Meet Our Members: Curt Allen

With 35 years of experience in the lumber industry, including 19 years at Hunt Forest Products, LLC, Curt Allen takes pride in his work and the lifelong connections he's built through NAWLA events like Regional Meetings and Traders Markets. In this member spotlight, discover his top advice for new NAWLA members, insights into the value of Traders Market, and his perspective on the industry's evolution over the years.

Tell me about yourself. What is your background and how did you get involved with wholesale lumber?

My name is Curt Allen.  I am 55 years old.  I started working with my father in mill sales and then in wholesale distribution 35 years ago. Before returning to mill sales, I spent some time with a national buying group and a tech startup building an online trading platform.  Now, I’ve been with Hunt Forest Products LLC for 19 years as the Assistant Sales Manager/Plywood Product Manager.

What motivates you to continue on this career path and be a part of the wholesale lumber industry?

I don’t know how to do anything else!  LOL seriously though, this is such a great industry.  Relationships are still really important in this industry, and I’ve met several people over the years who I now consider good friends.   At the end of the day, it is very rewarding and humbling to be a small part of the building materials industry as a whole – from resource management to manufacturing to sales and construction.

In what ways have you seen the lumber industry evolve over the years?

The biggest thing would have to be the growth and development of the manufacturing process.  The new items I’ve seen developed over the years and the ones that are in the early stages of development today. It is really fascinating what we have learned to do with a tree.

Tell me about your involvement with NAWLA. How long have you been a member and what made you want to join?

Hunt Forest Products LLC has been a member of NAWLA for about 10 years now.  We realized the opportunity for networking that Traders Market provides and have really enjoyed the smaller Regional Meetings over the last few years as well. Traders Market is always well attended and provides us with the means to potentially meet new customers while also creating an environment for us to foster many of our existing relationships.

What advice would you give to a new NAWLA member?

When I got started in the industry, I was given some very sound advice that I am always willing to pass along.

Your word is all you have – it is better to tell someone the uncomfortable truth than it is to fabricate something to make them happy.  It may not be what they want to hear but they will respect you more for it in the long run.

Always ask yourself these two questions when making a decision – is it right and is it fair?  If the answer is no to either one, come up with a different decision.

Remember that a good relationship must work for both parties, if it is always one-sided it won’t last.

Be a good steward to the market.  Remember that the decisions you make can have a ripple effect that affects us all.

What’s been your favorite NAWLA moment?

It seems like there is something from Traders Market every year that ends up standing out.  A few I recall are being invited to the president’s reception in Phoenix, a crazy sushi dinner in Vegas, and a really cold boat ride in Chicago.