August 2017 Hardwood Matters by National Hardwood Lumber Association

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H A R DWO O D M AT T E R S T H E VO I C E O F T H E H A R DWOO D I N D U ST RY

Architecture and Hardwoods pl us COMMUNICATING HOPES, IDEAS AND DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE 2019 NHLA RULES CHANGE PROPOSALS

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E N AT I O N A L H A R D W O O D L U M B E R A S S O C I AT I O N S T R O N G R O O T S . G L O B A L R E A C H . | W W W. N H L A . C O M

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WHAT'S INSIDE features 15 Building An Argument For The Use of Hardwoods 18 Hardwood CLT: The Next Big Innovation In Hardwoods READER SERVICES 6 8 22

Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message CEO's Message Educational Calendar

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Rules Corner

august 2017

Advocacy

CONTENTS

Family Business

11 Labor

10 DEPARTMENTS

Memorials

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H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S T H E VO I C E O F T H E H A R DWO O D I N D U ST RY

THE MISSION OF NH LA To serve NHLA Members engaged in the commerce of North American hardwood lumber by: maintaining order, structure and ethics in the changing global hardwood marketplace; providing unique member services; promoting North American hardwood lumber and advocating the interest of the hardwood community in public/private policy issues; and providing a platform for networking opportunities.

August 2017 ▪ Issue 181 National Hardwood Lumber Association PO Box 34518 ▪ Memphis, TN 38184-0518 901-377-1818 ▪ 901-382-6419 (fax) info@nhla.com ▪ www.nhla.com

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MISSION LEADERS

Brent Stief Huron Forest Products President

Jack Shannon J.T. Shannon Lumber Co. Unique Services

Darwin Murray McClain Forest Products Vice President Pem Jenkins Turn Bull Lumber Co. Past President 2014-2016 NHLA STAFF Lorna D. Christie CEO l.christie@nhla.com Renee Hornsby Director of Communications/Editor r.hornsby@nhla.com

King City/Northway Forwarding

Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods

IFC

Pike Lumber Company, Inc.

U•C Coatings

Rossi Group

21 VisionTally

TJT Consulting

Mike Powers Maley & Wertz Industry Advocacy & Promotion Kevin Gillette Tioga Hardwoods Membership & Networking COMMITTEE CHAIRS Dave Mayfield Mayfield Lumber Co. Membership

Jennifer VanDyke Marketing Manager j.vandyke@nhla.com

Dave Bramlage Cole Hardwood, Inc. Promotion & Advocacy

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ADVERTISER INDEX

Orn Gudmundsson, Jr. Northland Corporation Structure

Kristina Thomas Community Manager k.thomas@nhla.com

Desirée Freeman Controller

For advertising inquiries: Contact John Hester, Director of Membership at j.hester@nhla.com or 901-399-7558.

Nordeck Thompson Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods Rules

Rich Hascher Inspector Training School Instructor John Hester Director of Membership and Business Development Becky Miller Inspector Training School Administrator Dana Spessert Chief Inspector

Jon Syre Cascade Hardwood LLC Convention Pem Jenkins Turn Bull Lumber Co. Nominating Steve Jones Ron Jones Hardwood Sales, Inc Inspection Services Orn Gudmundsson, Jr. Northland Corporation Finance Bucky Pescaglia Missouri-Pacific Lumber Co., Inc. ITS/Continuing Education Stephanie VanDystadt DV Hardwoods, Inc. Communications & Marketing Jeff Wirkkala Hardwood Industries, Inc. Member Value Joe Snyder Fitzpatrick & Weller, Inc. Rules Darwin Murray McClain Forest Products Strategic Planning

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For more than 20 years, Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods has manufactured and exported the highest-quality Appalachian hardwood lumber and logs. With control of raw material from the forest, Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods guarantees a consistent, high-quality product from start to finish.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

