“Strengthening Our Workforce:
 The Key to Wood Supply Chain Success” 

October 16-17

The Jefferson Street Inn in Wausau, WI

Join us to hear from dynamic speakers discussing the workforce of the wood supply chain, global market updates, and policies impacting the region’s forest products industry. The Lake States Region Outstanding Logger of the Year will also be recognized during the Reception and Awards Dinner.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany (R-WI-07), chairman of the Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee, who will address the group during the meeting. The event will also include a field trip to the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Treehaven — Forest Advancement Center. The field trip includes a special lumberjack presentation. Watch as elite lumberjack competitors showcase their skills and strategies in the Underhand Chop, Standing Chop, and Single Buck Crosscut Sawing. Our featured competitors are seasoned foresters from Wisconsin who began their journey at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and have won the prestigious STIHL National College Championship title.

Speaker Lineup

• Tom Tiffany, U.S. Congressman              
• John Bozec, Sr. VP/GM Van Truckload Dedicated, Schneider
• Erik Schilling, Ph.D., Director, Eastern Sustainable Forestry
• Jeremy Kessinger, Senior Business Intelligence Consultant, ResourceWise
• Steve Barnett, Vice President Underwriting, BITCO Insurance Companies
• Annie Perkins, Senior Director, Green Building and Supply Chain, Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.
• Charlie Blinn, Ph.D., Professor Extension Specialist, University of Minnesota
• Rick Horton, Executive VP, Minnesota Forest Industries
• Henry Schienebeck, Executive Director, Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association
• Justin Knepper, Executive Director, Michigan Association of Timbermen
• Rebekah Luedtke, Executive Director, Wisconsin County Forests Association
• James McFarland, Assistant Director of Renewable Resources, Eastern Region, U.S. Forest Service
• Jamaar Benton, Sales Manager, WATCO Companies LLC
• Corey Fanslau, VP of Traditional Lending, GreenStone Farm Credit Service
• John Zobel, Assist. Prof. Biometrics, Modeling, Measurements, University of Minnesota

Please be on the lookout for future updates.

We look forward to seeing you in Wausau, WI.

Thursday, October 17

7:00–8:30 am Breakfast

8:30–8:45 am Chris Boor–Forester, Bell Lumber and Pole

8:45–9:30 am Current Trends in Transportation John Bozec–Sr. VP/GM Van Truckload Dedicated, Schneider

9:30–10:15 am A Tale of Two Railroads: The Short-line Railroad Niche in Providing Transportation Service Jamaar Benton–Sales Manager, WATCO Companies LLC

10:15–10:30 am Morning Break

10:30–11:15am Navigating Risks: Insurance Strategies and Legal Safeguards in the Forest Industry Steve Barnett-Vice President Underwriting, BITCO Insurance Companies

11:15–12:00 pm Sawbucks to Sawdust Corey Fanslau–VP of Traditional Lending, GreenStone Farm Credit Service

12:00–12:45pmLunch

12:45–1:30pm Science Can Be the Foundation for Effective Policy Erik Schilling–Ph.D., Director, Eastern Sustainable Forestry

1:30–2:15pm Logger and Forester Perceptions of Changing Winter Weather and Its Impact on Their Operations Charlie Blinn–Ph.D., Professor Extension Specialist, University of Minnesota

2:15–3:00pm Estimating Current and Future Carbon Stocks and Flux in Minnesota Forests and Forest Products Under Multiple Management Scenarios John Zobel–Assist. Prof. Biometrics, Modeling, Measurements, University of Minnesota

3:00–3:45 pm Timber, Bats, and More: An Update from USFS R9 James McFarland–Assistant Director of Renewable Resources, Eastern Region, U.S. Forest Service