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Brian Johnson, ex-Sierra Pacific Industries, has joined the lumber sales and marketing team at Idaho Timber Corp., Boise, Id.

Jim Miller has joined Fasco America as western regional sales mgr., covering Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Dimitrios "Dimitri" Kontakos is the new southwestern regional sales mgr.

Jim Alexander has been named director of sales for Precision Lumber Co., Vancouver, Wa.

Mark Goodwin has joined the sales staff of Kuzman Forest Products, Hillsboro, Or.

Anthony J. "Tony" DeCarlo, president and c.e.o., Lumbermens Merchandising Corp., will retire Dec. 31 after 32 years with the company. An executive search committee is seeking a successor.

Jack Merry has semi-retired from APA-The Engineered Wood Association, Tacoma, Wa., after 28 years with the organization, the last 17 in communications. He will continue some contract work with the Engineered Wood Technology Association.

Thomas Rice, president, Greenwood Products, Portland, Or., will add the duties of chief financial officer for parent Jewett-Cameron Trading Co., North Plains, Or., following the layoff of c.f.o. Terry Schumacher.

Ken Swartz is new to sales at Mid Valley Lumber Specialties, Aldergrove, B.C., working out of White Rock, B.C.

Stephen Sandor has been appointed general mgr. of Asian operations for Smith & Fong Co., San Francisco, Ca.

Robert Glowinski has been appointed group v.p for forestry & wood products at the American Forest & Paper Association.

Ric Wise, ex-MFP of Oregon, has opened Wise Forest Products, Fayetteville, Ga.

Tony, Joe and Henry Novak, Dunkley Lumber, Prince George, B.C.. will be feted as 2009 Lumbermen of the Year by the British Columbia Wholesale Lumber Association.

Tom Hanneman, retiring Quality Services director for the Western Wood Products Association, Portland, Or., was presented a Master Lumberman award, along with Carl Buchanan. Swanson Group, Glendale, Or.; Kimmy Burnette, Fort Apache Timber Co., Snowflake, Az.; Patrick Grady, Bennett Lumber Products,

Princeton. Id.: Richard 56Rick"

Magee, Simpson Lumber, Shelton, Wa.; Earl Robinett, Yakama Forest Products, White Swan, Wa., and Shane Young, Sierra Pacific Industries, Anderson, Ca.

Ed Hendrix, Longview Timber Co., Longview, Wa., was installed as president of the Oregon Logging Conference, along with lst v.p. Eric Thompson, Thompson Tree Farms, Corvallis, Or.; 2nd v.p. Ken Wienke, Boise Building Solutions, Medford, Or.; treasurer Mike Randall, Swanson Brothers Lumber Co., Noti, Or., and conference mgr. Rikki Wellman, Eugene, Or.

Steve Parkinson, South Beach Trading Co., Coquitlam, B.C., was elected president of the British Columbia Wholesale Lumber Association. Jack Hetherington, Evergreen Empire Mills, Burnaby, B.C., will remain on the executive board as past president.

Stan Still is the new union coordinator at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

Co-op Wins Service Award

For the second year in a row, Ace Hardware Corp. appeared in the top lO of BusinessWeek's "Customer Service Champs" ranking-the only home improvement retailer to be included.

"Our retailers have always provided top-notch service to their customers," said president and c.e.o. Ray Griffith. "These entrepreneurs have the support and strength of a strong national brand while localizing their businesses to meet the needs of the community."

According to the magazine, Ace has cut costs but maintained service levels by using technology that helps store managers determine the best times to stock shelves and clean restrooms based on past shopping patterns. Also, by consolidating its call centers, the chain now offers customer service hours later in the evening and longer on the weekend.

"Our retailers and store associates work hard to ensure their customers receive the helpful hardware advice they need," said Griffith.

WESTERN WOOD Products Association met March 7-10 at Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, Scottsdale, Az., for its annual meeting. (1) Russ & Linda Hobbs, Tim Cornwell. (2) Chris Ketcham, Kevin Binam. (3) Shane & Sally Young. (4) Craig & Janice Larsen. (5) Tom & Lynn Hanneman, Mike & Gretchen O'Halloran. (6) Jim & Linda Scharnhorst. (7) Ed Matsuyama, Mark Denner. (8) Ted Roberts, Bonnie & Sherm Anderson. (9) Duane Vaagen, Jim Petersen. (10) Hector Dimas, BillWhite, Mark Porter. (11)Jeff Setzer, Chloe & Frank

TsB Mnncuaxr Mlclzrur Apnt 2009

Pearson. (12) Matthew Goughnour, Mike Rios. (13) Eric Schooler, Pat Grady, Jim Vandergrift. (14) Debbie Vaagen, Sharon Lewis, Monica Stormoen. (15) Mike Fitzgerald, Mark Elson. (16) Rich Geary, Wade Mosby. (17) Jim Mathews, Russ Tuvey. (18) Jamie Trenter, Steve Zika, Mike North. (19) George Emmerson, Steve Swanson. (20) Frank Campbell, Lee Hackbarth.

(More photos on next page)

WWPA ANNUAL MEETING bontinued from pirevious page); (1) Jon Anderson, Mike Phillios. Mike Durga. (2) Jeff & Susie Webber. (3) Tim Hunt, Brad Tu rner, Alex Rapoport. (4) Max Blatt, Claude Gregory, David

Ray

Big Creek Relocates Yard

Despite the bad economy, Big Creek Lumber, Davenport, Ca., closed its yard in Santa Cruz, Ca., and moved into a new, larger location with a 19,000-sq. ft. building that is closer to the freeway.

"It really points out the difference between locally owned and a large corporation," said general manager Jim Johann. He said that owners Bud McCrary, 82, and Lud McCrary, 80, come to work in Levi's and Pendletons and take a "long-term view. We're not run by suits."

Started by the McCrarys' father in 1946, Big Creek grew to 235 employees at six locations. However. the recession has reduced the work force to 195. Ellen McCrary Rinde, Lud's daugher, is the third generation involved in management of the company.

The new building is four times larger than the old one, so there is more room to showcase products that customers have requeste d. "I'll be able to do window displays," said buyer Rachel Thompson. There's also more space for environmentally