Local Wood Products Marketing Conference-took place on Thursday, August 2nd, 2012

The Leadership Conference for Local Wood Products gathered leaders from all areas of the forest and wood products industry to discuss new ideas to regrow our industry and restore sales and profitability to businesses in an effort to support economic growth and wealth building for business owners and stockholders, as well as provide jobs for hundreds of thousands of US citizens.

The forest and wood products industry is often larger in most states than many more high profile industries.  For example, in Kentucky it is larger than either the horse or coal mining industries that have greater visibility in the public's eye or with political clout.

Dr. Bob Smith of Virginia Tech Discussing the New Virginia Grown Branding Program for Wood Products-Download PDF Slide Show	Harry Watt of North Carolina State Discussing the Problems of a Lack of a Full Set of Good Markets for Forests-Download PDF Slide Show	Tim Adams of the South Carolina Forestry Commission Discussing the SC Google Earth Mapping Program of Wood Products Processing Businesses in SC

Harry Watt of North Carolina State Discussing the Lesson Learned From Phase I of the Reinventing Hardwood Markets Project-Download PDF Slideshow	Dr. Urs Buehlmann of Virginia Tech Discussing the Niche Market Opportunities for US Housing Market-Download PDF Slideshow	Dr. Terry Conners of the University of Kentucky Discussing the Value of Local Wood Processing Networks-Download PDF Slideshow

Note-there are additional pdf slideshows and publications to post!

This conference is a network event that is designed to unite those interested in improving the business activity of the forestry and wood products industry. The industry segments related to the forestry and wood products industries have suffered in recent years to declining sales, profitability and employment as the US has experienced an economic recession and increased imports of wood products.

Download the Leadershop Conference Brochure/Registration Form

Visions of High Sales of Locally Manufactured Wood Products Made With US Hardwoods

Every US citizen would be helped if our country put a priority of buying its wood products made in the US with US hardwood lumber and plywood. Domestic manufacturing helps drive employment and the payment of taxes to all levels of government. It could be possible to also improve the level of applied forestry to US forests by increasing the sales of roundwood and chipped wood products that would increase incomes to private and public landowners.

Conference Invitation

This conference wants to invite anyone interested in supporting a high quality forestry and wood products industry that is partially dependent upon the production and retail sale of locally made wood products

* Private forestry and wood products businesses
* Public forestry organizations-US Forest Service and state forestry divisions
* Forestry and wood products trade organizations
* University forestry and wood products departments
* Extension departments

Topics to Discuss

* Can a Local Wood Products Effort Move the Public to a Higher Level of Support for the US Forest and Wood Products Industry? The Local Food Movement is popular with the public, how about Local Wood?

* How can Growing Local and Regional Markets Help Develop Profitable Markets for Everything in the Woods?

* What is the Current State of US Manufactured Versus Imported Wood Products Sold in the US?

* How Can Value-Added Wood Products Businesses Grow Sales in Local and Regional Markets?

* Can New Technologies Create Advantages for US Manufacturers in Markets Challenged by Global Manufacturers?

* How Can Our Industry Coordinate Efforts to Promote US Wood Products?

* What Business Configurations in Forest Operations, Primary Processing and Value-Added Manufacturing Better Serve Local and Regional Wood Products Focused Businesses?

Great Networking Opportunities

This conference on local wood products manufacturing and retailing will attract a wide variety of attendees from all over the Eastern US and is expected to also draw a wide variety of public and private individuals involved in operations from the forest to retail sales. It will be a great opportunity to develop relationships that can advance the quality of our forestry and wood products businesses.