PROMOTION: THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM, OR A GOAL WORTH ACHIEVING? As President of the NHLA Board of Managers, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to working with the board and staff to find solutions to the most important problems keeping our members up at night. I know past presidents feel the same way. NHLA has been around for more than 100 years, and we have many successes of which we can be proud; but it seems there is one issue that we have never, ever been able to conquer, despite our best efforts. The issue is promotion - the number one concern in our recent member survey. Our members told us that we are not doing enough to create and promote a positive image of the hardwood lumber industry. Now I know there are some of you who have committed your time and resources to promotional campaigns in the past. I applaud the efforts of pioneers like the Hardwood Forest Foundation and the many companies who supported the American Hardwoods promotion campaign. My question . . . is there a better way to tell the story of our great industry on an ongoing basis? There are plenty of examples of promotion failures. Can we learn from them? Consider the widely celebrated Got Milk campaign that everyone loves to cite as a model of industry promotion; it is often used as an example of what “we need to do.” But there is a problem in that logic. The facts are that after millions of dollars spent over 20 years of celebrity endorsements, the campaign was not successful in turning around the erosion in consumer milk consumption. It failed to recognize the real problem in decreased consumption. Consumption was decreasing because of the increased popularity of sodas, energy drinks, and other portable drink products entering the market. Again, lesson learned – even well known campaigns sometimes fail to hit the mark. And before you issue a heavy sigh, roll your eyes and stop reading, bear with me. I am not about to suggest another check-off debate, public relations campaign, or industry fundraising effort as an alternative. Let me be clear, I believe our past efforts have value – but we must also be able to learn, modify and adapt as we move forward. Members of the NHLA Promotion Committee chaired by Dave Bramlage have been grappling with the how and why of promoting our industry for some time now. We don’t believe we have all the answers yet, but do think we are getting close.

be defined by how well we understand the “real” problem, create and implement sound strategies and clear tactics, and execute using the right combination of marketing communication tools for our audience. Finally, establishing and maintaining effective partnerships with other industry associations will be a yet another critical factor in our success. Success will not be defined by one ‘campaign’ but a combination of initiatives integrated into the value that associations offer their members. And of course, consumer research will be key to ensuring we are responding to the “real problems” negatively impacting our industry’s image. I would like to hear your thoughts. Is the goal of effectively promoting our industry possible? Is there a “magic bullet?” Please email me at b.stief@nhla.com and stay tuned for more.

Obviously improving the industry’s image by telling our story more effectively is the ultimate goal. Backing our story with science based facts is also a must, as is providing readily available resources, and member educational programs. And we can never forget the need for strategic marketing and communications. We recognize that developing effective promotional strategies for a vertically integrated industry is hard work – there is no one solution to achieving real results. Here are our own lessons learned. There is one hard-fast rule we must always remember - a successful promotional effort is a journey, not a destination. Success will

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Brent Stief, NHLA President Huron Forest Products

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CEO'S MESSAGE

GLOBALIZATION CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES The global opportunities for North American hardwoods were certainly on my mind during my recent trip to China to attend the American Hardwood Export Council’s (AHEC) conference in Qingdao and the Sylva Wood convention in Shanghai; both events were well worth the trip. I was pleased to see that both meetings were well attended by NHLA members from both sides of the world, and appreciated the opportunity to visit Partner members Guanglin and Shanghai J & Crown Forest Products. Walking through their distribution centers clearly demonstrated the opportunities for NHLA members offering quality hardwood. Our tour guides were quick to point out the U.S. brands that delivered consistent quality with every load. Just like in the U.S., every member we visited had the NHLA membership certificate on their wall in a place of honor. One member even had the logo displayed on their front door! The many conversations I had with U.S. members with long term experience of doing business in China was also invaluable. Their “lessons learned” sounded very familiar to other emerging markets I have followed. Perhaps my strongest take-away from those conversations was the important role that the NHLA Rules and Inspection Services play in the continued evolution of the China market. In listening to our Chinese members' perception of value, I was reminded of the role of both (the rules and inspection services) played in stabilizing the U.S. hardwood markets in our industry’s early days. I left the “information overload” for the long plane ride home in search of more information on the future potential of not just China, but the entire Asian market. Consider the facts according to AHEC. U.S. wood exports to China represent less than 10 percent of all their imported lumber, logs and veneer. One in five grade lumber boards cut in the U.S. is bound for China, with red oak leading the way, followed by poplar. Is there an opportunity for additional growth? According to McKinsey & Company, 76 percent of China’s urban population will be classified as “middle class” by 2022. And while some may dispute the definition of a “true” middle class existence compared to other countries, Chinese retail consumption patterns are expected to grow 9 percent a year through 2020. Despite the ongoing concerns regarding the fragility of the “China bubble,” many experts argue that this middle-class expansion will continue, particularly in Asia and India. By 2030, Brookings estimates that Asia could represent two-thirds of the global middle class population, suggesting that this emerging segment will be a key driver of global economic growth, with annual growth

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rates of 6 percent or more. Compare that to growth projections of the middle-class market in advanced economies of only 0.5 percent per year. Thankfully, Chinese consumers love American hardwoods, particularly in their growing furniture markets. An increasing amount of U.S. hardwood imports now stay in China, fueled by consumers' preference for western furniture trends featuring solid wood or veneer furniture with wood grain. While the numbers looking promising, I also understand there are rarely new business opportunities without challenges. And certainly, navigating and finding common ground between two very distinct business cultures has to be at the top of the list for both our Chinese and American members.

