hm - Dec12 - cover.indd - National Hardwood Lumber Association

The 2012 National Hardwood Lumber Association’s Annual
Convention & Exhibit Showcase – the global gathering of the
hardwood community – was held September 12-15 in Chicago,
Ill. with eight hundred delegates in attendance. The sold out
exhibit hall featured seventy-two companies and organizations
showing off their products and services on the show floor.
During the September 13 Opening Session, outgoing NHLA
president Dave Redmond welcomed delegates from the United
States, Canada and 12 other countries as he gave his final
presidential report. The membership then heard reports from
the NHLA executive director Mark Barford and the Hardwood
Federation president Brad Thompson. After presentations from
the nominating committee chairman Ted Rossi, the NHLA
membership unanimously elected two new officers and six new
board members. Scott Heidler, president of Heidler Hardwood
Lumber Co. of Chicago, Ill. was elected to serve as president
and Pem Jenkins, president of Turn Bull Lumber Co. of
Elizabethtown, N.C. will serve as vice president.
The six new board members include: Mark Cifranick of Baillie
Lumber Co.; Shane Cook of Midwest Walnut Co.; Charley Fiala
of GMC Hardwoods, Inc.; Scott Holley of Industrial Timber
& Lumber; Steve Jones of Ron Jones Hardwood Sales and T.J.
Rosengarth of Northwest Hardwoods.
After the business side of the meeting was finalized Keynote
Speaker, legendary coach and player Mike Ditka officially kickedoff
the 115th Annual Convention events. During his address
Ditka talked at length about attitude, enthusiasm and character
as essential elements of life. He concluded his remarks to a
standing ovation with a quote by Abraham Lincoln. “You cannot
build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and
independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for
them what they could and should do for themselves.”
12 DECEMBER 2012 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM