Growth & change mark hardwood import firm

IIHIS month marks the fifth anniI versary of the founding of Sumwood, Inc., of Palos Verdes, Ca. In five years the well-known and trusted hardwood lumber importing firm has developed a customer base of more than 300 accounts in the West and across the country.

"But while we've been growing," president James R. Summerlin is quick to point out, "we have also maintained the handful of original accounts that got our business started." Sumwood sells exclusively to hardwood wholesalers and distribution yards.

Keeping pace with the growing business, the Sumwood staff has grown since October 1978 when the firm was co-founded by Summerlin and his wife, Dawn. Today the staff includes Pat Rodriguez and Anne Titus, and daughters Heather and Lesli Summerlin who work part-time for the company. James H. Forgie, now semi-retired, has served as chairman of the firm, bringing his 40 years of experience in the industry to Sumwood.

As well as dealing in imported species, Sumwood also represents selected sawmill companies in the Appalachian and Northern regions of the United States. The company is the exclusive West Coast sales agent for Holmes and Co., Inc., Columbia City, Indiana, manufacturers of domestic hardwoods, and for Robinson Lumber Co. of New Orleans.

At the beginning Sumwood started modestly by buying lumber from the Philippines and Malaysia. Today the firm buys lumber in more than eight countries and is constantly looking for new sources of supply. Much of

Story at a Glance

Travel and experience aid importer. . . industry and supplier contact stressed. .. optimistic about hardwood's futurc . . firm is now five years old.

the lumber Sumwood sells is shipped directly to the distributors who are its customers. But the firm also inventories a reserve stock of imported hardwoods for wholesalers at custom dry kilns in Southern California and in Mobile, Al. Continually the firm is exploring unfamiliar species that may someday find a niche in the American marketplace.

"This really is an exciting business," Summerlin said recently in his office between answering telephone calls. "I'm enthusiastic about getting into the office each morning."

The office is continually busy with the chatter of the telex machine and the ringing of telephones that connect the Sumwood customers to the sawmills of the world. The firm works out of a suite of offices. Most office operations are fully computerized.

Plenty oftravel also adds to the excitement of the imported hardwood business. Each year Jim and Dawn Summerlin travel thousands of miles to maintain good relationships with lumber manufacturers. Last year they made two trips to the Orient, although a trip to Africa was

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