The Softwood Forest Products Buyer - March/April 2023

Save the Date for NAWLA Regional Meetings
By The NAWLA Editor
From the Leadership Summit to the Executive Management Institute
and Spring Wood Basics, NAWLA event planning and execution
for 2023 is in full force, including preparations for this year’s
regional meetings.
Kicking off in March and concluding in September, NAWLA will
be hosting seven regional meetings for members and non-members.
Curated by the Regional Meetings Committee, these one-day events
will take place in both the United States and Canada, and offer peerto-peer
networking and educational opportunities on a local level.
Registration and additional information for each regional meeting
will be shared via NAWLA HQ emails and posted on the NAWLA
Regional Meetings webpage (nawla.org/Events/Regional-Meetings)
as details become available throughout the year. If you have questions
related to a specific regional meeting, please reach out to
NAWLA at info@nawla.org.
Get to Know the 2023 Board of Directors
In case you missed it, the NAWLA Board of Directors kicked off its
2023 term on Jan. 1. Spearheaded by Board Chair Steve Rustja, this
year’s leadership is comprised of 18 industry professionals dedicated
to serving NAWLA members and stewarding the forest products
industry to new heights.
Get to know the 2023 executive committee and directors at large by
visiting nawla.org/About/NAWLA-Leadership and be sure to introduce
yourself to those from your local area at the regional meetings!
Today, it’s becoming more and more common for people to have shorter tenures with an employer. But at Continental Underwriters, Inc., we foster an atmosphere of growth. Our
goal isn’t just to keep our employees around for the long haul. As each teammate becomes more knowledgeable and experienced, our customers are better served and the forest
products industry is better supported.
Continental Underwriters, Inc.
The National Solution To Your Local Risk
Richmond, VA – This is where Continental Underwriters, Inc. stands out.
Founded in 2013, the Continental team brings 175+ years of insurance experience
to the table, including more than a century of work specifically with the forest
products industry. This expertise can pay off for you no matter where you are
located and can help stabilize your insurance programs over the long haul with
partners who understand what you do. As Continental Underwriters Inc.’s Marketing
Director Melissa Berry put it, we are “The National Solution to Your Local
Risk!”
“People have built these businesses and are proud of their success and want their story
to be heard,” Bernie Kurtzweil, Underwriting Director, Continental Underwriters, Inc.
By Terry Miller
Corey Bounds, Director of Risk Assessment Services, explained that the company
works within the various sectors of both the Softwood and hardwood lumber
industries.
“There is heavy manufacturing, which is working with very heavy wood products,
logs, and that type of thing, as well as sawmills, pole peeling, wood treating
and kiln drying associated with the lumber and poles,” Bounds said. “Then there
is the lighter manufacturing where they’re actually making products from lumber
Continued on page 42
“The key to success for all parties involves building solid relationships and that the
team at Continental Underwriters, Inc. is committed to getting to know its customers
and their needs,” Corey Bounds, Risk Assessment Director, Continental Underwriters,
Inc.
“Sawmills, wood treating plants, and large drying operations can have a harder time finding competitive insurance solutions. With big
machines handling and cutting logs and lumber along with the concentration of numerous buildings in one or more locations, most insurance
companies and brokers often don’t understand the complexity of forest products’ manufacturers. There are definitely benefits to working
with insurance people that have expertise within the wood industry. These people understand and know the insurance marketplace and
can communicate clearly with insurance company underwriters. They also work daily around the wood industry and will share your story
in a way that helps underwriters understand and get comfortable with risk. This means more interested insurance carriers, better pricing,
more welcome coverage conditions and the willingness to talk through questions. Having that expertise really moves you through the annual
process of insurance buying more quickly so you can get back to the yard.”
Bernie Kurtzweil, Director of Underwriting.
2023 Regional Meetings
• Montreal (in collaboration
with the Montreal Wood Convention)
o When: Tuesday, April 18
o Where: Hotel Fairmont The
Queen Elizabeth, Montreal, Québec,
Canada
• Vancouver (in collaboration
with Spring Wood Basis)
o When: Wednesday, May 10
o Where: The Vancouver Club,
Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada
• Southeast
o When: Wednesday, May 17
o Where: Avondale Brewing
Company, Birmingham, Alabama,
United States
• Portland, OR
o Summer 2023; check the
website for details
• Minneapolis, MN
o When: Thursday, Aug. 17
o Where: 7 Vines Vineyard,
Dellwood, Minnesota, United
States
• Texas
o Fall 2023; check the website
for details
• Northeast (in collaboration
with NELMA)
o When: Wednesday, Sept. 20
o Where: Samoset Resort in
Rockport, Maine, United States
The worldwide
market potential
for forest
products
is endless.
softwoodbuyer.com
DC PREMIER
Appearance timbers
and 2” dimension
Logging - Milling - Finishing
DC SUPERIOR
STK kiln dried
fascia, decking,
siding and boards
DC SUPREME
STK green fascia
decking, siding,
and boards
Delta Cedar Specialties
604 589 9006 deltacedar.com
DC SELECT
std&btr no hole
green decking
and boards
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