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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
J.M. JONES LUMBER CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP
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 W W W. N H L A .CO M
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Unsurpassed Quality, Broad Product Line & Prompt Service Our Building Blocks for Over 110 Years
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(800) 356-4554 (574) 893-4511 (574) 893-7400 fax W W W. N H L A .CO M
Photo Courtesy of AHEC
DEPARTMENTS 7 Memorial 12 Benefits of NHLA Memberhsip 14 Legislative Log 16 Rules Corner READER SERVICES
CONTENTS W W W. N H L A .CO M
4 President’s Message 6 Executive Director’s Message 9 Inside NHLA 11 J.M Jones Lumber Celebrates 100 Years of Membership 18 Job Board 20 Calendar N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S
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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;
November 2014 ▪ Issue 151 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
Pem Jenkins Turn Bull Lumber Co. President
Skip Holmes Thomas & Proetz Lumber Co. Unique Services
Brent Stief Huron Forest Products Vice President
Darwin Murray McClain Forest Products Structure
Scott Heidler Heidler Hardwood Lumber Co. Past President 2012-2014
Charlie Netterville Fred Netterville Lumber Co. Membership & Networking
promoting North American hardwood lumber and
Mark Barford, CAE Chief Executive Officer
Jack Shannon J.T. Shannon Lumber Co. Industry Advocacy & Promotion
advocating the interest of the hardwood community
NHLA STAFF
Gary Swaner Swaner Hardwood Co. Rules
in public/private policy issues; and providing a platform for networking opportunities.
Mark A. Barford, CAE Executive Director m.barford@nhla.com Melissa Ellis Graphic Designer m.ellis@nhla.com Renee Hornsby Director of Communications/Editor r.hornsby@nhla.com
■■■ Rich Hascher Inspector Training School Instructor For advertising inquiries: Contact John Hester, Director of Membership at j.hester@nhla.com or 901-399-7558.
John Hester Director of Membership Dana Spessert Chief Inspector Denise Stewart Director of Finance/CAO
ADVERTISER INDEX 19
Babcock Lumber Company
17
The Jacobs Team
9
Dunavant Global Logistics Group
13
TradeLanes, Inc.
13 Froedge Machine & Supply Company, Inc.
5
U•C Coatings, LLC
19
ISK Biocides, Inc.
IBC
King City Forwarding USA, Inc.
20
3
Pennsylvania & Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Companies
IFC
Pike Lumber Company, Inc.
15 USNR Wood-Mizer Blades
COMMITTEE CHAIRS Dave Bramlage Cole Hardwood Membership Dan Caldwell Atlanta Hardwood Corporation Hardwood Advocacy Mark Cifranick Baillie Lumber Co. Continuing Education/ Member Services Orn Gudmundsson Jr. Northland Corporation Communications & Marketing Scott Heidler Heidler Hardwood Lumber Co. Nominating Darwin Murray McClain Forest Products Finance Bucky Pescaglia Missouri-Pacific Lumber Co., Inc. Inspector Training School Joe Snyder Fitzpatrick & Weller, Inc. Rules Brent Stief Huron Forest Products Strategic Planning Stephanie VanDystadt DV Hardwoods Convention
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE It is a privilege, honor and a great opportunity to address you this month as I begin my term as NHLA President. I have to admit that it is a bit humbling to reflect and think about filling the shoes of Scott Heidler. I would like to thank Scott for his tireless work over the last two years. For anyone who knows Scott, you know that Scott is always large and in charge and he was the right man at the right time for NHLA. Scott has also been a good friend, and at every turn when making decisions on our behalf Scott put the interests of NHLA above and in front of his own. On behalf of myself, the NHLA board of managers and the membership at large, I would like to thank him again for a job well done! It is my belief, that all of us are privileged and fortunate to be a stakeholder in one of the greatest industries in the United States, the hardwood lumber business! Not only do we have the opportunity to source our product from what are arguably the most sustainable, well managed temperate hardwood forests in the world, our companies do real work with real people, and make real products. Many NHLA member companies are key drivers of rural, economic development. To top all of this off, most business is still conducted with a handshake. Even though we have to acknowledge that this business can eat you alive if you get on the wrong side of the curve, the hardwood lumber business is a great business. What else is truly amazing about our industry and this organization is that the hardwood industry has legacy companies that have been in existence for multiple generations. At the same time, because of the fragmentation of the industry, it is an entrepreneurial opportunity for everyone. Companies like Heidler Hardwoods in Chicago, IL and Holt and Bugbee in Tewksbury, MA have been members of the Association since 1906 and 1907 respectively and they still have direct descendants running them. How cool is that! These are just two examples and there are many others. There are also relatively young companies (and again these are just a few examples) like Cherokee Wood Products in Upland, Calif., Classic American in Memphis, Tenn., Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods, Inc. in Huntland, Tenn., Upper Canada Forest Products in Toronto, Canada and Tides and Times Lumber in Charlotte, N.C. that were started by individuals who, with hard work, tenacious grit, good timing and a dose of good luck, have become major companies in our industry by taking advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities in our space. Again, this is really, really cool! We are also blessed to have what many believe to be the best three to five year runway ahead of us that the hardwood business has seen in a long, long time. The supply and demand fundamentals are tilted in the favor of producers and long needed good returns on investments in property, plants and equipment are being realized by primary producers, for the first time in many years.
