After making the leap from a career in transportation, Riley Rausch has found his place in the lumber industry with a career at Stella Jones. Since joining a few years ago, he’s been excited by the opportunity to forge partnerships across different parts of the industry while immersing himself in NAWLA events, where he’s built invaluable connections. In this member spotlight, hear about Riley’s journey, his most memorable “wow” moment, and his top tips for new NAWLA members.

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

 My name is Riley Rausch. I am originally from Ohio but now live in Washington. I previously worked in transportation, and I have a degree in Supply Chain Management. I found the job posting for Stella Jones on LinkedIn and it all progressed from there. A year later and I am here and loving it!

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

I am motivated by the people I have met in this industry. The industry is filled with many different personalities, but everyone has been super kind and encouraging along the way. Also, Stella Jones is a great company to work for, and I have some great people to learn from within the company.

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

I am still very new to this industry, so all I really have is the stories about the history of the industry. Reading and seeing pictures of the past compared to what I have seen now is absolutely stunning. It makes me appreciate the methods of the past, as well as the advancements that have been made.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far? Are there any “wow” moments that particularly stand out to you?

The most rewarding part of my career so far has been the partnerships I have built with people from many different sides of the industry. The “wow” moment for me was attending Wood Basics. It was a great week of networking, making friends, and learning about many different aspects of the lumber industry.

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

 The company was a member of NAWLA, so I was very fortunate to be able to join a company that had already been established as a NAWLA member.

What advice would you give to a new NAWLA member?

Attend as many events as you can. It’s a wonderful way to build partnerships and friendships. So far, NAWLA events have been how I have made the majority of my connections in lumber. The more events you attend, the more new people you will meet and you can reconnect with people you have met before.

What’s been your favorite NAWLA moment?

My favorite NAWLA moment was the 2023 Traders Market in my hometown of Columbus, OH.It was awesome being able to travel back and to be able to experience something new and meet my colleagues in a familiar environment.

Anything else you would like to share?

I really appreciate the opportunities NAWLA provides members to network and reconnect. I have met many great people through NAWLA, and that has been super helpful while entering a new industry.