WWPA annual meeting to mark 50 years

If fesrenN Wooo Products AssoV V ciation will celebrate 50 years of lumber industry service at the 2014 annual meeting March 2-4 at the Embassy Suites Hotel Downtown in Portland, Or.

More than 200 industry profession- als are expected to attend the threeday gathering, which will feature committee meetings. awards, receptions, lumber and housing forecasts, and events to commemorate WWPA's 50th anniversary.

The North American Wholesale

Lumber Association again has planned its annual western regional meeting for March 4, to coincide with the WWPA occasion. NAWLA regional meeting details can be found on the the association's website, at www.nawla.org/events/portland- reglonal-meetlng.

The annual meeting will kick off with the industry welcome reception on Sunday evening March 2. WWPA president Kevin Binam will provide the association's lumber outlook through 2O16 at Monday's forecast breakfast. WWPA standing committee meetings will tackle a variety of industry issues, from lumber design values and grade requirements to phytosanitary regulations for lumber exports, followed by the industry luncheon. Monday afternoon features an industry forum covering a range of industry issues that impact western lumber producers and their customers.

Among this year's guest presenters will be Brooks C. Mendell, Ph.D., president and founder of Forisk Consulting. Dr. Mendell has over 20 years of consulting, operating and research experience in forestry, finance, and the timber and bio-energy industries. He will provide an assessment of U.S. timber supply constraints on producers and their influence on western lumber markets.

The nation's housing market and consumer demand for repair and remodeling will be covered by Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for Hanley Wood. Smoke is a national expert on tracking and analyzing housing market conditions across the country. The day will close with the chairman's reception, which offers many opportunities to network with other industry professionals.

The annual meeting is open to all interested industry professionals, including retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers. Registration fees are $300 for WWPA members, $350 for associate members, and $450 for all others. Fees for registrations received after Feb. l5 increase by $50. For those who would like to just network with industry folks,

WWPA is again offering a special registration for the welcome and chairman's receptions on Sunday and Monday nights, for $125 each.

Registration and hotel reservations for the meeting can now be completed online, using the WWPA registration link www.regonline.com/20l4wwpa-annualmeeting. The annual meeting room block at the Embassy Suites fills quickly and it is anticipated the WWPA's 50th anniversary conference will draw more registrants than previous meetings. The reservation deadline, to secure the WWPA group rate, is Feb. 2. Those needing overnight accommodations are urged to make hotel reservations early.

By Wayne Rivers