Lorna D. Christie, CEO 901-377-1082 direct | l.christie@nhla.com

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MEMORIALS

IN MEMORIAM: PAUL A. LYSKAVA Paul A. Lyskava, 52, passed away on Monday June 26 at the Carolyn Croxton Slane Hospice Residence, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Paul was born April 26, 1965 in Trafford, Pennsylvania.Paul is survived by his wife of 21 years, Kathleen (McCormick) and his son Sean. He is also survived by his parents Frank and Barbara Lyskava of Murrysville. Paul earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, and his masters from Penn State. Paul worked for the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, The Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture, and for the last 15 years as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association. Paul was impossible to beat at Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit. He equally appreciated the movies of John Ford and Quentin Tarantino. He loved seeing Bruce Springsteen live, the best being the two concerts with his son. Paul loved Notre Dame Basketball, the golf courses of Scotland, Arnold Palmer, and Guinness (on tap). Paul was fiercely loyal to his family. Driving across the country with his son in Mini Takes The States, was one of his favorite events. He supported his wife in everything she did. He loved and respected his parents. Paul was a smart, decent and respected man. He will be missed. Send a Condolence or Light a Candle, visit the Tribute Wall at www.myers-harner.com.

IN MEMORIAM: JAY M. WARD Jay Ward passed away unexpectedly on June 10 in Akron, Ohio at the age of 54. He was born in Lakawana, New York in 1962 to Charles and Nancy Ward. He graduated from the National Hardwood Lumber Association Grading School in Memphis, Tennessee in 1986. Jay and Stephanie were married in the fall of 1986 in Jamestown, New York. He began working for Rossi Group as a lumber grader, and eventually worked his way up to general manager over the span of 30 years. After putting down roots in Ohio in 1993, Jay and Stephanie welcomed a daughter, Taylor (‘95) and a son, Ethan (‘99) into their family. Family was always Jay’s favorite and greatest accomplishment. Jay was a proud Eagle Scout and a passionate outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, gardening, woodworking, cooking, and board games. His family will remember him by his selfless love, humor, work ethic, and tendency to engage in spontaneous laughter. He was a central part of every family gathering. Jay was preceded in death by his father, Charles Ward and his father-in-law, Dana Bohall. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Ward; his two children, Taylor and Ethan Ward; his mother, Nancy Ward; his brother, Barry (Janet) Ward; his nephews, Brandon and Kyle Ward; and his mother-in-law, Barbara Bohall; and his brothers-inlaw, Mark and Roderick (Johanna) Bohall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a memorial education fund set up for his children, as the education of his children was a priority while he was living. Donations may be sent to: Stephanie Ward for the Taylor and Ethan Ward Memorial Education Fund, c/o Barry M. Ward Co. LPA, 1 Cascade Plaza #1000, Akron, OH 44333. To share a Memory, Send a Condolence or Light a Candle, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com.

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LABOR

TO CUT OR KEEP? A Leader’s Guide to Managing an Intermittent Employee By Eric Chester, Award-Winning Speaker & Best Selling Author (www.ericchester.com)

y new high-end coffee brewer drives me absolutely insane. It brews the absolute perfect cup of java – hot nectar of the gods – about every third day. The other two result in either an average tasting cup of convenience store coffee or an evil black muck that you wouldn’t throw down your kitchen drain for fear it would eat through your pipes. I don’t get it. I use the same beans and follow the same procedure every day, but the coffee that ends up in the pot is wildly inconsistent. Is there any problem more perplexing than the one that is intermittent? You know . . . bliss one minute; misery the next. As a manager, that perplexity is multiplied exponentially when the intermittent problem isn’t a ‘thing’ but rather one of your employees. That worker who’s a rock star one day and a royal pain-in-your-neck the next. And that can leave you scratching your head wondering if today is the day you should hand them a bonus check or a severance check. Let’s examine the options for managing the on-again/offagain employee: • If the I.E. (intermittent employee) is a rock star most of the time and a pain to deal with only once-in-a-while, and they’re in a position that requires a hard-to-find skill set (e.g. fine copy editor, underwater welder, etc.) then it’s probably worth the occasional hassle they present to you to keep them on your payroll. • If the I.E. has a hard-to-find skill set and is a royal pain most of the time and a rock star just some of the time, getting a reasonable R.O.I from them is a high-risk gamble. While you may want to consider investing some time and resources in an attempt to repair their downside, the odds of rehabilitating a talented nut-job (i.e. Johnny Manziel) are stacked against you. Don’t be fooled into believing that you possess the magic wand that can permanently correct deeply engrained negative behaviors.

