May 2020 Hardwood Matters by National Hardwood Lumber Association

TH E VOIC E O F THE HARDWOOD IN DUSTRY

H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S May 2020

LEADING THROUGH TIMES OF CRISIS

plus GRADUATES OF THE 191ST CLASS COVID-19: THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

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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CONTENTS May 2020 • Issue 211

WHAT'S INSIDE feature 12 Leading Through Times of Crisis

departments 12

6 Inside NHLA

7 Accolades

ONLINE TOP POST OF THE MONTH at facebook.com/NHLAOfficial Way to go, Carhartt!! Starting April 6th, Carhartt will begin producing 50,000 medical gowns, and starting April 20th, they will begin manufacturing 2.5 million masks. Learn more: http://ow.ly/wiTl50z16Jk

8 Education Spotlight Congratulations to the Graduates of

the 191st Class of the NHLA Inspector Training School

10 Legislative Log Covid-19: The Road to Recovery

by Dana Cole

16 Rules Corner High Log Inventory Can Result in Stain

reader services 4 18 20

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and Defects—Are you Prepared? by Chief Dana Spessert

President’s Message Educational Calendar Job Board

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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

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

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.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MISSION LEADERS

Darwin Murray McClain Forest Products President

Bucky Pescaglia Missouri-Pacific Lumber Co., Inc. Unique Services

Jeff Wirkkala Hardwood Industries, Inc. Vice President

Ray White Harold White Lumber Inc. Rules

Brent Stief Huron Forest Products, Inc. Past President 2016-2018

Joe Pryor Oaks Unlimited Industry Advocacy & Promotion

NHLA STAFF Lorna D. Christie CEO l.christie@nhla.com Amanda Boutwell Marketing and Communications Manager a.boutwell@nhla.com

ADVERTISER INDEX

Renee Hornsby Director of Communications/Editor r.hornsby@nhla.com

17 Baillie Lumber Company 5 King City/Northway 7 Continental Underwriters, Forwarding Inc. IBC Pike Lumber Company, Inc.

Melissa Ellis Smith Graphic Designer m.ellis@nhla.com

IFC DMSi 3 RossiGroup 11 Frank Miller Lumber, Inc. 9 Tropical Forest Products

Rachel Blossman Marketing Associate

For advertising contact: John Hester, Director of Membership and Business Development at j.hester@nhla.com or 901-399-7558 or Vicky Simms, Membership Development Manager at v.simms@nhla.com or 901-399-7557

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Desirée Freeman Controller Julia Ganey Member Relations Manager John Hester Director of Membership and Business Development Jens Lodholm Data Administration Specialist Denise Lopez Executive Assistant/Accounting Assistant Carol McElya Inspector Training School Administrator

Jon Syre Cascade Hardwood, LLC Structure David Mayfield Mayfield Lumber Co. Membership & Networking COMMITTEE CHAIRS Stephanie VanDystadt DV Hardwoods, Inc. Membership Rob Cabral Upper Canada Forest Products, Ltd. Promotion & Advocacy Dennis Mann Baillie Lumber Co. Convention Scott Cummings Cummings Lumber Company, Inc. Inspection Services Bruce Horner Abenaki Timber Corp. ITS/Continuing Education Brin Langmuir Falcon Lumber Ltd. Communications & Marketing Joe Snyder Fitzpatrick & Weller, Inc. Rules

Roman Matyushchenko Associate Dean of Education Vicky Quiñones Simms Membership Development Manager Dana Spessert Chief Inspector

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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

WHERE WILL WE BE?

he president’s message for Hardwood Matters magazine is generally written several weeks prior to publication, to allow sufficient lead time for the printer. In the past year, there have been times where issues and topics were changing so rapidly that it became difficult to keep messages relevant weeks later.

