hm - May13 - cover.indd - National Hardwood Lumber Association

More documents

Recommendations

Info

“My daughter was about five years old and she told me she washappy I did not have a career like her friend’s mom because I wasalways there when the bus dropped her at home. I told her I didhave a career and she promptly responded that she knew that butit was not a ‘real’ one…my first reaction was shock and trying toexplain that of course my career was real, but then I realized thatwhatever I was doing was working– I could have a career in theindustry, be myself and more importantly not take away fromwhat my children needed, being a mom,” VanDystadt added.VanDystadt said, like most modern industries, the hardwoodlumber industry doesn’t provide gender specific challenges.“I think our industry needs good people – women and men. It isan industry that will benefit from new ideas, energy and youth. Istrongly feel it is no longer an industry in which only men can beconsidered as leaders. It has come a long way in accepting strongtalent and leadership by either women or men. To be honestI cannot remember any instances in which being a woman inthis industry has been more of a challenge than perhaps in anyother. I think if anything being a woman has provided for itsshare of opportunities. And I think sales in particular as womenare a minority we are more easily identifiable and recognized orremembered,” VanDystadt said.“I don’t feel that any one particular job within our industryis better suited for a woman or man. I believe that withinour industry a person can find an opportunity to meet hisor her potential –stacking lumber, grading, operations, sales,international business, marketing, accounting…the opportunitiesare countless,” VanDystadt said.I drew the line because I knew I’d spend every Friday (when theyard closes early) on the forklift or in a truck. So, my excuse isthat I’m not trained for those positions.A graduate of Wake Forest University, Vollinger has worked in thehardwood lumber industry since 1987 and credits her father forserving as her mentor through her career.“My father’s integrity and honesty is well-recognized in the lumberindustry. He is fair, deeply caring and wants to help everyone. Hewould give the shirt off his back to help a stranger. He cherishesthe work environment as one big family. And he tries hard to lookout for and protect his employees,” Vollinger said.Vollinger is grateful for her training at the NHLA InspectorTraining School, as she used it in her early career forcredibility purposes.“Years ago, dealing in small order distribution, I would runinto old school male woodworkers. They automatically assumedI didn’t know anything about lumber. Attending the NHLAInspector Training School was the best thing I did to gaincredibility. I had to be careful and had to act humble whenexplaining the Grades because they would take offense if Iappeared to know more than they did. There was one guy whowas so impressed that I knew what moisture content we driedthe lumber, that he thought I was amazing. To this day, he stillmentions it when I run into him,” Vollinger said.Kim Vollinger of W.M. Cramer Lumber Co.Vollinger is not the first person in her family to serve on theNHLA Board of Managers but she is the first woman in her familyto do so. While her father, Wendell Cramer’s photo hangs in theNHLA headquarters among the other Presidents dating back to1898 and her husband Mark Vollinger is well-respected among hispeers, having served on the Board of Managers, as well, she holdsher own and is arguably one of the most admired and dignifiedlumbermen in North America.But, it was never an intention of Vollinger’s to follow in herfather’s footsteps.“None of my family members expected me to go into the business.After graduating from college, I agreed to help the companywith a sales tax audit. Afterwards, I began working with theCPA, formatting financial reports and learning more about thebusiness. One of the employees had to leave, so I jumped in andtook over her duties. I basically started in the office and branchedout to learn all the positions. I eventually graduated from theNHLA Inspector Training School, as well as its Leadership &Development Program. I then went on to learn all of the jobs inthe company, except driving the forklifts and trucks. That’s where12 MAY 2013 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM
“Other than that the only other challengeis that I don’t play golf, but maybe that’s agood thing,” Vollinger added.Vollinger believes there are many benefits tobeing a woman in the lumber industry, butgender balance is most important.“This may sound a little sexist, but somemen would prefer to talk with a woman orsee a pretty face. I guess it helps get yourfoot in the door sometimes, but you stillhave to deliver a quality product to keepthe business. Women make up a huge partof the buying population in general. It’salways good to have multiple perspectives.And in general, women are more verbal.Often they gain more information throughphone conversations than men, allowingthe opportunity to get the right product tothe customer. But sometimes, they just talktoo much. Often, women are more detailorientedand thorough. They are definitelybetter at sorting colors in a labor setting.But, I must qualify all this to say that ingeneral women are petty and more difficultto get along with. So, as a whole, we needa good balance of both men and women inour industry,” Vollinger said.As a member of NHLA’s Board of Managers, Vollinger works hard topartner with her peers for the betterment of the industry as a whole.“I feel a responsibility to NHLA Members and even non-members inthe hardwood lumber industry. It’s important that we protect thesebusinesses and our industry from the unlimited obstacles that weface daily.”So, as NHLA is well into its second century, one thing remains thesame about the Board of Managers, it is ever-evolving, eye-opening,knowledgeable and working hard on behalf of its members and theindustry as a whole…even if some of the faces are prettier and don’treflect the historical pictures that hang on the walls in Memphis.The ‘Good Ole Boy’ days are long past, treasured and replaced witha modern organization that is evolving with the world.1-877-795-0274 795 (tel)603-720-5977 (fax)info@csi-llc.comc.comwww.csi-llc.comw.cBUILDING THE EQUIPMENTTHAT PRESERVES ANDTREATS YOURWOOD• Hydro-Thermo Treatment• Vacuum/Pressure Treatment• Creosote Tie and Pole Treatment• Low Pressure Treatment withOil & Pigments• Ammonia & Smoke Treatment• Hydraulic Doors & Rail Bridges• Plant Control SystemsCrystal Oldham is the Executive Director of the Hardwood Forest Foundation and the formerNHLA Director of Education. As the DOE she oversaw all things education for the Association,including the Inspector Training School and Continuing Education programs. Prior to joiningNHLA, Crystal served as Consumer Education Coordinator for the State of Tennessee Departmentof Financial Institutions. Previously, she served as News Director for Thunderbolt Broadcasting.As News Director, Crystal gathered, wrote and produced newscasts for the company’s three radiostations. She also served as a Staff Reporter for Northwest Tennessee Times and Freelance Writerfor the Weakley County Press. Crystal holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with anemphasis in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Tennessee at Martin.WWW.NHLA.COM MAY 2013 HARDWOOD MATTERS 13
Page 1 and 2: MAY 2013HARDWOOD MATTERSTHE VOICE O
Page 3 and 4: 8DEPARTMENTS14 Rules Corner16 Found
Page 5 and 6: WWW.NHLA.COM MAY 2013 HARDWOOD MATT
Page 7 and 8: WE ARE YOUR SINGLE SOURCE SOLUTION.
Page 9 and 10: WWW.NHLA.COM MAY 2013 HARDWOOD MATT
Page 11 and 12: “There is a strong sense of teamw
Page 13: Stephanie VanDystadt ofDV Hardwoods
Page 17 and 18: RULESCORNERQuestion: Why is My Cust
Page 19 and 20: FOUNDATIONFOCUSINDIANA HARDWOOD LUM
Page 21 and 22: CALENDAREDUCATIoN & TRAININgBasic H
Page 23 and 24: “I choose mutual insurancebecause

hm - May13 - cover.indd - National Hardwood Lumber Association

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?