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Softwood Export Council To Use FAS Funding To Expand Markets, Complete Life Cycle Analyses For U.S. Forest Products

In May, the Softwood Export Council (SEC) received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Service’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) that will help the association address trade barriers and increase exports of U.S. softwood lumber and building materials. Following years of work in India to identify opportunities for hybrid and […]

IWPA Sits In Windowless Conference Rooms Around The Globe So You Don’t Have To

In early September, the IWPA government affairs staff and I had the privilege of attending the first ever Wildlife and Environmental Crimes Summit hosted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations branch. The theme of the summit was “Understanding Convergence in Environmental Crime,” namely how environmental crimes are often linked to other […]

Why Knot See The Generations Of Trees

I have always been drawn to genealogy and family history, and the older I get, the more I question the relevance of age. This year, I turned 47. My wife, Sariah, and I have seven kids; the oldest is 24, and the youngest is 6. In contrast, my dad was 47 when I was born. […]

Closing The Skills Gap – You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

We’re neck deep into the new school year, making this the perfect time to look at what’s being accomplished across the industry to address the skills gap crisis and influence future consumers why choosing wood is good. Closing the skills gap and driving increased interest in the industry are not responsibilities we can simply assign […]

The Fall Legislative Season – D.C. Style

It seems like we only just wrapped up summer, but the dynamic of a Presidential election has made it feel like the end of the year is just around the corner as far as 118th Congress goes. The House decamped Washington a week early this year for its August recess, axing the final week of […]

Vert: The Red Oak Route To A Cooler, Greener City

Last year was the warmest on record, and 2024 is on pace to surpass it as global cities feel the heat. Due to the “urban heat island” effect, cities of a million people or more can be 1.8°–5.4°F warmer on average than the surrounding area according to the EPA, and as much as 22°F warmer […]

We’re Off To The Hawkeye State

In just a couple weeks, HMA members will be gathering in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for our 2024 Fall Regional Meeting. This members-only event will take place Tuesday–Thursday, October 15–17, and it’s sure to be time well spent in the Hawkeye State. I repeatedly hear from HMA members that our Regional Meetings are one of our […]

Foster Experience Over Giving Information

From June 10-12th, I attended the NeoCon Design Show in Chicago. Alongside Chief Inspector Dana Spessert, Chief Operating Officer Renee Hornsby, and Chief Development Officer John Hester, we operated the Real American Hardwood booth, funded by NHLA with USFS grant monies. Our booth was in the Climate Smart Pavilion, where we showcased the North American […]

WCMA 2024 Fall Conference And Plant Tour Event

The WCMA is gearing up for our 2024 Fall Conference and Plant Tour Event to be held Sept. 23-25, 2024. The number one benefit of membership in the WCMA, according to our members, is the networking opportunities we offer. This event presents an excellent opportunity to network with members, Tech Partners, and non-members, and have […]

Road Trip Across The Hawkeye State

Next month, HMA members will be hitting the road for our Fall Regional Meeting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tuesday–Thursday, October 15–17. It’s been a while since HMA toured the Hawkeye State, so we’re looking forward to getting down to business, going on excellent tours to see new technology and solutions in action, enjoying the fall […]