As I write this letter, I once again question where we all will be at the time this message is read. Early this year, hardwood lumber producers applauded when China added hardwoods to their tariff exclusion list. Producers saw this as a promising step for our industry and felt some much-needed relief. At the same time, we were beginning to hear about a virus spreading in China. When we first heard about the Coronavirus, I began researching trying to determine its impact on China. My concern was trying to understand how this virus would impact business. Next, we began seeing epidemics in Washington state and New York. As the pandemic grew worldwide, it wasn’t long until reality set in, and we found ourselves in yet another crisis. Infection rates began to grow in the US. We could see hotspots in New York, Washington, and Louisiana. Schools started closing, and then came the cancellation of sporting events. New terminologies like, “flatten the curve, apex, social distancing, and shelter in place” became everyday terms. Businesses began closing as infection rates grew, causing record-level unemployment rates.

day, they look to their leadership for direction. People need leaders to provide a path forward. What direction will you choose? Fear and helplessness or selfengagement and forward momentum? How will you develop a “rally effect?” Rally around awareness, precautions, hope, the future and resiliency. People want to follow leaders who they can trust, have compassion, and are able to inspire hope for a future. People look to their leaders to know their lives will be ok and they can be a part of the path forward. Even in these times of uncertainty, leaders need to provide people with a clear plan of action, prepare them to do the job, keep everyone informed, and care about their well-being. While finishing this message, I’m hearing the first report that the curve may be flattening. This is the first positive news we’ve heard in many weeks. However, living in the Midwest, our local news is reporting that cases are continuing to rise. I’m anxious to know weeks down the road when this letter is printed, where we are in our battle against the Coronavirus. How successful was our leadership, and what did those leaders learn about themselves as we moved through this crisis? My prayers are for you, your businesses, the great people of this industry, our nation and the world.

We began developing information to help us understand the Coronavirus relief packages and how this could support employees and businesses. Fortunately, hardwoods were recognized as an essential business, and many of our members continue to operate due to that designation. I believe this happened due to the hard work of the NHLA members and Hardwood Federation staff on educating our elected leaders on the business of the hardwood industry. While our employees come to work to provide products or services that people rely on every

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Darwin Murray, NHLA President McClain Forest Products dmurray@mcclainforestproducts.com

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INSIDE NHLA

Long-Time NHLA Inspector Training School Instructor, Rich Hascher, to Transition to a New Role Rich Hascher, the long-time NHLA Inspector Training School Instructor will be transitioning into a new role as a consultant to NHLA. The transition will allow Rich to spend more time with his family and continue to share his expertise with the industry. Rich has served as the NHLA Inspector Training School Instructor since September 1993, graduating more than 2,000 students. He has a deep sense of responsibility for each student’s success and has always made time for individual tutoring and/or counseling to ensure that each student reached his or her full potential. Rich began his hardwood career with Budres Lumber Company in 1966. He worked for several companies inspecting lumber, buying and selling lumber, managing yards, overseeing employees, and at

one point owned his own company before joining NHLA. “Rich has certainly made his mark on the hardwood lumber industry and the Association with his instruction, council and mentoring to thousands of young lumber inspectors over the years,” said Chief Inspector Dana Spessert, and Dean of the NHLA Inspector Training School. “We are pleased to be able to rely on his expertise and passion for teaching in the future. His first assignment will be teaching a new seven-week test class scheduled for June. Rich will be honored at the NHLA Convention in Louisville Kentucky during the Inspector Training School Alumni Reception.” Rich noted, “I have always taken pride in working for NHLA, and I am glad to be continuing in my new role as a consultant.”

NHLA Buyer's Guide is back! We are happy to announce NEW for 2020, the NHLA printed Buyer's Guide is back! The Guide is a membership directory that lists all NHLA members and provides contact by company name and type of service for easy reference, along with products produced and types of services offered. For your company’s listing to be effective, it needs to be correct and current. Please take the time to review your company information via the NHLA website. The deadline to correct the information is June 30, 2020. Any corrections made after that date may not be included in the 2020 Buyer's Guide. To correct or update your company information, please do the following: Updating Your Organization's Products 1. Login with your email and password at https://members.nhla. com/eweb. 2. On the 'My Profile' page, scroll down to the 'Organizations You Manage' section and click on the name of your organization. NOTE: If your organization is not listed, you may not be linked to

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your company, or your assigned role may not allow you to view/edit organization information. If this occurs, contact us for assistance at nhlaadmin@nhla.com. 3. On the Organization Information page, scroll down to the 'Organization Products' section. 4. To edit or delete an existing product in the list, click 'Edit' to the right side of the item. 5. To add a new product, click '+ Add a Product' at the right of the section title. Should you need any assistance during this process please contact Jens Lodholm at 901-399-7561 or email nhlaadmin@nhla.com.