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• If the I.E. has a fairly common skill set (e.g. barista, limo driver) and is a rock star most of the time, then take the time and energy into trying to eliminate and/or reduce their unwanted behaviors and grow them in your organization. It’s a ‘no-brainer’ if that I.E. has a common skill set that’s easy to replace and is a royal pain to deal with even a third of the time. You’ve got to cut ‘em loose immediately before they spread their virus throughout your culture. ON POINT – Every employee can experience an off day now and then. But when a manager begins to notice an erratic and unpredictable pattern of unacceptable behavior that impedes performance and poisons the workplace atmosphere, it’s a signal to take quick and decisive action.

Friday, Oct. 27 at 8:30 am. Come to the NHLA Town Hall Meeting and hear Eric Chester, our Friday Keynote Speaker at the 2017 NHLA Annual Convention and Exhibit Showcase in Nashville. A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S

FAMILY BUSINESS

Communicating Hopes, ideas, and dreams for the future By Deb Houden, The Family Business Consulting Group (www.thefbcg.com)

n the last article, I wrote about two different scenarios: One where an elderly gentleman could not let go and was unknowingly threatening his family and his business with his lack of succession plans; the other was about a gentleman and his two sons who were increasingly taking on more and more duties. Neither of those men could communicate their decisions regarding the succession for their business and for the family. Communication is an important process in the succession process. Many senior generation leaders struggle with sharing their hopes, ideas, and dreams for the future. They often times don’t know how to start the conversation. In addition, they struggle with choosing between children to lead the company in fears their choices will hurt the family. It is a classic family business struggle of confusing the roles between family member and employer/employee. Starting the conversation may be as simple as meeting on a consistent basis, perhaps monthly in the beginning, with key people to discuss the future. These conversations can be short, but do need to happen regularly. Senior needs to think long and hard about who is the best leader for the business, and that may not be a family member. Often times, the senior generation is swayed by family expectations that color their thoughts of leadership. Advisors including lawyers, accountants, bankers, and consultants can help the senior generation hone his or her thoughts and wishes. These same advisors should also under-

Thursday, Oct. 26 at 1:00 pm. Come hear Deb Houden speak at the 2017 NHLA Annual Convention and Exhibit Showcase in Nashville. This educational seminar will focus on: • Conflict & Communication Management • Leadership & Next Generation Development 12

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COMMUNICATION IS KEY DURING CHANGE AND NEEDS TO HAPPEN FREQUENTLY AND CONSISTENTLY. stand the intentions of the older generation. Their involvement in the preparation for succession is invaluable as they may be able to define the challenges of the business in the future. These advisors should also be communicating with each other, too, creating an advisor team. In addition, senior level management needs to be informed about who the next leader may be. When information is lacking, a vacuum occurs that is filled with guesses and innuendoes. A flourishing management team can falter quickly without adequate information. Communication is key during change and needs to happen frequently and consistently. Finally, the senior leader needs to have a frank discussion with the next generation about their intentions and wishes, and then listen. Senior’s intentions and wishes might not be the same as the younger generation. Through my research, I discovered nothing colored the way the younger generation felt about the family business more than their feelings of either obligation or opportunity towards involvement in the family business. Sometimes younger members do not want to work within the family business, or assume the mantle of leadership, but feel obligated. This starts a messy relationship with the family business that is filled with remorse and regret. Not a great way to live a life. On the flip side, many younger generation members recognize the opportunity that is provided for them and are excited about taking the helm in the future. Finally, the younger generation needs to step up to the plate and communicate their wants and desires, too. This may be very difficult for junior, too. Advisors can help here, too, by being a conduit between senior and junior.

NEXT MONTH: I will talk about the preparation for next generation for leadership.

