National Hardwood Magazine - January 2024

ALC PHOTOS Continued
NELA Members Remain Optimistic
Despite Challenging Lumber Markets
Photos By Leslie Brienza
Barry Hodges, H&H Hardwoods, Morganton, NC; Eric Boyd, Parton
Lumber, Rutherfordton, NC; Doyle Kitchings, Corley Manufacturing,
Chattanooga, TN; and Skipper Beal, Beal Lumber, Little
Mountain, SC
Jesse LaSon, Rossi Group, Emporium, PA; Tony Summerow,
New River Hardwoods, Mountain City, TN; Wayne Law, retired,
Abingdon, VA; and Andy Nuffer, RAM Forest Products, Kernersville,
NC
Members of the New England Lumbermen’s Association
(NELA) recently gathered in Fairlee, VT, for their
annual fall meeting. Over 90 members attended the
event at the Lake Morey Resort on the border of New
Hampshire and Vermont.
The day began with a coffee and registration period
where members gathered to connect to new contacts
and renew old acquaintances. At noon, members were
treated to a sit-down buffet lunch overlooking the beautiful
Lake Morey with its fall foliage in peak display.
Next up, the members sat down for their popular “Business
Discussion” moderated by President Bob Chase of
Quabbin Timber Inc. Members shared their current market
conditions experiences and made predictions about
markets going forward. The mood was somber as most
members have seen better times, but most remained
optimistic for the future trying to find a silver lining where
markets were concerned.
After the spirited discussion the members listened to
guest speaker Charlie Levesque of Innovative Natural
Resources Solution LLC, who spoke about the current
atmosphere with Carbon Sequestration and its potential
impact on timber harvesting in the region. He also
touched on the current biomass playing field and the potential
for several plants in the region to close and the
impact this would have on businesses.
After a long period of business discussion, the members
welcomed the planned happy hour and dinner portion
of the day.
After dinner some of the members retreated to the
tavern to watch the Texas Rangers win their first World
Series!
For interest in the NELA, please reach out to Chris
Castano, Secretary/Treasurer at ccastano@maine
woods.net. n
Justin Laws, Jeff Gowder and Jordan Amos, Southern Forest
Products, Appalachia, VA; and Mark Pierce, New River Hardwoods,
Mountain City, TN
Seth Riggio, Prime Max Group, Greer, SC; Allison and Cliff McKittrick,
McKittrick Lumber, Camden SC; and Brian Ballard, Tioga
Hardwoods, Claremont, NC
Rob Hill, Holt & Bugbee, Tewksbury, MA; Loren Voyer, Kennebec
Lumber, Solon, ME; and Anthony Raspa, Quality Hardwoods,
Powassan, ON
Peter Irish, Woodline Lumber Co., Alburg, VT; Guy Dollinger, DZD
Hardwood, Saint-Jérôme, QC; Bruce Dahn, HHP, Inc., Henniker,
NH; and Hunter Dickenson, Stella-Jones, Cortland, NY
Greg Pappas, Ten Oaks Flooring, Stuart, VA; Stan Jones, Koppers,
Creedmoor, NC; Rick McCreary, ETT Fine Woods, Belton,
SC; and Craig Albright, Messersmith Biomass Boilers, South
Bloomingville, OH
Shannon Garland, AHI, Waynesboro, VA; Jimmy Clay, Parton Lumber,
Rutherfordton, NC; and Jay Reese, Penn-Sylvan Inc., Spartansburg,
PA
Mario Chicoine, Sciere Arbotek, Saint-Just-de-Bretenieres, QC;
Yvon Millette, Vexco, Plessisville, QC; and Peter Veilleux, Multibois,
Woburn, QC
Jack English, Clear Choice Hardwood, Northville, NY; Andrew
Brown, Abenaki Timber Corp., Kingston, NH; and Bob Pope, SII
Dry Kilns, Montpelier, VT
Additional photos on next page
36 JANUARY 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry
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JANUARY 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 37