Import/Export Wood Purchasing News - June/July 2023
IMPORT/EXPORT www.woodpurchasingnews.com Vol.49 No.6 Serving Forest Products Buyers Worldwide JUNE/JULY 2023 IWPA’s 2023 World Of Wood Convention Hailed As A Success Photos By Terry Miller Montréal Wood Convention Brings Together 1100 Industrialists And Wood Producers Photos By Terry Miller Marco Poot, Blue Roots, Sdn. Bhd., Shah Alam, Malaysia; Sam Postma, CWP Architectural Inc., Mississauga, ON; Matt Pritchard, Blue Roots; and Chris Pajot, CWP Architectural Inc. Additional photos on page 8 Over 250 Registrants from 21 Countries, Double the Number of 2022 Paid Exhibitors at 67th Annual Meeting Savannah, GA – The International Wood Products Association (IWPA), headquartered in Alexandria, VA, declared the 2023 World of Wood Convention, which was held here, a success. The vibrant gathering offered extensive networking and the opportunity to learn from and interact with leaders in market intelligence, regulatory compliance, and corporate problem-solving. More than 250 importers, U.S. manufacturers, wholesalers, offshore suppliers, and service providers to the global wood products industry from 21 countries attended IW- PA’s premier annual event. The convention also featured 11 exhibitors, more than double the number of previous years. “There was a high level of energy at this year’s World of Wood,” said IWPA Executive Director Ashley Amidon. “From the opening welcome by Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson to the passing of the president’s gavel on our closing night, this year’s gathering was among our best yet.” Attendees heard from two dynamic keynote speakers—Reginald "Reggie" Chever II, vice president and regional executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and top sales expert Meridith Elliott Powell. General sessions included deep dives on the latest developments on the Lacey Act, CITES, and key producing countries as well as briefings on the latest market and regulatory trends. IWPA concluded its annual gathering with a passing of the gavel where outgoing IWPA President JoAnn Gillebaard Keller of Holland Southwest Interna- Continued on page 18 Woody Rich, Legna Software LLC, Winston-Salem, NC; and Rick Ostrom and John Curley, Seaboard International Forest Products LLC, Nashua, NH Additional photos on page 10 A Record Year for the Convention! Montréal, Quebec— The Montréal Wood Convention 2023, a premier event for the wood industry in North America, recently took place at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, located here. The convention drew 1100 participants from around the world and featured 110 booths showcasing the latest trends, technologies, and products by the biggest companies in the industry – a record number of participants for the event. In addition to the booths, the convention hosted a series of seminars, discussions, and panel sessions featuring leading industry experts. The keynote speaker Continued on page 18 CHB Annual Meeting Deemed Successful Photos By Terry Miller PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID JEFFERSON CITY, MO PERMIT NO. 303 Change Service Requested Import/Export Wood Purchasing News P.O. Box 34908 Memphis, TN 38184-0908 Marco Morin, Giguère et Morin Inc., Saint-Felix-de-Kingsey, QC; Denis Dube, J.D. Irving Limited, Clair, NB; Mario Lussier, Simon Lussier Ltd., Blainville, QC; and Richard LaRocque, Cut Rite Lumber Limited, Montreal, QC Additional photos on page 12 Montréal, Quebec–The Canadian Hardwood Bureau’s (CHB) annual meeting was held here recently and this year’s event attracted over 100 delegates. The session provided an opportunity for delegates to learn and to network. The program kicked off with a spirited industry hockey game. CHB Chairman Shaun Rowe, of Quality Hardwoods, welcomed everyone to the session and summarized CHB activity, including the promotions program and the upcoming short course. The keynote speaker was Derek Nighbor, President and CEO of Forest Products Association of Canada, with a presentation entitled “Moving Canada’s Forestry Solutions Forward." Nighbor spoke to the role forestry and forest products can play in accelerating the move to a net-zero carbon economy – and support community values and Canadian economic growth along the way. He also spoke Continued on page 19