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rd Map Maple • Soft Map Maple • Red Oak • White Oak • T Tuli ulipwood • Ash • Cherry • Hard Map Maple • Soft Map Maple • Red Oak • White Oak • T Tuli ulipwood •

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Emporium, PA, USA

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SALES Sales@rossilumber.com rd Map Maple • Soft Map Maple • Red Oak • White Oak • T Tuli ulipwood • Ash • Cherry • Hard Map Maple • Soft Map Maple • Red Oak • White Oak • T Tuli ulipwood • www.rossigroup.net Middletown, CT, USA Ph 01 (860) 632 3505 Fax 01 (860) 613 3727

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rd Maple • Soft Maple • Red Oak • White Oak ak • T Tulipwood • Ash • Cherry • Hard Maple • Soft Maple • Red Oak • White Oak ak • T Tulipwood •

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rd Maple • Soft Maple • Red Oak • White Oak ak • T Tulipwood • Ash • Cherry • Hard Maple • Soft Maple • Red Oak • White Oak ak • T Tulipwood •

rd Maple • Soft Maple • Red Oak • White Oak ak • T Tulipwood • Ash • Cherry • Hard Maple • Soft Maple • Red Oak • White Oak ak • T Tulipwood • W W W. N H L A .CO M

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21 3

ADVOCACY

THE RETURN OF H.R. 2647 By Dana Cole, Executive Director Hardwood Federation

he Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015 (H.R. 2647) was a major focus of Hardwood Federation advocacy activity in the 114th Congress (2015-16). The bill addressed many of our concerns about the way the Federal Forest system is being managed, including the dramatically increasing budget needs to fight fires on federal lands, mostly at the expense of other forest and wildlife management programs housed within the U.S. Forest Service. H.R. 2647 also sought to address the slow pace of reforestation after wildfire, increasing fuel reduction programs in lands close to urban communities, streamlining timelines for project planning, including timber sales, and allowing expedited review of collaborative forest management projects. Unfortunately, H.R. 2647 did not gain traction in the Senate after passage in the House. However, Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR), sponsor of the original bill, is back and has reintroduced a new version of the bill. The House Subcommittee on Federal

Lands held a hearing on the draft bill on June 15 and on June 20, the final bill was introduced, becoming H.R. 2936. The bill authorizes some new tools to satisfy requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA—a long standing statute that forms the basis for environmental reviews required before forest thinning work can begin. These reviews can be problematic if they drag on too long as projects become less economically attractive. The new tools are known as Categorical Exclusions from NEPA, or CEs, and can be used for: • Expediting critical response actions; • Expediting salvage operations in response to catastrophic events; • Meeting forest plan goals for early successional forests; • Improving, restoring and reducing the risk of wildfire. The bill would also allow expedited environmental analysis, essentially an action vs. no action decision, for certain collaborative forest activities on lands suitable for timber production or covered by a community wildfire protection plan. While essentially the same as the 2015 version, the 2017 version does have some new language. Probably the most significant change is that the new bill has much more aggressive categorical exclusions than the previous version which passed the House. In the new bill, CEs can be issued for projects up to 10,000 acres, which doubles the cap from the House-passed version last Congress. One of the more interesting provisions in the draft is the creation of up to 10 Pilot Arbitration Projects per Forest Service region. The intent is to resolve legal challenges against forest management activities through binding arbitration, providing organizations the opportunity to offer an alternative to challenged activities proposed by the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management. An independent arbitrator would review and make the determinations. We are anxious to get to work in support of Mr. Westerman and his co-sponsors on H.R. 2936! We will be working closely with Congressman Westerman and his team to ensure that this bill gets a fair hearing in the House and Senate. We will keep you posted on progress!

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Building An Argument for

The Use of Hardwoods

fter nearly 9 years of being out on the road as the Architectural Marketing Manager for Frank Miller Lumber, Criswell Davis has offered AIA continuing education programs to over 5,000 architects and designers. The programs tell the story of sustainable American hardwoods and their role in design. The goal always was to gain a seat at the table in the design process, encouraging the realistic use of American hardwoods to improve the spaces into which they could be specified. Criswell has been successful in getting American hardwoods specified and installed in projects around the world and has become a valuable resource for some of the biggest design and engineering firms in the world. He has lectured to architecture schools, design festivals, all-day AIA Continuing Education seminars and in-house lunch and learn events. He has always told his audiences that he sees his mission as twofold. First, he wants to inspire the use of American hardwoods in design where such inspiration doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist because of negative

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preconceived notions regarding forest resource management. To this end he offers a plethora of industry stats regarding the health of our resource. Second, once his passion for sustainable American hardwoods inspires its specification in a project, he sees his job as helping to fine tune the specification so that the end goal is achievable. He treats his audiences to an exciting slide show of beautiful projects featuring American hardwoods. In 2010 Criswell Davis wrote an article for Hardwood Matters entitled “The Boy Who Cried Wood” as his new mission as a Brand Ambassador for the American hardwood industry was taking shape. More than 7 years since that article was written he is proud to say that he has succeeded in gaining a seat at the design table. There is much work still to be done and so many architects and designers to reach, but he considers the time and resources spent so far to be well worth it.