Any company interested in advertising in the 2020 Buyer's Guide should contact John Hester at 901-399-7558 or by email at j.hester@nhla.com or Vicky Simms at 901-399-7557 or by email at v.simms@nhla.com. W W W. N H L A .C O M

Congratulations

Milestone Members NHLA would like to recognize our members who celebrated a milestone anniversary of 5 years or more during April and May!

30 YEARS Central Wisconsin Lumber, Inc.| Active U2 | April 1990 Yukon Door & Plywood, Inc. | Associate | May 1990

75 YEARS Pike Lumber Co., Inc. | Active U4 | April 1945

ACCOLADES

Welcome New Members (Quarter 1 - 2020)

ACTIVE U1 MEMBERS

Big Mountain Lumber LLC, Allenwood, PA J & M Hardwoods, Windsor, MO Pennsylvania Hardwoods Company, Pleasantville, PA Volner Sawmill, Inc., Parsons, TN Wilcher and Wilcox Lumber, Mayflower, AR Yoder Hardwoods, Verona, MO

ACTIVE U2 MEMBERS

Florence Hardwoods, LLC, Florence, WI

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

York Casket Co., LLC, York, PA

PARTNER MEMBERS

Ferremaster, S.A., Panama City, Panama

SUSTAINING MEMBERS

Embry Automation & Controls, Inc., Evansville, IN EZ Log Company, Louisville, KY Fumigation Service & Supply, Westfield, IN Kop-Coat Protection Products, Pittsburgh, PA Newman Machine Company, Inc., Browns Summit, NC Wagner Meters, LLC, Rogue River, OR

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EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT

Congratulations to the Graduates of the 191st Class of the NHLA Inspector Training School

Seated Row (L-R): Joey Byrd, John Bowman, Rich Hascher, Charleston Jackson, and Corey Seevers. Standing Row (L-R): Dylan McClain, John David Treat, Hunter Morrissey, James Thomson, and Cameron French.

HLA celebrated the graduation of the 191st class of the Inspector Training School a week early due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, March 20, 2020, five students completed the 12-week traditional program with an additional four students completing the Online Training Program for a total of nine graduates. Due to requirements on social distancing, the ceremony was private, with only the students and instructors participating. Graduates will be invited back to participate in the next graduation ceremony.

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GRADUATES OF THE 191ST CLASS WERE: • John Bowman, Harold White Lumber Company • Joey Byrd, Timber Producers • Cameron French, Independent • Charleston Jackson, Swift River Pecans, LLC • Dylan McClain, Roach Sawmill & Lumber Co. • Hunter Morrissey, Goodfellow, Inc. • Corey Seevers, Superior Hardwoods of Ohio • James Thomson, Independent • John David Treat, Independent The Inspector Training School Education Foundation (ITSEF) awarded scholarships to three of the graduates: Cameron French, James Thomson, and John David Treat. We want to thank ITSEF for their ongoing support of the ITS student experience. Outstanding individual awards recipients were as follows: • John Bowman – ITS Educational Foundation Award for Highest Overall Average • James Thomson – Howard Hanlon Award for Second Highest Overall Average • John Bowman – Westside Hardwood Club Award for Highest Board Run Average • Hunter Morrissey – Lumbermen’s Club of Memphis Award for Most Improved Student • Corey Seevers – NHLA Award for Best Attitude/Citizenship • John David Treat, Cameron French, and James Thomson – ITSEF Scholarship • John David Treat, Cameron French, and James Thomson – Willard Scholarship Award on behalf of NAFF. Enrollment is now open for the 193rd class, which begins at NHLA headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee on September 1, 2020. To enroll or learn more about the program please visit www.nhla.com. W W W. N H L A .C O M

