National Hardwood Magazine - June 2015

NHLA NEWS NHLa GraduatES

NHLA NEWS NHLa GraduatES firSt cLaSS of StudENtS froM itS proGrESSiVE proGraM The NHLA Inspector Training School has been based in Memphis, TN, since 1947 and has gone through many changes over the years. The nearly 7,500 graduates all have come out with the same level of knowledge and skills, but not all have learned the same way. Early programs lasted six months, which was later shortened to 14 weeks, and the current rendition of the “full course” is 12 weeks with time made up with longer days. At one point, there was both a day class and then a night class offered. The most recent change to the program is the development of the “progressive” class that allows students to use a mixture of classroom education along with on-line training to develop the same level of skills. In March, the School graduated the first three students through the progressive program: Michael Diehl of Hartzell Hardwoods in Kirksville, MO; David W. Steen of Pike Lumber Co. in Silver Lake, IN; and William R. Faircloth of Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods Inc. in Huntland, TN. NHLA congratulates each of them and thanks them for being the pioneers to complete this new program, with each scoring very high against their peers. The first block of the on-line program begins at the school in Memphis, where students take an intensive two-week class led by the experienced ITS instructor Rich Hascher. The days are long, and it includes work on Saturday. The second block provides a time period of up to 12 months for students to study independently using the online curriculum developed by the instructor and Chief Inspector Dana Spessert. The on-line portion includes sample boards and general grading guidance with the intent of these students practicing on boards at their place of work. This can be done at the speed and pace that best suits the student, with some, like the first three graduates listed above, able to complete the work in short order. But in order to graduate with a regular certificate of com- pletion, students must come back to Memphis and complete the third and final block. Block 3 requires two more weeks of handson training, working closely with the training staff, and completing tests and board runs side by side with the full program students. When the last day of class comes, these students graduate side by side with each other and all are prepared to serve the Hardwood industry. The advantages? Less time away from home, an ability to learn at your our own pace, and a reduction in travel and living expenses. The ITS Progressive Program is not for everyone and on March 26 right next to these three gentlemen, NHLA congratulated nine students who completed the full 12-week program and will also be serving the Hardwood industry with equal knowledge. The traditional Inspector Training School program will continue and will most likely still be the predominate method for training the industry’s lumber inspectors; but if the new program reaches even one new student who needs to learn the Hardwood grading rules in a different way, it has been a success. The School’s driving force has always been to educate as many people as possible about the NHLA grading rules and that will not change. How that is accomplished will continue to evolve to meet the technological advances of our modern society. To learn more about the program and the Inspector Training School visit www.inspectortrainingschool.com. n BY MARK BARFORD, CAE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HARDWOOD LUMBER ASSOC., MEMPHIS, TN 901-377-1818 WWW.NHLA.COM About the National Hardwood Lumber Association The world’s largest and oldest Hardwood industry association, NHLA represents more than 1,200 companies and individuals that produce, use and sell North American Hardwood lumber, or provide equipment, supplies or services to the Hardwood industry. It was founded in 1898 to establish a uniform system of grading rules for the measurement and inspection of Hardwood lumber. Since 1980, its headquarters have been in Memphis, TN. To learn more about NHLA, please visit www.nhla.com. 10 JUNE 2015 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE

Pierce Construction and Maintenance Co, Inc. PO Box 485 Petal, MS 39465 601.544.1321 www.piercepcm.com Sales@piercepcm.com From The Log Yard Through The Planer Mill Since 1974 innovative designers and fabricators of equipment for the timber and wood products industry as well as performance of plant construction and maintenance services. JUNE 2015 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 11