Here architects share their opinions and observations on the attributes of North American hardwoods and their growing role in architecture and design.

Design, Sustainability & Hardwood

NDREW KLARE is a Director at KPF based in New York with 14

“What’s great about wood to me is not day one. It’s actually 20 years later when you start to see the patina and the character that is completely unexpected or unpredicted that comes to life.”

years’ experience in various building types, including supertall towers, mixed-use developments, institutional and residential projects.

With regard to sustainable design and choosing hardwoods Andrew sees the two together without question. “With our firm we don’t advertise that we do sustainable architecture, the reason for that is because we figure high design is also doing sustainable architecture. The aesthetics, the function, the impact it has on the urban environment… all of those things we have a moral obligation to make them not only successful buildings not only for our clients but successful buildings for our environment and for future generations. And so it’s engrained in us.” He notes that wood is a very “primal” thing and something that always brings comfort when using it. “We use a lot of stones and woods to make spaces feel warm, inviting and occupiable; places that want to be populated and places that want to be destinations. We use wood as a crutch because it’s always an easy throwback and I say that as complimentary—you add wood to something and you make it better.” Andrew is a fan of hardwood because of its range and versatility. “It offers an amazing palette with materiality that not only offers, from a design perspective, a great tonality . . . form making and even just the patterning that can be happening with this wood, it’s endless. It’s a great tool for us to work with and because its not its not limiting and offers these green sustainable contributions and inherent beauty that people just seem to be drawn to it becomes a great piece of our overall palette.”

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Biophilia & the Bottom Line

he relationship between people and their environmental spaces is called Biophilia and influences the designs of BRADLEY CARLSON, AIA Principal. “It’s how people feel in a space both physically and mentally; and by incorporating natural materials like American hardwoods and presenting it in a design solution in a natural way, it really enforces that kind of connection.” For the last 27 years, Bradley has primarily practiced in hospitality design, with projects including hotels, restaurants, spas, function and conference centers. “From an operator side, you want to create a space that people want to come back to and people respond very well to natural materials. If you walk into a space with beautiful hardwood floors, walls, architectural detailing and furniture it really creates that favorable experience.” From the business side of things, Bradley notes that designers must be prepared to answer the question; “is this going to make me any more money?” His response, “be careful” when comparing just initial costs of selecting

Healthy Design – Way Beyond Green

HERYL CIECKO, a licensed architect with more than 28 years

of professional experience who currently specializes in healthy building, says there is a growing awareness by consumers of toxins in their environment and there is a tendency towards natural materials without added ingredients. “Its something I talk a lot about in my practice. And locally sourced, natural products is kind of a double whammy in terms of solving the problems that people are trying to solve.”

“There is miscommunication in the sustainability arena,” she says. “And its something your organization is doing a really good job of actually countering. You have some really good information regarding sustainability and healthy forests. There is maybe, for instance, a preconception that something like bamboo may be better because it grows fast without really understanding that it is growing fast in Asia; and there is a lot of processing involved. So just looking at the life cycle assessment piece from cradle to grave, wood has a great story. What I have found interesting is looking at all materials and that has driven my interest in wood. W W W. N H L A .CO M

“American hardwoods is a great interior and exterior product, hitting on a number of points and sustainability is often misunderstood as people bring preconceptions for a material on what’s appropriate or not.” American hardwoods with synthetic materials or other choices and really look at the life cycle of the material. “The material life cycle costs comes up a lot and the process of selecting these materials really needs to be architect guided,” he notes. “For instance, the initial costs of a hardwood might be higher and a client or specifier might opt for less expensive up-front materials but those materials often times have higher maintenance costs, not as long a life span or the durability needed. When all of those aspects are taken into account over a 15-year period of a product life cycle, American hardwoods come out ahead.” Speaking to sustainability and the push in locally sourced products, Bradley believes this is a consumer trend that resonates with American hardwoods. “People like knowing that it’s locally produced . . . whether it’s their American hardwoods or the dinner on their plate. And that makes them feel like they are being responsible in their choices and reinforces their expectations of what they are looking for in today’s market.”

Every material has a story to tell and wood has a very compelling story to tell to me.” Cheryl Ciecko Inc. was founded as an integrative architectural wellness-consulting company to provide support, assistance, resources and insights to both professionals and individuals challenged by water damage, mold and other toxins in buildings, resulting in possible health impacts for occupants.