The greatest responsibility of a board and its leaders are to strategically map a course for an organization and the greatest challenge for us is how we position NHLA to be a meaningful organization to its membership over the next five years as we all hopefully experience better business.
It is also interesting that there are new players in our space, specifically outside private investors. It will be interesting to see how this chapter plays out over time. The bright side is that investment capital is coming into our universe and, whether with timber holdings or operating companies, there are opportunities that have not been possible in the past. With increased government regulation and increased globalization of
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
As for NHLA, I believe that the Association has three primary roles in our industry: ■ NHLA is the keeper of the Rules so to speak and these Rules are typically the foundation of almost every handshake trade and every proprietary grade in the business; ■ NHLA is the leading training institution of these Rules and serves as an independent agent to settle commercial differences; and third, ■ NHLA is the organization for networking and meeting customers and suppliers. This is what the NHLA is about. As NHLA Chief Inspector Dana Spessert cited in the October Hardwood Matters article, this is rooted in the founding principles from 1898. As stated, the goal of NHLA was “to form a permanent organization for the purpose of securing uniformity in the inspection of hardwood lumber and for promoting other such measures as they appear to the interest of the hardwood trade.” For the next two years it will be a privilege to help lead the organization with this and with the best interests of the Association in mind. The greatest responsibility of a board and its leaders are to strategically map a course for an organization and the greatest challenge for us is how we position NHLA to be a meaningful organization to its membership over the next five years as we all hopefully experience better business.
Sincerely,
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I would like to thank you, the members, for the opportunity to serve as your President for the next two years. The hardwood lumber business has been very good to my family, and me and I have made some of my dearest friends in this industry. With hard work, good communication and a little luck I hope to leave the organization in as good a shape if not better shape than it is now.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE REQUIRES INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION “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,” is the first sentence of the NHLA mission statement. With that sentence, the NHLA board of managers committed the Association staff to being involved in the trade of hardwood lumber everywhere in the world that wood is sold. With the industry now selling approximately half of the grade lumber produced to the overseas markets, this mission takes on an even greater relevance. Over the past 25 years, NHLA has worked closely with the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) to promote the use of North American hardwoods around the world. AHEC is the voice for promoting world hardwood markets, and has emphasized the importance of the U.S. hardwood lumber grading system as the key to increasing our market share. NHLA has engaged in hundreds of talks, seminars and trading sessions with AHEC and will continue to do so. NHLA has ramped up its own efforts of promotion as well. Since the Association rewrote the bylaws, making it easier for international companies to become NHLA members, the staff has been working directly with overseas buyers. The Association currently has two Chinese nationals on staff and one fully trained lumber inspector based in Russia. Chief Inspector Dana Spessert has increased his travel to China and other countries, all in close cooperation and partnership with AHEC. Another vital role that AHEC plays is the leveling of the playing field in dealing with overseas trade rules and regulations. This work has grown in importance, and NHLA has a keen interest especially in their efforts regarding Phytosanitary (phyto) regulations. These regulations were developed by governments around the world to stem the flow of insects and diseases. Experts confirm that the best way to insure there are no such problems in lumber is to Kiln Dry the lumber before shipment – a normal and common practice for hardwood lumber exports. To guarantee that lumber is dried to a minimum set of specifications, NHLA developed a Kiln Dried Certificate, which is available to the industry and sanctioned by U.S. government. In addition, the USDA authorized the use of the NHLA KD Certificate as a replacement for the USDA Phyto certificate wherever it is accepted. It is at this point that hardwood exports have run into the buzz saw of dealing with other countries’ regulations. The NHLA KD Program has not been fully recognized by the governments of many of these countries making it more difficult and expensive to ship to them. It is incumbent of these governments to use science and reason to allow for the free and fair trade of hardwoods, and dealing with the normal fickleness of hardwood lumber consumers, and also with their governments. I encourage the industry to become involved with AHEC and support their work in leveling the playing field to keep hardwood lumber exports growing. AHEC is supported only partially by the great associations of the hardwood industry, but requires the participation of the industry members to continue. As we all know,
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Another vital role that AHEC plays is the leveling of the playing field in dealing with overseas trade rules and regulations. even if you don’t currently export directly, much of your lumber ends up around the world. Thank goodness we have a strong American Hardwood Export Council to work on these issues, which need and deserve your support. Sincerely,