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COVID-19: THE ROAD TO RECOVERY LEGISLATIVE LOG

by DANA COLE, Executive Director Hardwood Federation

t press time, COVID-19, popularly known as the Coronavirus, is pummeling the U.S. economy. Local, state and federally mandated safety measures are asking people to stay at home, resulting in widespread shutdowns and layoffs across the economic spectrum. More than $2 trillion has been approved by the federal government to support small, medium and large businesses as they struggle to stay in business. China seems to be slowly recovering while the rest of the world wrestles with the escalation of the disease, overwhelmed hospitals and increasing concerns about economic rebound once the pandemic has passed. It is difficult to predict where we will be when this edition of Hardwood Matters goes to print. Hopefully, the road to recovery will be clear at that point. The coronavirus crisis has been illuminating in several ways . . . at least from our view in Washington, D.C. First, it is heartening to see and hear about the extraordinary kindnesses people are capable of in times of distress. From health providers and emergency workers on the front line to neighbors that are getting groceries and supplies for the housebound, so many people are rising to the occasion. I am confident the men and women of the hardwood industry are in this category. From the political side, it is interesting to observe that when government wants to act quickly . . . at the local, state or federal level, it can and will. Congress passed, and the President signed, three assistance bills between March 3 and March 27 . . . totaling over $2.1 TRILLION dollars. Federal departments and agencies scrambled to issue guidance and set up delivery mechanisms in record time. This is not to say that election year sniping isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ongoing, but it has not stood in the way of action being taken in a generally bipartisan manner. Whatever your position is on these measures, it is hard to deny that the country got a quick lesson in the legislative process and the ability of Congress to work together when under pressure.

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Local and state governments have also acted, some more swiftly than others. But again, this can be viewed as a civics lesson about how our country operates as a federation . . . with Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s utilizing their powers and authorities in a way the public is not used to seeing. The best example of this being the various ways states have imposed stay at home orders, restricted travel, and determined which businesses are essential can remain open. This has been an extremely busy time for the Hardwood Federation team, and for the staffs of our member associations, including NHLA. Keeping up with the latest news, relief measures, federal and state emergency guidance statements can be a challenge during normal times. But layering on a world-wide health and economic crisis ups the ante and makes it even more important that we are engaged with decision-makers, tuned into breaking news, and quick to share what we know with our members. It is times like these that we, as an association representing you, your company and your employees, must be at our best and deliver the most important and accurate information we can as soon as we can. We must also do our very best to share your experience, concerns and frustrations with those at the federal level that can make a difference. Our goal at the Federation is always to go beyond your expectations as a member of the hardwood industry community. These extraordinary times may make that job a bit harder, but we remain committed and enthusiastic about doing our part on your behalf. I know the NHLA team is working just as hard, and we appreciate their partnership. We will continue our efforts here in D.C. . . . and hopefully, our next column will be reflective of a return to normal. In the meantime, we hope you and yours are well and safe.

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Leading Through Times of Crisis

t’s hard to believe how much the world has changed over the past few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is during times like these when great leaders rise to the challenge, radiating confidence, maintaining a clear head for decision making, communicating, and illustrating empathy for both customers and employees. Gallup recently released a study on the worries, fears, and confidence people have had during some of the major ‘crisis events’ over the past 80 years – including the Great Depression, World War II, and the attacks on September 11th. They added the COVID-19 pandemic to the study, and the results showed one thing was crystal clear: people always look to leadership to provide confidence that there is a path forward that they can actively participate in to feel productive. When times are changing rapidly (as with the COVID-19 pandemic), leaders must be adaptable to new ways of doing business to keep the company running and employees working. A great example comes from NHLA member, Jon Syre, with Cascade Hardwood LLC. Jon says, “At Cascade, we have a clear plan of action for COVID-19, but the plan seems to change daily as new information comes in, or best practices are adjusted. We discuss said plan constantly and adjust accordingly to keep the crew safe and mills operational.” Trust, compassion, stability, and hope are four universal needs that Gallup found people expect

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of their leaders. These needs are especially urgent during a crisis because people are anxious and scared as to what their future looks like when it comes to job security. A great leader can soothe their troubles and ensure that everyone knows what their role is with the company and how to continue operations. Communication is key to meeting the needs of trust and hope. Great leaders make it a point to communicate with their staff regularly. Fear

“At Cascade, we have a clear plan of action for COVID-19, but the plan seems to change daily as new information comes in, or best practices are adjusted.” of the unknown spreads like wildfire at every business. A leader who keeps their team updated on business decisions and takes the time to express why these decisions are being made earns respect from employees, calms fears, and allows them to concentrate on work. Communication should not be limited to the upper echelon of management; it should be open and transparent to all employees. Deonn DeFord is the Product Manager for Ganahl Lumber Company, which has 10 retail locations in California. His communication must reach both employees and customers. To do this, M AY 2 0 2 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S |

“Leadership is about focusing. Forget about yourself. Focus on relationships. As situations change rapidly, focus on solving challenges one by one. Try to be the calm voice of reason.”