“If the wood industry doesn’t tell its story then other people will tell your story. The wood industry thought everybody knew their story… but they don’t.” Between 2004 and 2007, an estimated 100,000 homes in more than 20 states were built with toxic drywall imported from China. Emissions from the drywall corrode plumbing and electrical systems and homeowners blamed toxic emissions for headaches and respiratory ailments. Cheryl advises that the first question anyone should ask . . .“where is the product coming from? where is it being made?” “A product made in another country can make claims that they are organic or gluten free, they can say they are made in a certain way. But if a product (wherever its made) is not going to be subject to 3rd party reviews, if the company isn’t held accountable and doesn’t have a reason to make you whole if there is a problem, then personally I wouldn’t want that in my building or my house.” If the wood industry doesn’t tell its story then other people will tell your story. A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S

HARDWOOD CLT: THE NEXT BIG INNOVATION IN HARDWOODS

Architect Magazine called hardwood cross-laminated timber one of the “Material Trends to Watch in 2017.” The first public experiment with this building material was The Endless Stair, created during the London Design Festival 2013 in collaboration with global engineering firm ARUP and the American Hardwood Export Council. In 2016, the American Hardwood Export Council collaborated with Alison Brooks Architects, ARUP and the London Design Festival to present a cross-laminated tulipwood structure in the Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground of the Chelsea College of Arts entitled the SMILE. In July of this year, Maggie’s Oldham, the world’s first hardwood CLT building opened in the UK. Designed by dRMM Architects and supported by the American Hardwood Export Council, this is a pivotal moment for modern architecture and construction. Maggie’s Cancer Care Center is a charity that provides practical and emotional support to people living with cancer. Built on the grounds of specialists NHS cancer hospitals, Maggie’s Centers are warm and welcoming places with qualified professionals on hand to offer a program of support shown to improve physical and emotional well being. dRMM chose tulipwood for the design of Maggie’s Oldham for the positive influence wood has on people and for the beauty, strength and warmth inherent to American tulipwood. Wood is known to significantly reduce blood pressure, heart rates and recovery times; it has more health and wellbeing benefits than any other building material, according to Wood Housing Humanity Report 2015.

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Hardwood CLT offers numerous benefits over softwood, included superior mechanical properties, material volume savings, and higher quality appearance in visible settings.

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THE FIRST U.S. HARDWOOD CLT PROJECT LAUNCHES IN INDIANA

In June of this year, IKD, a Boston based architectural design firm led by Yugon Kim and Tomomi Itakura was awarded $250,000.00 for a two-year US Forest Service Wood Innovations Grant to fund the development of hardwood CLT and the construction of the first hardwood CLT project in the United States. The project, titled the Indiana Hardwood CLT Project, will create a new timber product by upcycling low-value hardwood sawn logs that are extracted from regional forests in Indiana. Indiana Hardwood CLT Project

While hardwood CLT has become a familiar product in Europe, in the United States, CLT is currently made only of softwoods, making this Indiana project a pivotal moment in hardwood CLT history. Hardwood CLT offers numerous benefits over softwood, included superior mechanical properties, material volume savings, and higher quality appearance in visible settings. And this project has the potential to initiate a cascade of effects: positive job growth in rural forestry and manufacturing, expanding and diversifying hardwood lumber markets, higher forest land value, and improved forest management practices to reduce wildfires and encourage biodiversity leading to an abatement of climate change. The Hardwood CLT outdoor installation will be on display August 26 to November 26 as part of Exhibit Columbus, the annual celebration of architecture, art, design and community in Columbus, Indiana. https://exhibitcolumbus.org

We had the pleasure of speaking with KD co-principal and RISD Interior Architecture faculty member Yugon Kim, the lead for The Indiana Cross Laminated Timber Project. To read about our conversation check out our blog at www.nhla.com/blog W W W. N H L A .CO M

The project leverages the full support of the National Hardwood Lumber Association and the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association and has secured partnerships with SMARTLAM, the first CLT manufacturer in the United States, structural engineering expert Benson Wood, and Clemson University’s Wood Utilization + Design Institute. IKD has also partnered with the Indiana department of Nation Resources, the Hoosier National Forest office, and the Indiana Society of American Foresters.

