National Hardwood Magazine - February 2024

WHO’S WHO IN HARDWOOD

WHO’S WHO IN HARDWOOD PURCHASING A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LEADING PURCHASING EXECUTIVES IN THE HARDWOOD INDUSTRY MUELLER BROTHERS TIMBER, INC. EXPERIENCE QUALITY DEPENDABILITY 975 Conrad Hill Mine Rd. ~ Lexington, NC 27292 Phone 336-746-5419 ~ Fax 336-746-6177 www.kepleyfrank.us Facilities: 3 Sawmills Processing 50 Million' • 750,000' Dry Kiln Capacity • 600,000' Fan Shed Capacity 2 382 Newman Planer Mills • 50 Bay Bin Sorter Products Available: 4/4-8/4 Appalachian Lumber • 6/4-8/4 Ship Dry Capacity Crossties (100,000 BF per week) • Timbers up to 18' 1,000,000+ Average KD Inventory • 12,000,000+ Average AD Inventory Species: White Oak • Red Oak • Poplar • Ash • Hickory Elm • Beech • Gum • Hackberry • Pecan Jimmy Kepley, owner, and Bart Jenkins, lumber sales The firm manufactures 4/4 through 8/4 thicknesses. Sales: Bart Jenkins bjenkins@kepleyfrank.us Jimmy Kepley jkepley@kepleyfrank.us DAVID JUNIOR LAUZON is the vice president of sales and customer service at Lauzon Hardwood Flooring, located in Papineauville, QC. Lauzon Hardwood Flooring is a manufacturer, distributor and sawmill that purchases over 5 million board feet of all Hardwood species. They manufacture solid David Junior Lauzon lumber flooring as well as engineered in thicknesses of 7/16 and 3/4. They offer a unique two ply construction, titanium finish and Pure Genius Technology. Lauzon’s first job in the forest products industry was at Lauzon Hardwood Flooring and has been with the company for 12 years, four of which he has served as vice president. During his summer breaks he gained experience in the industry by working in Hardwood flooring installation. Lauzon graduated high school from Seminaire de Sacre Coeur in Quebec, CN and then went on to get his Bachelor of Business, with a focus in marketing, from the University of Montreal. Lauzon has been married for four years and has two young daughters. Lauzon Hardwood Flooring is a member of the National Wood Flooring Association and is a part of their engineered refinishable program, National Oak Flooring Manufacturer’s Association, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and ISO 14001. For more information, email info@lauzonltd.com, or visit www.expertlauzon.com or www.lauzoncollec tion.com. ED SCHLABACH is a lumber buyer for Rockwood Door & Millwork, located in Millersburg, OH. Rockwood Door & Millwork manufactures custom Hardwood doors and millwork. The company purchases approximately 150,000 board feet annually of Poplar, Walnut, Cherry, Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Birch, Hickory and Alder. Schlabach is a graduate of East Holmes Local Schools, located in Berlin, OH, and is a member of the Architectural Woodwork Institute. He has been in his current position at Rockwood Door & Millwork for 16 of his 30 years at the company. Schlabach began his career in the forest products industry at Hiland Wood Products in Millersburg, OH, where he worked in cabinet door production. Schlabach and his wife of 33 years, Regina, have two sons, two daughters and six grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys bird watching and traveling with his family. For more information, please see www.rockwood door.com. FRANK FITTS III is president and CEO of Fitts Industries Inc., located in Tuscaloosa, AL. Fitts Industries is a manufacturer of stair components, including newels, balusters, handrails, treads and fittings. The company purchases 2.5 million board feet per year of Hardwood and softwood lumber, including Maple, Oak, Cherry, Poplar, Hickory, Alder, Beech, Mahogany and Sapele (No. 1 Common, FAS, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4 and 8/4 dry to six percent EMC). Softwood species purchased by the company include antique heart pine and white pine. Fitts Industries also offers drying, ripping, chopping, gluing, moulding, turning, shaping, CNC routing and CNC turning services. Fitts graduated from Tuscaloosa High School in 1975 and from the University of Alabama in 1980, both located in Tuscaloosa. His first position in the forest products industry was working as an operations manager in 1978. Fitts has worked for Fitts Industries for over 50 years, with the past 26 years spent in his current position as president. Fitts Industries is a member of the World Millwork Alliance, Wood Component Manufacturers Association, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., Stairway Manufacturers Association and the Society of International Business Fellows. Fitts has served on many a board position and mentorship programs within these organizations. Fitts is a recipient of the Chamber of Commerce award for “Teachers in Industry,” past president of the Tuscaloosa Academy Board of Trustees. He continues to be an innovator in the industry, designing and redefining the efficiencies of the construction process. Fitts possesses several patents from said innovations. In his spare time Fitts enjoys fishing, hunting and golfing. He has three children. His middle daughter, Madeline, came to work for the company in 2018 and is now vice president. For more information, visit www.fitts.com. n Tracey Mueller, Log Procurement; Kevin Mueller, Mill Manager; and Randy Mueller, Sales SAWMILL AND TWIN BAND RESAW Manufacturers of: 4/4 - 8/4 Grade Lumber SPECIALIZING IN PLAIN SAWN: • WALNUT • COTTONWOOD • SYCAMORE • HICKORY • RED OAK • WHITE OAK• SOFT MAPLE • HARD MAPLE • ASH 400,000’ DRY KILN CAPACITY 1,000,000’ DRY STORAGE PLANER STRAIGHT LINE RIP GANG RIPPING DOUBLE END TRIM EXPORT PACKAGING CONTAINER LOADING Grooved sticks used on all whitewoods and White Oak. P.O. BOX 175 OLD MONROE, MO 63369 PHONE: 636-665-5193 FAX: 636-665-5812 Email: randy@muellerbros.com www.muellerbros.com NHLA 72 FEBRUARY 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE www.RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry www.RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry FEBRUARY 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 73