Mark Barford, CAE, Executive Director 901-377-1082 direct | m.barford@nhla.com
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MEMORIALS
IN MEMORIUM: DONALD GREGORY KITCHENS Born on October 31, 1946, D. Greg Kitchens passed away on Monday, September 8, 2014 at his home in Utica, Mississippi. He was 67. He was a member of Utica Christian Church. Greg worked his entire adult life for Kitchens Brothers Manufacturing Company and Kitchens Lumber Company after graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1968. While working for Kitchens Brothers, he served as President of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association from 1995-1996 and as President of the National Hardwood Lumber Association from 2000-2002. Along with his lumber business accomplishments, he was also serving as President of the Southwest Mississippi Electric Power Association, a board on which he had served since 1984, as well as the board of South Mississippi Power Association. Greg was born with a passion for hunting and not just a small passion. He began dreaming of hunting in Africa as a small boy and in 1984, fulfilled his dream by going on safari in Zambia, Africa. After that trip, he pursued his dreams with no boundaries. The years that followed introduced Greg, along with his ever-present travelling partner/wife, Cynthia, to 29 countries over six continents. With a lifetime of hunting experience, Greg served as the President of the Mississippi Chapter of Safari Club International from 1986-1988, was an active member of Shikar Safari Club International and the Dallas Safari Club and achieved several awards, including the Dallas Safari Club Outstanding Hunter Achievement Award in 2004 and North Mexico Safari Club Grand Slam of Mexican Whitetails Award. Greg was a wealth of knowledge about almost anything, anywhere in
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the world. He was a true hunter that unselfishly shared his experiences and knowledge with anyone that asked for it. The hunting community has lost a true Southern Gentleman and a living library of hunting knowledge. With all the accomplishments both professionally and in hunting, his greatest joy was his 3 grandsons, Guyton, Colton, and Levi. Greg is preceded in death by his parents, Mid and Sybil Kitchens of Utica and niece, Stacy Kitchens. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Cynthia Reed Kitchens of Utica; his two daughters, Leigh Black (Bobby) and Robyn Birdsong (Jon); his three grandsons, who he adored, Guyton Temple, Colton Birdsong, and Levi Birdsong; his brothers, Alan Kitchens (Paula) and Kevin Kitchens (Sheri); nieces, Amy and Bella, and great nephew, Patrick. Services were held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at the Utica Christian Church with Rev. Brad Hartzog officiating. Pallbearers were Andy Fisher, Willie Fisher, David Reed, Jeffrey Reed, Dale Yates, and Everett Carraway. Honorary pallbearers were Kyle Ball, Dennis Carraway, Norton Barlow, Bob Currie, Kenny Crechale, Olen Bryant, Bryan Jones, Butch Ousley, Richard Landry, Billy Deviney, Ronnie Richardson, Tony Reed, Brian Fisher, Lee Steed, John Hill, Henry Burkhalter, and Kirby Field. Memorials may be made to Blair E. Batson Hospital and the Utica Christian Church.
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MEMORIALS
IN MEMORIUM: CHARLES R. GOODIN Charles R. Goodin died at his home surrounded by family September 25, 2014. Born to J. Lee Goodin and Alma Abell Goodin on July 8, 1925, in Lebanon, KY, Charles graduated from St. Augustine High School, after which he attended the University of Kentucky. He served the U.S. Army in the armored division at Ft. Hood, Texas, during the Korean War. He returned to Lebanon and his commitment to the community spanned his lifetime. He was an active member of St. Augustine Parish, serving on the Parish Council and as a Eucharistic Minister. He was a member of the Lebanon Kiwanis Club, the Knights of Columbus 60 years, and was active in the Chamber of Commerce, serving for a time on its board of directors. He assisted in the reestablishment of the Marion County Fair, and was instrumental in procuring funds for the Marion County Public Library, serving on its board as a Chair. He also served on the Lebanon City Council for ten years. He was on the advisory board of the old St. Mary’s College and St. Catharine College, and on the University of Kentucky Alumni Board of Directors. He was recognized for his community service receiving the Outstanding Citizen Award in 1972 and the Sam C. May Outstanding Service Award in 1995. Charles was the Chairman Emeritus of Citizens National Bank, serving on the Board of Directors for 55 years. He was also co-owner of Lebanon Oak Flooring, with his brother, Robert.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elinor; his brothers, Thomas A. Goodin, John R. Goodin, James F. Goodin and Joseph Lee Goodin; sisters, Nancy Goodin (Jack) Lovett,and Evelyn Goodin (Ben) Crume. Charles is survived by seven daughters, Rose (Doc) Barsotti, of Ellwood City, PA, Laura Lee (Joe) Abell, of Tullahoma, TN, Elinor (Jerry) Hill, of Lexington, KY, Evelyn (Frank) Spalding, of Richmond, KY, Karen (Mike) Whitehouse, of Fort Wright, KY, Susan Goodin, of Cranford, NJ, and Marian (Kevin) DeMoss, of Lexington, KY; three sons, Don (Carol) Goodin, of Louisville, KY, Charles Goodin, Jr. and Thomas Goodin, both of Lebanon, KY; 21 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; his brother, Robert L. Goodin, his sisters, Marita Goodin (Clem) Hill, and Alma Goodin (Joe) Elder. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at St. Augustine Catholic Church. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Community Service Center - P.O. Box 37 - Lebanon, KY. or St. Augustine School.
