Keynote Speaker
Mara Liasson
Mara Liasson is the national political correspondent for NPR and a contributor to FOX News Channel (FNC). She joined FOX in 1997 and serves as a panelist on Special Report with Brett Baier and FOX News Sunday, FOX Broadcasting Company’s public affairs program that airs nationwide each Sunday morning.
Liasson joined NPR in 1985 as a general assignment reporter and newscaster. She covered Congress and served as the White House correspondent during all eight years of the Clinton administration. Now, as the national political correspondent her reports can be heard on the award-winning public radio programs, “All Things Considered” and “Morning Edition.”
During her tenure, she has covered all the presidential elections since 1992 and reports on Senate and House races every election year. She is an expert on elections, national policy and relations between the White House and Congress.
Liasson received a Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism. From September 1988 to June 1989, she took a leave of absence to attend Columbia University in New York. Shortly thereafter, she returned to NPR as its congressional correspondent.
Liasson has received numerous awards and honors for her reporting, including the White House Correspondents’ Association’s “Merriman Smith Award” in 1994, 1995 and 1997 for excellence in daily news reporting.
Liasson earned her bachelor’s degree from Brown University.
Eric Traupe is a trusted advisor to our nation’s highest-ranking leaders. He has advised CIA directors, presidents, cabinet and military officials, and members of Congress. He has also participated in momentous White House strategic, policy, and resource decisions. Traupe’s leadership, acumen, and unmatched ability to cultivate enduring relationships between the U.S. and its foreign partners continue to be heralded in intelligence circles.
Traupe is an inclusive and transformational leader whose “exemplary leadership will reverberate across the CIA for decades,” as noted by the agency’s top officials. To complement his highly sought-after leadership insights, Traupe is masterfully skilled at engaging audiences with his captivating perspectives on today’s top issues.
Throughout his tenure with the CIA, he thrived in assignments that required crisis management skills, sound judgment, and an ability to assess internal and external risks. As a member of the CIA’s Expanded Corporate Board, Traupe led thousands of officers from different professional units, developed and executed multi-billion-dollar budgets, and addressed acute intelligence and foreign policy challenges on behalf of the CIA director. He expertly assessed geopolitical and economic trends, forecasted key budgetary investments, and weighed the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact to ensure his workforce maintained cohesion, resiliency, and mission focus.
Prior to the CIA, Traupe served in the United States Marine Corps for nearly 10 years. He held several command and staff assignments and completed deployments to the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans, Japan, and Europe. Traupe played a key role in managing three separate non-combatant evacuation operations in The Gambia, Albania, and Zaire, during which a total of 1,500 U.S. citizens were safely rescued.
Since leaving the public sector, Traupe founded Azimuth Global LLC, a consulting firm that provides strategic advisory services to Fortune 100 companies across sectors. He is also the president of Capella Federal Inc. and a senior advisor at WestExec Advisors. Additionally, Traupe is an ambassador for the Third Option Foundation and serves on the boards of large and emerging technology companies.
Consistently recognized as a strategic thinker and collaborative leader, Traupe’s contributions to the Intelligence Community have been recognized with several honors, including the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, Clandestine Service Career Award, CIA’s Director Award (twice), George W. Bush Award for Excellence, and the Presidential Rank Award — to name a few.
He holds an MBA in international business from American University and a BA in communications from the University of Michigan, where he starred as a linebacker participating in two Rose Bowls and a Gator Bowl.
Keynote Speaker: Mara Liasson
Thursday, October 3 at 8:30 am
Mara Liasson is a respected national political correspondent for NPR and FOX News, offering insightful commentary on major news programs. Dive deeper into her impressive career and contributions to journalism.
Sponsored by TMX Shipping, Inc.
Navigating the Forest Service Wood Innovation Grants
Thursday, October 3 at 10:45 am
Join us for an informative panel discussion on the Forest Service Wood Innovation Grants, featuring firsthand accounts from companies that have successfully received these grants. Whether you’re new to the grants or looking to refine your application, this session offers practical advice and insider strategies that will empower you to secure funding for your wood innovation projects.
Speakers:
- Claire Getty, CFO
Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods - Charlie Becker, CF Wood Innovations Specialist
U.S. Forest Service - Joel E. Dulin, President
Jozana Grant Services
Ed Session: Hardwood End-User Market Outlook: Trends Shaping the Future of Hardwood Lumber
Thursday, October 3 at 1:30 pm
Explore the dynamic landscape of the hardwood lumber markets in our comprehensive session on the hardwood end-user. Focused on the demands for cabinets, flooring, furniture, and other hardwood end products, this session will provide critical insights into how these demands impact the broader hardwood lumber industry.
Speakers:
- Tony Honeycutt, Vice President Lumber Purchasing
Mullican Hardwood Flooring - Susan Pilato, Founder & CEO
Mantra Inspired Furniture - Jeff Eichenseer, Director of Marketing and Product Development
Conestoga Wood Specialties
Sponsored by NWH
Ed Session: Innovations and Challenges in the Hardwood Lumber Market
Friday, October 4 at 10:45 am
Dive into the dynamic landscape of the hardwood lumber industry with our comprehensive session on market developments and emerging challenges. Explore key topics such as wood substitution and its impact on market dynamics, and discover the latest trends in in structural applications, including HCLT and mass timber.
Sponsored by Ressources Lumber
Ed Session: Expanding Horizons: International Markets for U.S. Hardwoods
Friday, October 4 at 1 pm
Join us for an insightful session on the global opportunities for U.S. hardwoods, presented by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). This presentation will delve into the latest data and trends, highlighting emerging markets for U.S. hardwoods outside the United States. Gain valuable insights into market dynamics and the unique attributes of U.S. hardwoods that make them sought after worldwide.
Speaker: Mike Snow, AHEC Executive Director
Panelists:
- David Venables, AHEC Europe
- John Chan: AHEC China and Southeast Asia
- Rod Wiles, AHEC India/Middle East/Africa
- Luis Zertuche, AHEC Latin America
- Takhiro Tsuji, AHEC Japan
Sponsored by Brewco