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RULES CORNER

THREE PROPOSED NHLA RULES CHANGES FOR 2019 By Dana Spessert, NHLA Chief Inspector

n June 7, the NHLA Rules Committee met with 12 committee members and 6 guests in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the twelve rules change proposals submitted by the NHLA membership. After much discussion for and against several of the proposals, 3 Rules Change Proposals emerged. The 3 proposed rules changes are listed below. A Rules Open Forum will be held on Thursday, October 26 at 2:45pm during the 2017 NHLA Annual Convention & Exhibit Showcase in Nashville, Tenn. The forum gives all NHLA members the ability to discuss and ask questions of these proposed changes in detail prior to vote. The Chief Inspector and Rules Committee Chairman will be available during this open meeting to answer any questions you may have. The list of rules proposals that will be voted on are as follows: (Numbered as proposed to the Rules Committee) #5

(Standard Inspection by Species) Aromatic Red Cedar - Page 34 Remove: “Variation in thickness may be 1/2” on 4/4” to 8/4”.” Replace With: “Standard Miscut Lumber Rule to apply.”

#6 (Standard Inspection by Species) Basswood – page 24 Remove:“Note: Dormant twig buds to be considered as burls.” #8 (Standard Grades) No. 2A Common & No. 2B Common – page 17 Remove: “No. 2A Common & No. 2B Common” Replace with: “2 Common” Remove: “Note: The grade of No. 2 Common is divided into two categories: No. 2A Common (clear face cuttings) and No. 2B Common (sound cuttings).” Remove: “Note: No. 2B common – All the requirements of the grade No. 2A Common apply except that cuttings will be sound as defined in Sound Cutting.” Note: This will remove 2B Common from all species listed in the Rules Book currently.

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Following the NHLA Annual Convention, Active members will receive a ballot and may vote for or against the proposed rules change. Completed ballots must be received within 30 days. Rules change proposals that receive a favorable vote with a two-thirds majority of the properly cast votes will be adopted and become effective January 1, 2019. If you have any questions about the proposed rules changes or the process please contact Dana Spessert, Chief Inspector at 901-399-7551 or by email at d.spessert@nhla.com.

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EDUCATIONAL CALENDAR

EDUCATION & TRAINING EDUCATION IS KEY TO YOUR COMPANYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SUCCESS

AUGUST

23-25

28-31

3-Day Lumber Grading Short Course

4-Day Lumber Grading Short Course

Canadore College, Commerce Court Campus North Bay, Ontario

Hardwood Industries, Inc. Sherwood, OR

Carver Hardwoods Waconia, MN

Instructor: Tom Byers,

NHLA National Inspector

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

28-31

30-Nov 17

11-15

4-Day Lumber Grading Short Course

Inspector Training School Program 184th Class

5-Day Lumber Grading Short Course

Robinson/Tag Lumber Company Winchester, VA

Missouri-Pacific Lumber Fayette, MO

NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN

Kamps Hardwoods Caledonia, MI

Instructor: Benji Richards, NHLA National

Instructor: Rich Hascher,

Instructor: Barry Kibbey,

14-25 Progessive Lumber Inspection Training Program-Block 1 NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor

AUGUST

14-25 ! w e NProgessive Lumber Inspection Training Program-Block 1

Instructor: Jack English,

Instructor: Tom Byers,

NHLA National Inspector

Instructor: Barry Kibbey, NHLA National Inspector

NHLA ITS Instructor

Inspector

NHLA National Inspector

*See all course offerings and register at www.nhla.com/calendar 22

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12-14 ! w e N 3-Day Walnut Only

SEPTEMBER

18-22

Grading Short Course

5-Day Lumber Grading Short Course

Missouri-Pacific Lumber Fayette, MO

Wood-Mizer Products, Inc. Indianapolis, IN

Instructor: Benji Richards,

Instructor: Barry Kibbey,

NHLA National Inspector

SEPTEMBER

NHLA National Inspector

OCTOBER

16-19

3-Day Walnut Only Grading Short Course

4-Day Lumber Grading Short Course

Ohio State University South Centers Piketon, OH

West Virginia Wood Technology Center Elkins, WV

New! 26-28

ANCHORSEAL

SEPTEMBER

PROFIT PROTECTION ANCHORSEAL ® & ANCHORSEAL 2 ® the trusted end sealer for logs and lumber.

Instructor: Benji Richards, NHLA National Inspector

Instructor: Barry Kibbey, NHLA National Inspector

U•C COATIN GS 1-888-363-2628 s a l e s @u c c o a t i n g s . c o m www.uccoatings.com

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Let's take over Music city

THE BIGGEST AND BRIGHTEST IN THE HARDWOOD COMMUNITY WILL BE THERE!

OCTOBER 25-27 | 2017 NHLA ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBIT SHOWCASE | NASHVILLE, TN More information and registration online at www.nhlaconvention.com