IN MEMORIUM: JAMES ROBERT DUNCAN James R. Duncan of Brookhaven, Miss. passed away on August 29, 2014, he was 74. Surviving are his wife Joyce Duncan; son Tom Duncan and wife Kathryn; daughter Katie Jones and husband Jack; brother Jerry Duncan and wife Kathy; and grandchildren, Amanda and Zac Duncan, Garrett Jones, Taylor Jones and wife Claire, and Abbigail Jones. Mr. Duncan received his undergraduate degree from Kent State University, where he enrolled in the ROTC program. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant at graduation. He received a Masters of Forestry from the University of Michigan before he began military service. He proudly served his country as a 1st Lieutenant 10
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served in Vietnam building a helipad for the 1st Calvary division. After leaving the military he worked in the hardwood lumber business until his retirement. Mr. Duncan was a member of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association and the National Hardwood Lumber Association. He served on the NHLA board of managers from 1985 to 1991. Funeral Services were held on September 2 at 10am at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 227 East Cherokee Street, Brookhaven, MS 39601 or the cancer research organization of your choice. Expressions of sympathy can also be left for the family at riverwoodfamily.com. W W W. N H L A .CO M
INSIDE NHLA
INSPECTOR TRAINING SCHOOL RECEIVES DONATION FROM FIELDS LUMBER
JOIN THE NHLA PAVILION AT THE NWFA 2015 WOOD FLOORING EXPO
The NHLA Inspector Training School would like to thank one of its greatest supporters, Walter M. Fields Lumber Company. Mr. Wally Fields recently put his support of the School ahead of his production and potential profits to “surface” some of the well used hardwood lumber supply at the Inspector Training School. Now the ITS students can see wood grain and defects and not lumber rule pecks!
NHLA Teams Up with NWFA! NHLA is pleased to announce a partnership with the National Wood Flooring Association. NHLA will have a 20'x 50' pavilion on the NWFA trade show floor at the 2015 Wood Flooring Expo. This is an opportunity for eight NHLA member companies to reach new flooring manufacturing customers. The partnership will allow NHLA member companies to exhibit at the NWFA member rate of $2,750 (per 10x 10 booth).
Again, NHLA would like to publicly thank Mr. Fields for his continued support and generosity that has been forever present for the Association and the Inspector Training School.
Students of the 175th Class are getting into Halloween mode.
The NWFA 2015 Wood Flooring Expo will be held April 28May 1, 2015 at the Edward Jones Dome at the America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri. If your company is interested in exhibiting through the NHLA pavilion please contact John Hester, Director of Membership at j.hester@nhla.com or 901-399-7558. Again, this opportunity is limited so please contact John Hester today if you are interested in securing a spot.
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INSIDE NHLA
NHLA TOURS MEXICO
DMSI SOFTWARE NAMES EARL DOWNING TO SALES TEAM Earl Downing has joined DMSi Software as Senior Account Manager with responsibility for sales in the western United States and the LBM market nationwide. Earl Downing comes to DMSi with over 30 years of sales experience in enterprise software, including 23 years specializing in the building materials industry. During his career, Earl has opened new territories, brought several new products to his customers, and helped multiple building materials companies through the software selection process.
In the last week of September, NHLA Chief Inspector Dana Spessert travelled with the American Hardwood Export Council to three different cities in Mexico to present seminars on U.S. hardwood lumber. The first seminar was held in Queretaro, Mexico, a city located north of Mexico City. The seminar was very well attended, with approximately 30 local furniture makers, cabinet manufactures, carpenters and distributors in attendance. The second seminar, in San Luis Petosi, was also very well attended with approximately 36 in attendance, with a similar mix of industry professionals. The last stop of this whirlwind tour was Cancun, a city located on the Eastern edge of Mexico. All three seminars had great hands-on interaction with the attendees cutting out boards, illustrating the differences in grain patterns and the defects that were not affecting the grade of the lumber. NHLA would like to thank the AHEC representatives from the Mexico office, Mr. Luis Zertuche and Ms. Tania Vasavilbaso who were instrumental in organizing and initiating the seminar tour.
