May 14, 2020
Ohhh, SNAP!

I arrived in the lumber industry, a couple of years shy of my 40th birthday, through a weird evolution of events. The dynamics actually remind me of a game I played as part of the ground crew at Air Canada. With a 4-days-on/4-days-off schedule, my team members and I put our own spin on the game SNAP

May 13, 2020
An Update from NAW Government Relations Team - 5.13

The Treasury Department and Small Business Administration have significantly re-written the PPP loan criteria, in an attempt to discourage companies that they believe were not intended to benefit from the program from applying for and/or getting loans. In their ever-changing FAQ they provided a “sa

May 12, 2020
An Update from NAW Government Relations Team - 5.12

While there is still no official word from the Fed on when the MSLP will be operational, comments made during a virtual Senate Banking Committee hearing this afternoon are not encouraging. In exchanges with Banking Committee members, Fed Vice Chairman and head of the Banking operations Randal Quarl

May 12, 2020
An Update from NAW Government Relations Team - 5.11

As we have reported several times, there has been significant controversy on the implementation of the PPP, with the frequently changing rules and FAQs. Among the most controversial issues was the SBA Administrator’s decision to require borrowers to spend at least 75 percent of their PPP loan on pa

May 12, 2020
An Update from NAW Government Relations Team - 5.8

The Wall Street Journal reports today that nearly two weeks later, more than 40% of the money remains available, according to figures released late yesterday by the Small Business Administration. It took less than two weeks for the initial round of roughly $350 billion to be depleted, and that was

May 11, 2020
Supporting Your Executive Workforce

Having been a student of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association (NAWLA) Executive Management Institute (EMI) 20-plus years ago, I can attest to the value of this unique course. The binder from the course I attended in 1997 – and the insight I gained – have accompanied me throughout my

May 08, 2020
Creating a Workforce That Sticks With You

According to a 2018 Salary.com survey, the manufacturing & distribution industry has a retention rate of 80%, which puts it above industries such as hospitality and healthcare. That and similar studies find companies that retain motivated employees are able to reduce expenses and boost productivity

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Recent Articles

July 11, 2024
Meet Our Members: Alex Staalner

Alex Staalner has been closely connected to the lumber industry throughout his life, but he never anticipated pursuing a career within it. A conversation with one of his father's old colleagues sparked an interest, and Alex decided to start a career in the industry, where he has been with Brookhuis America Inc. since. In this member spotlight, learn about how Alex got his start in the industry, how he has seen the industry change over the years, and his favorite NAWLA moment.

June 27, 2024
Meet Our Members: Thomas Compa

A newcomer to the lumber industry, Thomas Compa joined Patrick Lumber Company just over a year ago after transitioning from a career at a wholesale building material export company specializing in the Japanese market. In this member spotlight, learn about how he got his start with Patrick Lumber, what motivates him, and his favorite NAWLA experiences so far.

June 24, 2024
Meet Our Members: Patrick Randall

After managing restaurants for over a decade, Patrick Randall jumped into a career in lumber at Wholesale Wood Products. An active NAWLA and Young Emerging Lumber Professional (YELP) member, he has found connection, passion, and more in the lumber industry. In this member spotlight, hear about how he got his unexpected start, and how he has seen the lumber industry change since 2020.