Softwood Forest Products Buyer - November/December 2023

Speed Dating III Is Focus Of NAWLA Regional Meeting
Photos By Terry Miller
Forest Products EXPO Brings Global Sawmill Industry Together In Nashville
Photos By Terry Miller
Brad Bland, AHC Hardwood Group, Cleveland, GA; Doug Settele, Keiver-Willard
Lumber Corporation, Newburyport, MA; and Kris Long, AHC
Hardwood Group
Bert and Bud Vaagen founded Vaagen
Brothers lumber in the early 1950’s.
Today, the company continues as a
closely held corporation owned by
members of the Vaagen family. This
continuity of management, vision, and
leadership has helped guide the
company for more than half a century.
Creating a culture of innovation,
integrity, and cooperation that’s
fueled Vaagen’s advancement, evolution
and growth over the years.
Vaagen Bros. Lumber
565 W. 5TH Ave
Colville, Wa 99114
Sales - 509-684-5072
www.vaagenbros.com
Jim Conlon, NAWLA, Chicago, IL; Alden Robbins, Robbins Lumber Inc., Searsmont,
ME; and Steven Rustja, Weston Forest Products Inc., Mississauga, ON
Do you know how your
lumber is made?
Scan the QR Code below to
see our fascinating step by
step process
Additional photos on page 24
The North American Wholesale
Lumber Association (NAWLA)
recently held a fall regional meeting
at Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME
while partnering with the Northeastern
Lumber Manufacturers Association
(NELMA) during their 90th
annual meeting.
Attendees enjoyed Speed Dating
III on the Green, a one-of-a-kind
event that brings together personnel
from sawmills located in the
Northeast and Great Lakes regions
with lumber wholesalers, brokers
and other individuals that wish to
participate in quick, high-energy
networking.
To learn more about this association,
visit www.nawla.org. n
Scott Vande Linde, West Fraser, Germantown, TN; Vince Almond, Almond Brothers
Lumber Co., Coushatta, LA; Eric Gee, SFPA, Executive Director, Metairie, LA;
Mark Richardson, The Westervelt Company Inc., Tuscaloosa, AL; Will Lampe,
Lampe & Malphrus Lumber Co., Smithfield, NC; Rich Mills, Hood Industries Inc.,
Hattiesburg, MS; and Craig Forbes,Weyerhaeuser, Hot Springs, AR
Connecting. Exploring. Discovering.
That was the agenda for
the recent 37th Forest Products
Machinery & Equipment EXPO,
held at the Music City Center in
Nashville, TN, and feedback shows
exhibitors and attendees alike were
able to successfully check off all
three items on that agenda.
After five shows in Atlanta dating
back to 2011, the Southern Forest
Products Association (SFPA),
which hosts the biennial event,
moved the show with all exhibitors
and attendees applauding the new
host city and venue.
EXPO 2023 exhibit space actually
sold out three different times before
SFPA had to close booth sales
because all available space was
claimed. The final floorplan topped
out at 217 exhibiting companies – a
record number of exhibitors since
2007 – spread over 58,337 square
feet of machinery, innovation, and
solutions to meet with more than
1,200 attendees.
“The move to Nashville exceeded
all expectations," said Eric
Gee, SFPA’s executive director. "It
was great to see so many members
of the forest products industry in
attendance to be a part of this historic
moment. I’m extremely proud
of the exhibiting companies that
helped transform the exhibit hall
into a first-rate networking space.”
Since 1950, Forest Products
EXPO has provided a place for
both hardwood and Softwood
sawmillers to gather, celebrate new
technology, network, and learn
about the industry’s latest machinery
and equipment.
The three-day tradeshow provided
attendees with solutions for
nearly every stage of manufacturing.
From raw material handling to
crane operations; metal detection
and scanning technologies; log
In today’s complex world
at least one thing is plain and simple.
At Cersosimo we provide you with the
largest and most consistent supply of
quality Eastern White Pine and
hardwood – from the heart of New
England forests. We’ve been doing it
for over 75 years. You’ve come to count
on us to be there and deliver the best –
and do it consistently.
It’s straight talk from folks who are
easy to talk to, who know the business
inside and out – and whose integrity
is as solid as the lumber we provide.
www.cersosimolumber.com
Page 6 Softwood Forest Products Buyer • November/December 2023 Softwood Forest Products Buyer • November/December 2023 Page 7
Continued on page 49
Lee Stiles, A.W. Stiles Contractors Inc., McMinnville, TN; Kayla Hatley, Tanner Stirewalt,
Sherri Johnson, Lynn Stirewalt and Johnny Johnson, Piedmont Hardwood Lumber
Co., Mt. Pleasant, NC; and Scott Hutton, A.W. Stiles Contractors Inc.
Additional photos on page 24