Left to Right: Yellow tape, safety cones and signs help employees remain at least 6-feet apart at Ganahl Lumber. Social distancing marks on the mill floor at Cascade Hardwood Group to ensure employees were maintaining social distancing. he uses an email newsletter to communicate, saying, “Our internal company E-newsletter, “Woodstock” comes out every other week and we have lots of information in there. We have also produced signs and distributed them throughout our stores to communicate effectively with employees and customers.” While the head of the company must communicate with the workforce, the most crucial person workers need to hear from is their direct manager. Managers and supervisors fill their staff’s needs of compassion and stability since they are acutely aware of the individual circumstances for each member of their team. Supervisors should make it a point to keep their department informed, explaining how the company is handling the situation, how it affects each of them, what it means to their job security, and how they fit into the bigger picture of the company. An effective leader will let their employees know what their expectations are as you maneuver through a crisis.

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Cascade Hardwood also uses a variety of methods to keep the crews informed including “email, posted notices and quick small socially distanced huddles.” According to Rob Cabral at UCS Forest Group they are “fortunate to have an exceptional marketing department who send out daily updates as well as posting on our internal web portal. We also have scheduled short daily meetings at all levels of the business to discuss new developments and progress.” A Gallup meta-analysis found that during stressful times, it is especially important for managers to keep it simple by reviewing what each employee does and modifying their responsibilities in a manner that allows them to leverage their strengths under new circumstances. Empathy is particularly important in times of crisis as well. Each employee has unique needs, and you should do your best to accommodate them (within reason). Forbes recently published an article,

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“Focus on Trust: Successful Leadership in Times of Crisis,” in which they say that great leaders invest in their staff in difficult times, “It is the right thing to do. And once things return to normal, those workers’ experiences will only make them more valuable to the team.” Syre continued, saying, “Compassion is so important right now. Compassion for the families that make up the employees at Cascade and others in the community. We have identified what our employee’s needs are individually and done everything we can for them. This shows our crew that we are here to help. It also builds friendships and loyalty through the crew and enforces the peer pressure between employees not to take advantage of the situation. This is a delicate situation for many families. Financially and emotionally, families are stressed and frightened. Showing compassion and leadership helps to calm some of the stress. Work can be a steady and calm place as we undergo new changes in everyday life. We are trying to be a place that provides employees with some regularity and echoes of stability from the past.” It is during times of unpredictability that employees judge how much their company values them based on the four universal needs. In fact, there is a popular meme making the rounds on social media lately that states, “Closely watch how companies treat their employees during this time. It speaks volumes as to their core ethics.” Bottom line: your employees are paying attention. Rob Cabral says it best, “Leadership is about focusing. Forget about yourself. Focus on relationships. As situations change rapidly, focus on solving challenges one by one. Try to be the calm voice of reason.”

Even though the virus is causing limitations, it is also showing the importance of the hardwood industry when it comes to health and safety. The industry plays a vital role in the creation of:

• Wood Pulp for producing toilet paper and other paper product • Wood fibers for the production of medical masks and surgical gowns • Wooden Pallets for transporting goods. • Packaging for home-deliveries of needed supplies and groceries • Wood biofuels for power production • Railroad Ties for transporting goods across the continent • Wood Cells for cleaning materials like sponges • Wood chips for fuel, farming, cooking, and more Rich Solano, with Pike Lumber, leaves us with hope for the future, saying, “Our company was founded in 1904. Through major events such as the great depression mill fires, and even the great recession of 2009, we have never laid off our workforce. This challenge is no different. As a company, we will sacrifice profits to keep the families that depend on us for their livelihoods employed. Well trained employees are hard to come by. We believe we have the best men and women in the industry producing Pike Brand Hardwoods . . . and we aim to keep them!”

