-

In practical terms, we can begin to outline what this might mean for the home and shelter supply chain, generally, and for individual dealers. More green building products and materials, yes, but what else? Robustness, redundancy. and diversity are three key attributes of resilient systems and are concepts that might inform new product development, categories, and services. Can we retrofit homes to withstand 150-mph hell. You've got to do it and in times of certainty and little change, it's sufficient. But that's not the world we live in.

The first step is looking at the business metrics, comparing performance against plan, and so forth. Diving into the numbers is necessary, informative, and boring as

More enlightening is taking the time for deep reflection on strategy. If you're a lone wolf who does best keeping your own counsel, head off by yourself to some place that inspires you. Take the time to consider what you know, and don't know, about the changing world you live and do business in. If you lcad a management team, take them on a "visioning" retreat that wilt afford the space and time to adequately consider the new context within which your business operates. What lessons have you learned?

This past year-with shifting climatic patterns, extreme weather events, unstable macro and regional economic conditions, and rising energy prices-gave a taste of what's in store in coming years. Against this background, construction activity is trending up, especially green building, so that's a somewhat predictable constant, but being prepared for an uptick in green building isn't the same as being prepared for Hunicane Sandy.

If there's one lesson I've learned from this past year, it's that we need to think hard about how we can build resilience into our communities and businesses, and into the built environment, generally. Resilience is loosely defined as the ability of a system to absorb a disturbance and continue functioning without collapsing-in other words, "bounce-back-ability." This is critically important as we enter a new era of super storms. volatile energy prices, and shifting economic priorities. How can we continue to function even when lights go out for days, supply winds? Can we build backup energy systems that don't rely on gas or diesel? Can we develop multiple sources of supply for essential goods, multiple sources of income, and multiple sources of finance?

These kinds of questions will undoubtedly gain in importance over the next few years. Obviously, last year was crazy, but we can learn some good lessons from it. More importantly, this industry is already in a good position to begin developing resilience within, as well as helping our customers, stakeholders, and wider communities do the same. What that looks like will differ depending on local conditions. Maybe one day, home centers will include a "resilience department" wedged in between plumbing and electrical. Whatever the future we'll be better prepared thinking deeply abour rhe lessons we learned this by past year.

Jay Tompt Managing Partner Wm. Verde & Associates

All-Coast Exits Southern California

All-Coast Forest Products, Cloverdale, Ca.' is closing its Southern Califomia distribution yard in Chino and selling the assets, including inventory and equipment, to Capital Lumber, Phoenix, Az. The deal is set to close by Jan. 31.

Capital will consolidate operations at its own Chino facility.

All-Coast, which will continue operating DCs in Cloverdale and Englewood, Co., reportedly has found another buyer for its Chino property.

Judge Blocks Murphy Sale

The c.e.o. and co-owner of Murphy Co., Eugene, Or.' has been granted a preliminary injunction preventing his three partners from selling the company.

John Murphy claims that a sale would violate his 2001 contract with former c.e.o. Peter Murphy Jr., Dennis Murphy, and Edward Murphy ( see November , page 3 I )

The county circuit judge ruled that the company could not be sold until John Murphy received a trial. He also denied Murphy's request for a court-appointed appraiser to determine the value of company stock, as well as his partners' request to summarily dismiss his lawsuit.

Arizona Mill Construction Nears

Pioneer Forest Products expects to begin construction early this year on a sawmill in Winslow, Az.

The facility will cost an estimated $230 million and could eventually employ as many as 600 workers. "We're still working on the funding," said Herman Hauck, c.e.o. of Pioneer Associates. "We're working hard to try to make (a first quarter start date) happen."

Boise Cascade, Boise, ld., has filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock.

Oregon Canadian Lumber Products, t'torttr Plains, Or., suffered a Nov.30 fire at its kiln control room, caused by a malfunctioning fan assembly.

PRO Group, Denver, Co., has been acquired by presi' dent and c.e.o. Steve Synnott from Gary Cosgrave, who will remain on the board.

Canfor Corp., Vancouver, B.C., is investing $40 million in its Elko, B.C., sawmill, including expandrng its drying capacity and building a planer mill.

Stimson Lumber Co., Portland, 0r., sold 28,000 acres of wildlife habitat in northwest Montana as a conservation easement to a public trust, to be managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

The land will remain a working forest with high standards for soecies conservation and public access.

Boral CompositeS, Roswell, Ga., won LEED silver certification for its Boral TruExterior Trim plant in East Spencer, N.C., which was completed in 2011.

Contact Industries, Portland, 0r., has redesigned its website at www.contactind.com.

By Hakan Ikstrom, Wood Resources Internationat