National Hardwood Magazine - November 2018

WHA ADDRESSES HARDWOOD

WHA ADDRESSES HARDWOOD DESIGN AND MARKET STATUS DURING ANNUAL CONVENTION Nils Dickmann, Abenaki Timber Corp., Seattle, WA; Ed Herron, Granite Hardwoods Inc., Granite Falls, NC; and Dave Sweitzer, Western Hardwood Association, Camas, WA Photos By Zach Miller Portland, OR–The Western Hardwood Association (WHA) met here recently at Arlington Club for its annual convention. This year’s event was themed “Western Hardwoods by Design” and provided attendees with multiple networking and informational opportunities. Two topics presented for discussion at the convention included: • The Western Hardwood Promotion Initiative which asked the following questions: what are the effects of non-Hardwood related products on the Hardwood industry? Also discussed was how to promote the Hardwood industry in today’s design world. Panel members and the audience had a lively discussion that included superior carbon sequestration of wood, target audiences with ap- Tripp Pryor, American Hardwood Export Council, Sterling, VA; Jesse LaSon, Rossi Group LLC, Middletown, CT; Ryan Peterson, Northern Hardwoods, South Range, MI; and Steve Zambo, Ally Global Logistics LLC, Norwell, MA 24 NOVEMBER 2018 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE

Scott Lilley and Stacey Senzig, Granite Valley Forest Products, New London, WI; and Jesse LaSon, Rossi Group LLC, Middletown, CT Lee Jimerson, Collins, Portland, OR; and Henry German, DMSi Software, Omaha, NE propriate messages, design trends, substitutes for western Hardwood, versatility of Alder, and log supply. Panel members included Kurt Landwehr, Hardwood Industries, moderator; Jeff Wirkkala, Hardwood Industries; Kevin McCalla, Northwest Hardwoods; Rick Barrett, Cascade Hardwood; and Nils Dickmann, Abenaki Timber Corp. • The Design Trends Panel was comprised of a panel of industry designers who discussed current trends in design in the Hardwood industry. The panel consisted of Cassandra Jackson, The Joinery; Dave Barmon, Epilogue LLC; Nick Wilson, DeWils Industries; and Will Sampson, FDMC magazine. Trends that were discussed included: frameless construction, textured laminates, dark stains, 70-80 percent paint, mixed paint and wood, live edge, simple look, durability, Eastern Cherry losing to Walnut, and local (Northwest) use of character wood (urban wood), along with other local Hardwoods. The WHA Convention also hosted a guest speaker program, which included: Yugon Kim, of IKD, who spoke about Hardwood CLT. His message, according to the WHA, was that the industry is at a crossroads that will require a proper direction to capture the momentum of the CLT manufacturing process. He said that just a few years ago, only a handful of CLT manufacturing plants were on line. The emphasis on new manufacturing facilities is geared toward softwoods, he said. Today, more Please turn the page Mike Lipke, Trillium Pacific Millwork Inc., Hubbard, OR; Jeff Maguire, Maguire Machinery Group LLC, Aurora, OR; and Chris Pazda, Bridgewell Resources LLC, Tigard, OR Kurt Landwehr, Hardwood Industries Inc., Sherwood, OR; Ryan Peterson, Northern Hardwoods, South Range, MI; and Zach Miller, National Hardwood Magazine, Memphis, TN NOVEMBER 2018 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 25