We are all in this together!

Gallup recently performed a leadership audit. They surveyed U.S. employees across all job sectors regarding how they feel about the decisions and behavior of their leaders during this pandemic. The results are interesting.

• 39 percent strongly agree that their employer has communicated a clear plan of action in response to COVID-19. • 54 percent said they feel well-prepared to do their work during this time. • 48 percent said that their immediate supervisor has kept them informed about what is going on at their company • 45 percent agree that their organization cares about their overall wellbeing. While these results are not terrible, they aren’t exactly stellar. Each of the survey questions can be improved by focusing on the four essential needs mentioned earlier: trust, compassion, stability, and hope.

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SOURCES: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/347433 https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhall/2020/03/22/focus-on-trustsuccessful-leadership-in-times-of-crisis/#46b5537c67b https://www.gallup.com/workplace/297497/covid-employees-needleaders-right.aspx https://www.cfo.com/leadership/2020/03/crisis-management-the-overlooked-leadership-skill/ https://www.bcg.com/en-us/featured-insights/coronavirus.aspx https://www.walb.com/2020/03/26/georgia-forestry-commission-helps-deliver-critical-medical-supplies-health-care-facilities/

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RULES CORNER

High Log Inventory Can Result in Stain and Defects— Are you Prepared? with Chief Inspector Dana Spessert

he Covid-19 pandemic has the hardwood industry and the world facing unprecedented circumstances. Some industries, such as the restaurant and hospitality industry have adapted to take-out and delivery service to stay afloat, while other industries have been forced to completely close. In March, the Department of Homeland Security deemed the hardwood industry to be “Essential and Critical” to the security of the country, recognizing the life-sustaining importance of the wood industry. This declaration has allowed sawmills to stay open and has certainly saved our industry! This month, I would like to address issues with staining and other defects that are going to be on the rise as inventories continue to build in many areas of the country. Logs and lumber begin to dry immediately upon being cut. Sawmills would normally accept all the logs they could get their hands on during this time of the year, but as some mills are currently working at half-staff, there are a lot of logs stacking up. The lack of consumption at the mills is also going to cause logs to sit around longer than optimal, causing some of the white woods, such as hard and soft maple, to begin to stain. Stain, either chemical or fungal, is caused by the slow drying of wood, either in the log or lumber form. Due to the drying process beginning as soon as a tree is cut, time from tree felling to lumber on sticks becomes critical, especially when the daytime temperatures reach summer levels.

To mitigate some of these conditions, steps need to be put into place to minimize the amount of time that the logs and lumber are sitting on the yard before being sawn or stacked for air drying. STEPS INCLUDE: 1. Awareness of time from tree to mill as a log.

a. Old logs already stained cannot be improved in quality

2. Log Inventory Rotation

a. White woods should receive priority b. First in, first out plan c. Lower your inventory

3. Cutting white woods Monday-Thursday allows time for stacking on drying sticks

a. Utilize properly charged dip tanks for fungal stain

4. Lumber yard inventory rotation

a. Require all white woods to be put on sticks within two days

5. Lumber yard airflow and water drainage

NHLA has programs and resources that can assist you in achieving higher returns on your valuable assets. A visit from an NHLA National Inspector is a great place to start! I encourage you to reach out to your area Inspector for a ONE-ON-ONE CALL or a VIRTUAL CONSULTATION. We are here to help you in any way we can during this unprecedented time. 16

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NHLA to Launch Free Member-Only Webinars As COVID-19 is forcing companies, and all of us, to change the way business is conducted, NHLA is also adjusting the way we deliver education and resources to its membership. In the coming days, NHLA will be offering free webinars on such topics as hardwood lumber grading, kiln drying, basic quality control and benefits of the NHLA yield analysis program. Webinar information will be shared as soon as they become available. We also encourage you to utilize the knowledge and skillsets of the NHLA Inspection Services team during this time. The team is working and available to discuss any issues or problems you may be having. Please reach out to your area inspector and arrange a one-onone consultation via phone call, FaceTime, or virtual Zoom meeting. If you have any questions regarding the upcoming webinar training or have a specific question for the Industry Services Team, contact Dana Spessert at 901-827-1773.

