Organized by

Purdue University Department of Forestry

Sponsored by

In cooperation with

American Hardwood Export Council

Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc.

Architectural Woodwork Institute

Association for Retail Environments

Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers

Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Assn.

Composite Panel Assn.

Hardwood Manufacturers Assn.

Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Assn.

Hardwood Review Weekly

Hardwood Tree Improvement & Research Center at Purdue University

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry

Indiana Forest Industry Council

Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Assn.

Indiana State Department of Agriculture

Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Assn.

National Hardwood Lumber Assn.

Wood Component Manufacturers Assn.

Schedule of Events

October 27, 2008
Monday

Early-Bird Registration: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

October 28, 2008
Tuesday

Registration: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Morning Session: 8:00 a.m. to noon

Session 1 – Emerging Influences of Certification

Moderator: Mark Barford, Executive Director, National Hardwood Lumber Association

This is a State of the Industry session on the impact of certification in the hardwood industry. American Hardwood Export Council's Executive Director Michael Snow will begin by discussing how certification is affecting world markets and its impact on North American producers. Editors at the Hardwood Review Weekly are in contact with dozens of North American hardwood lumber producers and users on a weekly basis. HRW Editor Dan Meyer will share his observations of what this segment of the industry is saying and doing. W&WP columnist and international wood products consultant Tom Dossenbach will follow with experiences gleaned from his world travels. Next, Mac Williams, as a practicing architect, will share his views of certification and green building systems from the perspective of the architectural community as a whole and from his personal experience. Finally, we will hear the results of a newly updated statistical-based survey on how the secondary wood products manufacturers look at wood certification compared to five years ago.

A World View of Certification and How It Is Impacting North American Wood Manufacturers – Michael Snow, Executive Director, American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)
Current and Future Impact of Certification and Green Building on North American Hardwood Lumber Manufacturers – Dan Meyer, Appalachian Editor, Hardwood Review Weekly
An International Consultant’s View of ‘Green’ – Tom Dossenbach, President, Dossenbach Associates Inc. and W&WP columnist
How Does the Architectural Community View Certification and Green Building Rating Systems with Focus on Wood Content? – Mac Williams, Chair, U.S. Green Building Council; Indiana Chapter Co-chair, Indiana Building Green Symposium 2008, INVERDE Design, LLC
How has the Secondary Wood Products Industry‘s Views on Certification Changed in the Last Five Years?– Rado Gazo, Professor, Purdue University; Richard Vlosky, Professor, Louisiana State University; and Daniel Cassens, Professor, Purdue University

Lunch: Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Afternoon Session: 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Session 2 - Nuts and Bolts of the Certification Processes

Moderator: Rich Christianson, Assocciate Publisher and Editor at Large, Wood & Wood Products

There are numerous forest land and chain-of-custody certification systems and green building rating systems. We will discuss the two dominant certification systems in North America and three rating systems. Each speaker will discuss the objective of his organization’s system and how it works. A panel discussion to answer your questions will follow.

FSC and LEED – Frank S. Judd, President, Forests First and LEED Auditor for Scientific Certification Services
SFI and Green Globes – Jason Metnick, Director, Market Access and Labeling
National Green Building Program; ANSI Standard to be Published through NAHB – Rick Wajda, Chief Executive Officer, Indiana Builders Association

Panel Discussion

3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

(Sessions 3A & 3B will run concurrently)

Session 3A – Availability of Hardwood Timber from Certified Land

Moderator: Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester, Purdue University

With some notable exceptions, most hardwood sawmills and veneer mills rely on private forest lands for a source of stumpage. Most of these lands are small tracts, thus not economical to certify. However, state forest lands can and are being certified. In addition, many private forest lands are part of management systems, such as classified forests in Indiana, the National Tree Farm System, or even other groups of large forest tracts managed by consultants or others. At least some of these systems also can be certified as groups. This session will discuss how more well-managed timber can be brought to the marketplace as certified timber.

