On the spot redwood seminar

FOR the l4th year. the Simpson

I Timber Co. has hosted an exclu'sive redwood seminar at its Northern California operations for redwood sales specialists from Simpson distributors across the nation, brought together for an intensive redwood product cram course.

The fast-paced, three-day program covers all facets of redwood operations, from the forest, through sawmill and remanufacturing plant, to the finished product. A review of marketing strategies involved in reaching end use markets climaxed the seminar.

Attending from the West: Bill lrogan, Kelleher Lumber, San Rafael, Ca., Bill Daniels, Simpson Building Supply Co., Santa Clara, Ca., Ronald Linn, Simpson Building Supply, Kirkland, Wa.; Ryan Miller, YawKinney Co., Great Fa1ls, Mt.; Jack Ferris, Simpson Building Supply, Cerritos, Ca., and George Putnam, Capi- tal Lumber Co., Albuquerque, N.M.

Jim Rydelius, reforestation supervisor, took seminar particiPants

Story at a Glance

Redwood sales specialists go into the woods to learn about the great trees in a three-day cram course.

through a step-by-step explanation of Simpson's tree improvement program.

Visitors also saw Simpson's Korbel Forest Nursery which grows 9,000,000 redwood and Douglas Fir seedlings annually. Simpson expects reforestation with genetically improved seedlings to increase timber yields at least 50% per acre.

Tours of the redwood plywood plant at Fairhaven, the Korbel mill and log deck, and the Arcata remanufacturing plant, were part of the seminar. Each "student" was given an opportunity to grade and test redwood lumber, evaluating the knowledge gained in this area.

The 1977 seminar theme was again "We're Building Together", an idea that has caught on and spread throughout past years. Leroy McCormick, general lumber marketing manager, in kicking off the seminar, noted that: "The role of the lumber distributor is an essential link in moving products from the forest to specialized end use markets. That distributor, however, must be knowledgeable about the product and the market. The 'Building Together' relationship between Simpson and its distributors is not a mere slogan - it's a fact of success for both".

Other discussion groups were led by Greg Lambert, redwood sales manager, Jim Rydelius, reforestation supervisor. Hank Trobitz. ntanager of California resources. Don Laughnan, section chief coatings research, Jerry Wilson, redwood production manager, and plant managers Henri APPY, Arcata, Jack Farnsworth, Korbel, and Bob Hansen, Fairhaven.

Patricia Young, advertising and promotion manager for the California Redwood Association, and Douglas Loth, Simpson merchandising manager lumber, reviewed advertising and promotion plans for the next Year.

WESTERNERS in annual redwood seminar hosted by Simpson Timber Co., went into the forest to view actual logging practices. (L-R): Jack Ferris, Simpson Building Supply Co.. Cerritos, Ca.; Bill Daniels, Simpson Building Supply Co., Santa Clara, Ca.; Reid Aiton, Simpson Tour Guide; Ron Linn, Simpson Building Supply Co., Kirkland, Wa., Bill Brogan, Kelleher Lum ber, San Bafael, Ca.; Ryan Miller, Yaw-Kinney Co., Great Falls, Mt.; George Putnam, Capital Lumber, Albuquerque, N.M.