“I am excited to have Earl join the DMSi Sales Team,” said Mike Limas, DMSi vice president. “With his extensive background in our industry and his understanding of the ERP selection process, I am sure he will help us fulfill our mission of bringing outstanding results to our customers.” “I feel like I’ve finally come home to a company that truly shares my philosophy of producing outstanding results for customers and consistently exceeding their high expectations,” Earl said. “I am ecstatic to be joining this team of quality professionals at DMSi.” Earl Downing is a native of Atherton, California. He attended Yale University where he was a three-year letterman in both football and track and field. After graduating, Earl returned to the west coast and began his career in the business software sector.
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J.M. JONES LUMBER CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, J.M. JONES LUMBER COMPANY OF NATCHEZ, MISS. CELEBRATED 100 YEARS OF CONSECUTIVE MEMBERSHIP WITH NHLA. IN SEPTEMBER, THE NHLA STAFF AND ALL-STAR TEAM AT RUNNING PONY PRODUCTS TRAVELED TO NATCHEZ TO DOCUMENT THIS REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT. THE COMPANY WAS HONORED DURING THE OPENING SESSION OF THE 2014 NHLA ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBIT SHOWCASE IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA LAST MONTH. THE DOCUMENTARY THAT AIRED DURING THE NHLA ANNUAL CONVENTION CAN BE VIEWED ON THE NHLA WEBSITE HOMEPAGE AT WWW.NHLA.COM. About J.M. Jones Lumber Company J. M. Jones founded his lumber company in 1911 near Knoxville, Tennessee, producing timbers, railroad car stock and ties with some sales in furniture plants in that area. In 1912, Mr. Jones moved his sawmill operation to Jennie, Arkansas. There he constructed a band mill and purchased timber on 18,000 acres. He operated in this area until 1921. In 1918, he bought 32,000 acres of timberland in northeast Louisiana, and in 1919 opened another mill at Fondale, Louisiana. Always scouting for the right kind of timber, Mr. Jones bought a large block of timber near Ferriday, Louisiana in 1922 and built a mill. He had produced over 90 million board feet of lumber from this tract when the Ferriday mill burned in 1930.
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In 1928, before the Ferriday fire, he purchased 15,000 acres in southern Adams County, Mississippi and operated another band mill in that area. In 1936 he built a mill on the Mississippi River in Natchez, Mississippi, where they still operate today. J. M. Jones sons, Howard, Newton and Kenneth owned and operated the mill for many years. Today J. M.’s grandson, Lee Jones Jr., is the President and owner. His son, Howard, and his grandson, Lee IV, work for the company. Together, along with Kim Garrett and Jacob Harrison, they represent the third, fourth and fifth generations of Joneses to work at the lumber company. Congratulations to this multi-generational company for this wonderful accomplishment and continued success for another 100 years.
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BENEFITS OF NHLA MEMBERSHIP
NETWORKING, NETWORKING, AND NETWORKING By John Hester, Director of Membership It seemed appropriate, having just returned from Las Vegas, to talk about one of the biggest benefits of membership with NHLA…the Annual Convention & Exhibit Showcase. After 116 years, NHLA held its Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada at the beautiful Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa. Many members were skeptical of Vegas, with their main concern being attendance at the events. No one thought there would be a problem getting people to register, but would registrants actually attend the convention events? Would attendees choose the attractions of the Vegas strip or functions and events scheduled at convention? Minds were quickly put at ease. Attendees proved that October 8 – 10, 2014, the most important attraction in Las Vegas was the NHLA Annual Convention and Exhibit Showcase. Attendance was at record levels, opening sessions were attended in mass, education seminars were full, the exhibit showcase was busy and receptions were at maximum capacity. From the Welcome Reception to the close of Grand Finale, the NHLA Annual Convention and Exhibit Showcase continues to be the number one marketing and networking event of the global hardwood industry. The NHLA Convention is a tremendous benefit, no matter your membership level or membership category. There is no other venue where you can meet both formally at a business meeting or informally at a phenomenal reception with 900 + co-workers, friendly competitors and friends. Affiliated groups use the NHLA Annual Convention to hold their annual meetings while some companies use the convention to reward their management and staff. With more and more importance being put on exporting, the NHLA Convention has truly become the ONE global gathering of the North American hardwood lumber industry. Countries were present from around the globe at this year’s event. Delegates from Australia, China, Finland, Italy, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, United Kingdom and Vietnam were all in attendance. OUR International Partner Members are now seeing the importance of not only attending the Convention, but also exhibiting at the Convention. There are always educational seminars, relevant to what is affecting the industry today. There are opportunities to hear from and
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With more and more importance being put on exporting, the NHLA Convention has truly become the ONE global gathering of the North American hardwood lumber industry. ask questions of both domestic and international buyers, to hear the trends of the time or listen to industry experts give educated opinions on the future of hardwood and related products. If you attend the convention every year, attend occasionally or have never attended I would like to extend an invitation to attend next year. The 2015 NHLA Annual Convention and Exhibit Showcase will be held at the Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville, Tenn. October 7-9. NHLA wants you to take advantage of the benefits provided by being a member, especially the Annual Convention. You’ll have more fun, see more people and get more accomplished in just a few short days than you can believe. John Hester, Director of Membership can be reached by email at j.hester@nhla.com or by phone at 901-399-7558.