Dana Spessert Chief Inspector 901-399-7551 d.spessert@nhla.com

Mark Bear Territory: USA - South Centrai and Midwest 205-295-8018 m.bear@nhla.com

Tom Byers Territory: USA - Northeast 814-431-5699 t.byers@nhla.com

Mark Depp Territory: USA - Mid-Atlantic 814-246-4941 m.depp@nhla.com

Jack English Territory: USA - Northeast, Pacific, and Pacific-Northwest 518-366-1161 j.english@nhla.com

Kevin Evilsizer Territory: USA - Midwest 417-260-5416 k.evilsizer@nhla.com

Barry Kibbey Territory: USA - North and Midwest 814-566-2023 b.kibbey@nhla.com

Simon Larocque Territory: Canada 819-712-1640 s.larocque@nhla.com

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NHLA PROVIDES EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO IMPROVE YOUR BOTTOM LINE Register for classes at www.nhla.com/Education. JUNE

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8-11

Intro to Hardwood Lumber Grading

Intro class to gain a basic understanding of the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules and how the rules affect the value of lumber.

Venue: Hardin County Extension Office Elizabethtown, KY

Venue: Yoder Lumber Co., Inc. Millersburg, OH

Instructor: Mark Depp, NHLA National Inspector

Instructor: Barry Kibbey, NHLA National Inspector

JULY

AUGUST

27-29

27-31

10-21

24-26

Intro to Hardwood Lumber Grading

Inspector Training School Online Training Program MODULE 1

Intro to Hardwood Lumber Grading

Intro class to gain a basic understanding of the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules and how the rules affect the value of lumber.

Venue: Franklin Industrial Commercial Development Authority - Emerging Technology Center Franklin, PA

Venue: Rowan County Courthouse Morehead, KY

Instructor: Tom Byers, NHLA National Inspector

JUNE

Instructor: Mark Depp, NHLA National Inspector

M AY 2 0 2 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S

Two weeks of hands-on training.

Venue: NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN Module 2: Online study Module 3: Three weeks hands-on training and final testing at NHLA headquarters.

Intro class to gain a basic understanding of the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules and how the rules affect the value of lumber. Venue: Northwest Hardwoods - Marion Branch Marion, NC Instructor: Mark Depp, NHLA National Inspector

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COVID-19 IMPACT:

At the time of publication, these educational courses are being offered. However, due to the unknowns of the COVID-19 pandemic please visit nhla.com for the latest information or call NHLA headquarters at 901-377-1818 to confirm that these courses are taking place.

AUGUST

24-Sept. 4 Inspector Training School Online Training Program MODULE 1 Two weeks of hands-on training.

Venue: Northwest Hardwoods - Marion Branch Marion, NC Instructor: Mark Depp, NHLA National Inspector Module 2: Online study Module 3: Three weeks handson training and final testing at NHLA headquarters.

SEPTEMBER

1-Nov. 20 Inspector Training School 193rd Class

Traditional 12-week hands-on training to achieve the certificate of completion in Hardwood Lumber Inspection. Venue: NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN

SEPTEMBER

14-17

14-18

Intro to Hardwood Lumber Grading

Intro class to gain a basic understanding of the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules and how the rules affect the value of lumber.

