NAWLA Welcomes Students to Traders Market
The North American Wholesale Lumber Association (NAWLA) is proud to welcome area high school students to the Greater Columbus Convention Center to be a part of 2023 Traders Market. NAWLA's members are comprised of wholesalers, manufacturers and service providers in the lumber, forest product and building materials industry, and are dedicated to growing and nurturing every aspect of the lumber industry. From the planting of seedlings, to the selling of building materials and wood in all of its many forms, NAWLA has been in the heart of the industry since founding in 1893.
About Traders Market
Traders Market is the intersection of industry veterans and emerging professionals in the forest products industry. With unparalleled opportunities to connect with leading buyers and suppliers, there is no other event like Traders Market for this industry and now, high school students have a chance to connect and learn more about what Careers in Lumber can look like. The student program will take place on the Friday of Traders Market (November 10).
The Traders Market Student Program Overview
Student Arrival - 8:45 a.m.
Students will arrive at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Opening Breakfast & Presentation - 9:00 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Grab a bite to eat and hear from industry professionals on their experience with NAWLA, their own careers and the industry itself. At the end of the presentation, NAWLA Ambassadors will guide smaller groups to take about their own experience and what to expect on the Tradeshow Floor. The opening presentation will include:
- Overview of the lumber industry & NAWLA’s mission; the purpose behind Traders Market as an annual event
- Reviewing career progression from entry level, mid-level and executive level; career diversity in terms of choices within the industry
- Sustainability within lumber
- Fun facts & figures about the lumber industry – “What you may not know”
Guided Ambassador Tours of the Tradeshow Floor - 9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Ambassadors walk individual groups to Exhibit Hall C to begin rotations. We will have 3 rotations for students to better understand the lumber industry and career opportunities based on our different member types: Wholesaler, Manufacturer, Service Affiliates. Ambassadors will be guiding students to each rotation which will be 30 minutes per rotation.
- The Wholesale Distributor rotation will feature: Forest City Trading Group, The Forest Products Group and Tri-State Forest Products, Inc.
- The Manufacturer rotation will feature: Bramwood Forest, Zip O Logs and RoyOMartin
- The Service Affiliate rotation will feature: Blue Book Services, DMSi and Affinity HR
Debrief Session - 11:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
After the rotations are completed, we will meet back up to debrief on the experience and hear from Allison DeFord from the North American Forest Foundation on the sustainability of the industry.
Exhibit Hall Closes - 12:00 p.m.
At noon, the Tradeshow Floor will close and students will depart.
Student Resources
Students are encouraged to check out the Careers in Lumber website in order to find information and opportunities within the wood products and lumber industry.
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