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LEGISLATIVE LOG
THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF THE 113TH SESSION OF THE U.S. CONGRESS OFFER CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES By Dana Cole, Hardwood Federation Executive Director
Autumn can be a time of beginnings: the school year, campaign season and football. But it is usually associated with endings: summer, leaves on the trees and baseball. Fall 2014 also marks the end of the 113th session of the U.S. Congress, a session marked by some great successes like final passage of a 5-year Farm Bill, but it was also marked by partisan bickering and a record low number of bills passed. Although many may think that Washington, D.C. has come to a standstill, this is far from true. Legislation is still being proposed; legislation that could very well come back in January as part of the 114th Congressional Session. More importantly, the regulatory agencies are hard at work, drafting rules and regulations that are potentially devastating to the industry. The Hardwood Federation is having a very busy fall fighting back on bad policy and supporting positive measures that will help our business.
We kicked off September with the annual Hardwood Federation Fly-In to D.C., the highlight of our year. On September 9, 50 hardwood industry leaders, including NHLA Board Members and staff, stormed Capitol Hill and talked to elected officials about ways they can help support and grow hardwood businesses in the United States. This small but mighty group combined forces to make over 100 visits to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, taking time out of their busy schedules to discuss issues of vital importance to the hardwood industry and how proposed Congressional and Administrative actions will help…or hinder…their businesses, employees and local communities. We met with an additional 50 members of Congress during our evening and breakfast receptions, breaking the record of contacts made during a Fly-In…a record we will be looking to break in 2015! Left to right: Scott Heidler, Representative Gregg Harper, Luke Brogger, John Smith
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LEGISLATIVE LOG
WE MUST CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, AND OTHERS, DURING THESE LAST FEW MONTHS OF 2014 . . . AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IN 2015.
Although the Hardwood Federation covers a wide range of regulatory, financial and environmental issues, the focus of the 2014 “Fly-In to DC” was on three key concerns: ■ The U.S. Fish and Wildlife misguided proposal to list the Northern Long Eared Bat as endangered under the Endangered Species Act; ■ The U.S. Environmental Agency’s impending over-regulation of biomass energy emissions, including those generated at hardwood mills and facilities; and ■ Potentially unfavorable tax reform proposals that would hit small forest landowners the hardest. We must continue to address these issues, and others, during these last few months of 2014… and be prepared to take action in 2015. Not only by touching base with our key allies in Congress and the Administration, but also educating those new members of Congress that may not be so familiar with our agenda. As we take a deep breath and head for the finish line of 2014, we are also preparing for the 2015 race. We are proud of past accomplishments and excited to take on new challenges. We are only starting the beginning of the end of the year.
Millwide. Worldwide.
800.BUY.USNR
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info@usnr.com
www.usnr.com
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RULES CORNER
CONFUSING DEFECTS By Dana Spessert, NHLA Chief Inspector
Over my career as a Lumber Inspector and now as the NHLA Chief Inspector, I have made the comment that “cutting out boards to determine the grade is easy, the hard part is determining what is a defect and what is not a defect.” Another part of that difficulty is determining what the defect is classified as, because getting that wrong can cause issues for grades with limitations. In this month’s article, I will discuss types of defects that have on occasion created some confusion.
