An old soul at heart, Ryan Holwege feels a deep connection to wood and the lumber industry—a passion he didn’t find in other fields. His journey began in trade finance at a bank, where he got his first glimpse into the world of lumber. He transitioned to a career in lumber where he has now spent 20 years immersed in the industry. Today, as a member of Oregon Canadian Forest Products, he’s continually inspired by the opportunities and potential the industry holds. In this member spotlight, see how the industry has evolved since Ryan joined, learn how he got his start, and what keeps him motivated. 

What is your background and how did you get involved with wholesale lumber?

I have no family connections to the lumber industry. I earned a degree in economics and upon graduation, I started working in Trade Finance for a bank in Portland, OR. I got my first glimpse into the industry when I realized my accounts were all export relative. I quickly learned that a lot of lumber was moving offshore from northwest ports. I found upward mobility in the bank finance world was close to impossible. My wife and I were expecting our second child when I decided to quit banking and get into the lumber industry.

I wholesaled lumber (primarily imports) for about three years before The Great Recession found me out of a job. After that, I found my way into a job sawing and exporting NW softwoods to Japan and other parts of Asia. This was a great education for me as I was in and out of a sawmill most days. My success as a wholesaler of lumber today is because of the amount of time I was able to spend in these sawmills. This experience has always allowed me to speak to what I learned and know personally.

Today, I love what I do at Oregon Canadian Forest Products as a remanufacturer of high-grade specialty Douglas Fir, Hemlock, and Cedar products.

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

Great people keep me motivated. Overall, there are so many wonderful people in the world of lumber.

I think I am also a little old school too; wood speaks to me. I can’t say the same about any of the newer industries emerging in the past few decades like IT, AI, E-commerce, robotics, etc. I am an old soul. I find great pleasure in seeing the products we make land on some of the most spectacular structures being built today. It’s fun seeing what is new and possible with lumber, and I continue to have fun and enjoy the work. I guess if the fun ever stops, I can reassess my career and path, but I don’t see that being anytime soon, if ever.

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

I still consider myself to be part of the younger crowd at 47. I don’t have stories about the old days before cell phones, e-mail, and the internet. I would say that in my 20 years in the industry, the world continues to get smaller and that wholesalers continue to get squeezed a bit as end users have many more tools to find supplies and get educated on product availability. It requires us to bring our “A” game to the workplace every day.

Raw material costs and availability have changed tremendously. There is nothing commodity relative to the business I am a part of at Oregon Canadian Forest Products. We can’t be too optimistic and carry a “we will figure it out” attitude. There used to be a place for that. Anymore, we need to know exactly what we have on the inbound side of the equation so we can maintain the highest level of trust with our customer base.

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

This may be a boring answer, but the most rewarding for me is the stability this industry has created for my family. My wife and I are raising four kids. My kids and I have been lucky to have her at home for the past 20 years. The lumber industry has allowed that to be possible by providing a good-paying job that gives my wife the choice to be at home.

As for the “Wow” moments, I will never get tired of being in a big log mill standing on a catwalk near a headrig carriage that shakes every time that next big log rolls in. I can’t forget to mention the smell of the fresh-cut lumber too. The next time is always as good as the first time. Love it!

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

My company’s involvement pre-dates my participation, but I appreciate the benefits that come with this association and bringing our industry together. I can’t even recall the year of my first Traders Market. I know it was in Chicago but can’t recall the year. This industry takes all of us. I spend as much time at NAWLA events brainstorming and troubleshooting industry challenges with the competition as much as I do fostering relationships with customers and suppliers.

What advice would you give to a new NAWLA member?

Don’t miss a chance to shake a hand and meet someone new. After 20 years in this industry, I still wake up some mornings and am mostly convinced I have no idea what I am doing. I am sure we all feel that way from time to time. The peer support that NAWLA provides has been key to my success.

What’s been your favorite NAWLA moment?

Maybe my memory is too short. This was very recent. I was in Arlington, TX for NAWLA’s Texas Regional Meeting back in September.  We got to spend time listening to a lifetime of baseball stories from Tom Grieve, a former MLB player, General Manager, and broadcaster. I consider myself to be a baseball nut. Listening to Tom share stories about Nolan Ryan, Ted Williams, and Pudge Rodriguez for more than an hour was a real treat.

Anything else you would like to share?

Join a NAWLA committee.

About four years ago, I was invited to join a committee. I think I was complaining about the cold weather at Traders Market locations and was reminded that I have a voice. NAWLA has given me plenty of ways to let my voice be heard. Sign up for a committee!