From the Field: Tom Byers

Building Skill, Building Confidence, and Giving Back
This month, we’re proud to feature National Inspector & Technical Services Advisor Tom Byers, a seasoned lumber professional whose passion for teaching is only matched by his deep respect for the industry and its people.

Tom has traveled across North America representing NHLA, and he credits his career with connecting him to a community of genuinely kind, hardworking people. “The many places I’ve been able to go around the country and the great people I’ve met have made it a great experience. There are a lot of good, kind people in the lumber industry.”

His favorite moments on the job come when he gets to teach others and see their success unfold firsthand. “Anytime I teach someone to grade hardwood lumber, and they go on to better themselves and the mill they work, it makes me feel like I’ve given back some of what other lumber workers have taught me.”

That spirit of mentorship was especially present during his most memorable experience: teaching his first NHLA class, Class #198, in March 2022, hosted by Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve and Quality Hardwoods in Ontario, Canada. “I had 13 students from those mills and others. They were a great bunch, eager to learn. After almost two months with them, I felt like I had made some new friends and had an all-around great experience with the students and the many others who helped with the class. Also, spending all that time in Canada, Canadians are wonderful to be around.”

Tom’s skill set goes far beyond the classroom. “I have run everything in a lumber mill except the head saw. I’ve operated high lifts and loaders, the planer, straight-line rip saws, and chop saw.” His technical knowledge gives him a unique perspective when conducting QC work and NHLA Yield Analysis studies, which are services he particularly enjoys. “I enjoy QC work and like doing the Yield Analysis studies and other tests offered by the NHLA.”

Tom believes deeply in the importance of education and consistency in the hardwood industry. “I feel that the rules are the root of the industry. Keeping people educated on the rules gives the industry a baseline from which to work to buy and sell hardwood lumber.”

In an industry where advocacy begins with knowledge, Tom’s work exemplifies how teaching, technical services, and standards enforcement strengthen individual operations and the hardwood community as a whole. From the classroom to the mill floor, he reminds us that progress is personal and that investing in people is one of our strongest forms of advocacy.