SPLIT, CHECK AND SHAKE First up on our list of defects for discussion is the “Split”. “Split” is defined as “a lengthwise separation of the wood, due to the tearing apart of wood cells.” A similar type of defect in hardwood is a “Check”. “Check“ is defined as “a lengthwise separation of the wood that usually extends across the rings of annual growth and commonly results from stresses set up in wood during seasoning”. One more defect that can have a lot of similarities is “Shake”. “Shake” is defined as “a separation along the grain, the greater part of which occurs between the rings of annual growth”. All three of these defects could be used to describe a defect that is a separation in the wood. The “Split” limitation on FAS in the NHLA Rules Book, under Standard Grades, paragraph 58, states: “Splits shall not exceed in the aggregate in inches in length twice the surface measure of the piece, except when one foot or shorter and covered by Paragraph 59. Splits may diverge up to one inch to the lineal foot, except when one foot or shorter and covered by Paragraph 59”. It is my understanding that this limitation was created to limit splits in the end of the boards and not to limit separation of the grain in the interior or from the edge of the boards. A simple way to think of this is to categorize the three separate defects as this, a “Split” is from the ends of the board
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and a “Check” is in the interior of the board and a separation extending in from the edge of the board as “Shake”. I do not want to confuse anyone on the definition of shake; shake can be anywhere on the board and should be carefully considered as shake is considered unsound. When there are multiple separations in the grain at any one area of the board, regardless of the location it could be an indication of shake. With all of this being said, it is wise to remanufacture boards when selling them to make the appearance of the boards more palatable for your customers. If you have any questions, please contact Dana Spessert at d.spessert@nhla.com or 901-399-7551.
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TJT CONSULTING Confidence • Commitment • Results
Harry Jacobs
Mentoring Leadership
Kay Jacobs
Chief Financial Officer
Cliff Nelson
David Jacobs
Strategy Consultant
Business Development
Rob Case
Project Development & Mgmt.
Thank you to the NHLA and all lumber professionals who participated in our booth events and educational seminar. Best wishes for a successful finish to 2014.
Sarah Blankenship
Yvonne Zandi
Director of Operations
Sue Deci
Financial Advisor
Client Service
Nicholle Overkamp
Personal & Retirement Planning
Sheila Weatherbee Administrator
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Business Succession Planning 4001 Legion Drive • Hamburg, NY 14075 Toll Free: 866-287-5919 or (716) 649-4460 W W W. N H L A .CO M
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JOB BOARD
Lumber Inspector
Assistant Sawmill Manager
Gutchess Hardwoods is seeking a Lumber Inspector. We offer competitive pay and a superior benefits package. If you share our vision of excellence, we invite you to join our winning team!
Gutchess Lumber desires a highly motivated and driven Assistant Sawmill Manager who is results oriented with experience in supervision and production management. The individual needs to have a manufacturing background and experience dealing with process improvement driven by employee involvement. Candidate should demonstrate leadership/management/administrative skills and have success in a primary wood manufacturing environment.
The Lumber Inspector inspects incoming and outgoing lumber according to NHLA rules at the assigned grading deck and to saw list requirements. The qualified candidate will have a High School diploma or higher education with experience providing skills suitable for this position, with NHLA grading rules training. The Lumber Inspector will visually inspect lumber according to species, grade, and dimension using NHLA lumber grading rules to inspect the lumber. To apply email: jlortiz@gutchess.com Gutchess Hardwoods | www.gutchess.com 724-537-6447 | 607-428-8097 (fax) 185 Devereux Road | Latrobe, PA 15650
Responsibilities include: proper log/cant breakdown; proper edging/trimming decisions; zero downtime on all machine centers; start-up completed before the shift starts; develop personnel to minimize overtime; insure all safety procedures are followed; completely train each person to his or her maximum potential; develop team attitude; perform quarterly evaluations. To apply visit: http://glc.applicantstack.com/x/openings Gutchess Lumber | www.gutchess.com 10699 Maple Grove Road | Freedom, NY 14065
Sawyer
Lumber Inspector
Gutchess Lumber is seeking a Sawyer. Saws logs for maximum value recovery by following daily cutting orders and achieving proper levels of yield. Accountable for proper operation of the carriage, feed works and log turner; checks lumber thickness at saw; and conducts a daily physical inspection of all equipment.
Turman Group is seeking a Lumber Inspector. Grade Appalachian Hardwoods in production setting. Additional perks include access to hunting properties insurance and benefits.