Venue: WV Wood Technology Center Elkins, WV

Venue: Wood-Mizer, LLC Indianapolis, IN

Instructor: Mark Depp, NHLA National Inspector

W W W. N H L A .C O M

SEPTEMBER

Instructor: Barry Kibbey, NHLA National Inspector

M AY 2 0 2 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S |

NHLA JOB BOARD Here you will find our current job listings. To see more details or to post a job, visit www.nhla.com/industry-services/job-board. HARDWOOD LUMBER INSPECTOR Identify, measure and grade lumber according to the NHLA rules and regulations. Working on a green chain marking lumber according to grades. Skills & Experience Required Graduate of NHLA school. Experience preferred but not necessary. Salary & Benefits Health insurance, (6) paid holidays, paid vacation, life insurance, 401K. How to Apply Please send resume and application to Damon Clinger at dclinger@ahiwood.com American Hardwood Industries 1317 Augusta Lane | Amissville, Virginia Phone: 540-347-4528 NHLA CERTIFIED LUMBER GRADER Primary duties and responsibilities include consistent and accurate grading of hardwood green lumber. Highly dependable. Skills & Experience Required NHLA Certified Salary & Benefits Excellent pay. Retirement Plan. Insurance Paid. Vacation. Great work environment. How to Apply Please send resume and application to office@churchandchurchlumber.com Church and Church Lumber Company 863 New Browns Ford Road | Wilkesboro, North Carolina Phone: 336-973-5700 | www.northcarolinalumber.com LUMBER INSPECTOR Mackeys Ferry Sawmill is looking for a Lumber Inspector to grade dry and green hardwoods to NHLA standards, as well as, grading softwood on occasion. Must be able to operate machinery that is relative to the grading process, and have the ability to grade lumber with a specific grade marking system. All other duties as assigned. Skills & Experience Required • Familiarity with lumber grading rules, grading pencils, crayons, and other grade markers. • Previous experience grading lumber is a plus. • Ability to stand for long periods of time while grading. • Ability to lift and turn boards as they come down the grading chain.

M AY 2 0 2 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S

Salary & Benefits Mackeys Ferry Sawmill provides a competitive benefits package that includes: Medical Insurance, Dental, Vision and other supplementary insurance, paid time off, retirement and bonuses How to Apply Please send resume and application to Mark Delosreyes at markd@jwjoneslumber.com Mackeys Ferry Sawmill 7436 Mackeys Road | Roper, North Carolina 27970 Phone: 252-771-2497 | www.mackeysferrysawmill.com KILN OPERATOR Missouri Walnut is looking for a dedicated Kiln Operator that can assist our Boiler/Kiln Manager in managing the every day operations of our kilns. Job Duties Include Controls dry kilns to dry lumber to specified moisture content: Measures moisture content of lumber preparatory to drying, using moisture meter, or cuts, weighs, and places lumber samples in curing oven and reweighs samples periodically as they are drying to determine rate and percentage of moisture reduction. Determines drying cycle and schedule, considering factors such as species, dimensions, and quantity of lumber to be dried, initial moisture content of lumber, or moisture reduction rate of lumber samples. Presses buttons or turns valves and control knobs to activate, control, and record temperature, humidity, and ventilation of dry kilns. Reads recording gauges and weighs lumber samples periodically during seasoning process, and readjusts temperature and humidity controls to regulate moisture reduction rate and avoid damage to lumber. Measures moisture content of lumber at completion of drying cycle, using moisture meter, to ensure that specified amount of moisture has been removed. Maintains records of species, dimensions, and footage of lumber dried, and initial and final moisture content of lumber. Changes graphs on pen-graph recorders as required. May direct workers engaged in loading lumber onto kiln cars, placing cars in kilns, and removing dried lumber from kiln. Skills & Experience Required Must have at least 3-4 years of working knowledge of kilns Drying Hardwood preferred Walnut experience preferred. Knowledge of how to manage schedules and work within computer systems and exce. Ability to work amongst various departments. Salary & Benefits Missouri Walnut provides a competitive benefits package that includes: Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, and 401K. Added other benefits are production-based bonuses and a profit-sharing bonus. How to Apply Please send resume and application to Gage McKinnis at gmckinnis@missouriwalnutgroup.com Missouri Walnut, LLC 11417 Oak Road | Neosho, Missouri 64850 Phone: 417-455-0972

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Premier Sponsor

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN Register with Confidence! For 123 years, against almost insurmountable odds, the NHLA Annual Convention is where the hardwood industry has come together to trade, learn, and discuss the important topics and trends affecting the hardwood industry. We are proud that things have not changed. NHLA staff and leadership are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Currently, the 2020 NHLA Annual Convention will proceed as planned and registration is open. Should unexpected changes need to be made, you’ll be made aware immediately. As always, NHLA remains your trusted partner all year long – so please know you can register for the Annual Convention with confidence. If we are unable to host the event due to COVID-19, we have you covered.

May 2020 Hardwood Matters

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