Ten Years of Experience with Certified Forest lands in Pennsylvania – Matt Keefer, Forest Resource Planner, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
New Experiences with Classified State and Private Forest Lands in Indiana – Jack Seifert, State Forester, Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Session 3B (concurrent with 3A) – How CARB will Impact Secondary Wood Products Manufacturing

Presenter: John Bradfield, Director Environmental Affairs, Composite Panel Association (CPA)

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will begin phasing in stringent formaldehyde emission levels on particleboard, MDF and hardwood plywood beginning January 1, 2009. Attend this session to learn more about the potential North American-wide impact on panel manufacturers, suppliers and users. Included will be an overview of reporting requirements, third-party chain-of-custody certification, enforcement and issues surrounding products imported from offshore sources.

5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday Evening Reception - Tabletop Exhibits

October 29, 2008
Wednesday

Morning Session: 8:00 a.m. to Noon

Session 4 – Is There a Market Need for Certified Products in Hardwood Manufacturing?

Moderator: Tom Inman, President, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc.

The secondary wood manufacturing industry is composed of many different types of companies that specialize in a particular type of product. Each of these product groups has a strong trade association. Examples include: business and institutional furniture, architectural woodwork, cabinets, retail displays and flooring. Each of these groups, in response to their specific membership’s needs, have developed a green certification policy. Speakers will review their association’s “green” program and discuss how their members view current and future market demands for certified lumber and panel products.

BIFMA – Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association – Thomas Reardon, Executive Director
AWI – Architectural Woodwork Institute – Margaret S. Fisher, Director of Marketing, Saunders Wood Specialties, Park Falls, WI
KCMA – Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association – Dick Titus, Executive Vice-President; and Steven Bukowski, Post-doctoral Scholar Penn. State Unversity
A.R.E. – Association for Retail Environment – Jack Hale, Chairman of the Board, T.J. Hale Co. Inc., and current President, A.R.E.
WCMA – Wood Component Manufacturers Association – Steve Lawser, Executive Director
Panel Discussion

Lunch: Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Afternoon Session: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(Sessions 5A & 5B will run concurrently)

Session 5A –Producing Certified Wood Products from Forest through Lumber and Panel Products

Moderator: Ray Moistner, Director, Indiana Handwood Lumbermen's Association

Several hardwood lumber companies hold chain-of-custody certification. These include sawmills and concentration yards, among others. An important issue with chain-of-custody certification is the availability of certified timber and logs. Some sawmills and yards, if they choose, will be able to supply a certified product if they have access to a certified resource. Others may not. Individual company owners or managers will share their experiences with certification, sustainability and the availability of certified wood.

Jameson French, President – Northland Forest Products and Chairman of the Hardwood Federation
Alan Lamparella – Harden Furniture
Connie Grenz, General Manager – Kane Hardwood, Division of Collins Pine Co.
Sam Smith, Director of Business Development – Koetter Woodworking, Inc.
Steve Banks – Banks Hardwoods
Dave Bramlage, Director of Marketing – Cole Hardwood
Marc Böhlke – Böhlke Veneer Corp.
Panel Discussion

Session 5B –Purchasing, Manufacturing and Marketing Certified Wood Products

Moderator: Steve Waltman, Vice President, Stiles Machinery Inc.

The sustained growth of certification depends on government agencies requiring use of the product, but also consumer demand for certified products. The secondary manufacturer must be able to purchase certified wood products, track them through their manufacturing operation and then “certify” the final product. The following speakers will discuss their experiences in this process.

Kevin Kuske, General Wood Manager – Steelcase, Inc.
Willard Robertson, Environmental Services Director – Masterbrand Cabinets
Chad Wheeler, Plant Manager and Jimmy Scott, Purchasing Agent – Custom Plywood
William LePage, Vice President of Operations – The Simple Furniture Company, LLC
Keith Atherholt, President – Lewis Lumber Products Inc.
Panel Discussion

Adjourn: 4:00 p.m.

Note: Speakers subject to change without notice.

Oct. 28,2008

Session 1:
Emerging Influences of Certification

Session 2:
Nuts and bolts of the Certification Processes

Session 3A:
Availability of Hardwood Timber from Certified Land

Session 3B:
How CARB will Impact Secondary Wood Products Manufacturing

Reception:
Tabletop Exhibits

Oct. 29,2008

Session 4:
Is There a Market Need for Certified Products in Hardwood Manufacturing?

Session 5A:
Producing Certified Wood Products from Forest through Lumber and Panel Products

Session 5B:
Purchasing, Manufacturing and Marketing Certified Wood Products