The qualified candidate will have two or more years of experience. To apply email: jlortiz@gutchess.com Gutchess Lumber | 607-428-8097 (fax) | www.gutchess.com 10699 Maple Grove Road | Freedom, NY 14065 Yard Foreman Rutland Lumber is seeking a Yard Foreman. Supervise yard to maintain efficiency and accuracy of inventory and in-bound and out-bound shipments. Responsible for accurate loading and unloading of materials. Responsible for training, using and maintaining machines and equipment in lumber yard as well as operating and maintaining dry kilns and boiler. Coordinates shipments in and out of yard and inspects for specified quantity and quality. To apply email: tduncan@rutlandlumber.com
The qualified candidate will have completed the NHLA long course or short course and also have work experience. To apply contact Joshua Bond at 276-733-4057. Turman Group | 276-733-4057 | www.theturmangroup.com 1972 Salem Industrial Dr | Salem, VA 24153 Hardwood Lumber Inspector Lindsay Hardwoods, Inc. is a family owned grade hardwood sawmill that was established in 1976. We primarly cut Red Oak, White Oak and Poplar. Additional perks include excellent pay and benefits. Small Southern town with two colleges and great schools. To apply call Eric Lindsay at 434-392-8615, send an email to lindsayhardwoods@gmail.com or send resume to P.O. Box 343 Farmville, Va 23901. Lindsay Hardwoods, Inc. | 434-392-8615 | 434-392-8615 (fax) P.O. Box 343 | Farmville, VA 23901
Rutland Lumber | 601-765-8892 | 601-765-4352 (fax) 1731 Sunset Rd | Collins, MS 39428
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Inside Lumber Sales Granite Valley Forest Products is a concentration yard located in Marathon City and New London, Wisconsin. Granite Valley Forest Products specializes in tailoring products and quality to the customers’ needs including custom designed grades and custom manufacturing. Commitment to providing a consistent and high-quality product in a timely fashion, superior customer service and working to exceed the expectations of the customers are essential to our employee attributes. The Inside Sales Representative is a member of the Sales Team and is responsible for: Research and identification of markets of opportunity within those markets; Seek, initiate, and complete sales opportunities that promote the product lines; Analyze cost and determine selling price within established margins; Develop sales forecast objectives and monitor progress toward established goals. Experience Required: One to 3 years’ experience in sales in the forest products industry is ideal. Secondary education in the forest products field of study can be considered in lieu of years of experience; High school diploma or HSED. Associate degree or higher or industry-related certifications preferred; Knowledge of hardwood lumber; Knowledge of marketing and sales principles; Proficient math skills. • Microsoft Office and basic computer abilities • Valid driver’s license • Ability to pass a pre-employment drug test The qualified candidate must have excellent verbal and written communication skills; the ability to work within a team and independently depending on the situation; the ability to establish customer relations; organization skills from initiation of sales through follow-up; and the ability to travel occasionally. To apply contact Don Koch, Sales Manager at dkoch@ granitevalley.com or 920-250-5410
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C O M P A N Y
Since 1887
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Granite Valley Forest Products 800-209-8862 | 715-443-3317 (fax) 901 Second St. | PO Box 506 | Marathon City, WI 54448 *T o view current job postings or to post a job, visit www.nhla.com/jobboard.
1 - 800 - 268 - 7395
+ 1 - 724 - 593 - 6124
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CALENDAR
EDUCATION & TRAIN I NG
WH ERE IN THE WOR LD IS N H LA?
Flex-Day Lumber Grading Short Course
NHLA Board Meeting
Indianapolis, IN | November 3–7 | Wood Mizer Products, Inc. Instructor: Barry Kibbey, NHLA National Inspector Contact: Denice Helmbrecht | 31 7-875-3660
1 75th Class Graduation NHLA Inspector Training School Memphis, TN | November 21 | NHLA Headquarters 8 a.m. Open House | 9 a.m. Graduation Ceremony
Memphis, TN | November 16–18 The Peabody Hotel
Thanksgiving Holiday
NHLA Headquarters Closed | November 27–28
Christmas Holiday
Progressive Inspector Training School Program: Block 1 Memphis, TN | December 1 –13 | NHLA Headquarters Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor Contact: Becky Miller | 901-399-7569 | b.miller@nhla.com
176th Class NHLA Inspector Training School
NHLA Headquarters Closed | December 24–26
Lake States Lumber Association Winter Meeting Green Bay, WI | January 15-16, 2015 Attending: John Hester, Director of Membership
Hardwood Federation Board Meeting
Memphis, TN | January 7 – March 26, 2015 | NHLA Headquarters Washington, DC | February 9-10, 2015 Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor Attending: Mark Barford, CAE, CEO Contact: Becky Miller | 901-399-7569 | b.miller@nhla.com
2015 AHMI Annual Meeting
Bonita Springs, FL | February 25-March 1, 2015 Attending: Mark Barford, CAE, CEO
Hardwood Manufacturers Association National Conference & Expo Nashville, TN | March 25-27, 2015 Attending: Mark Barford, CAE, CEO
ANY WAY YOU CUT IT,
IT’S GOT TO BE
WOOD-MIZER
NHLA Board Meeting
Napa Valley, CA | April 22-14, 2015 The Meritage Resort
NWFA 2015 Wood Flooring Expo & 30th Anniversary St. Louis, MO | April 28-May1, 2015 Participating: John Hester, Director of Membership Renee Hornsby, Director of Communications
800.522.5760 | sawfaster.com © 2014 Wood-Mizer LLC
Lames à bande d'alliage haute qualité
BLA 45780 HardwoodMtrsNovemberCutItGeneral.indd 1 Lames à bande d'alliage haute qualité
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