NHLA Staff & Board

The National Hardwood Lumber Association Staff & Board Members are the backbone of our Association, bringing their passion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to promoting and advancing the hardwood lumber industry. With a wealth of knowledge and diverse backgrounds, our team works to serve our Members, providing invaluable resources, fostering industry relationships, and advocating for the sustainable and responsible use of North American hardwoods. Together, we strive to ensure the success and longevity of the hardwood industry, supporting our Members and the broader hardwood community with enthusiasm. Please feel free to contact any member of our Staff if you are in need of assistance or have any questions about the Association.

Staff & Board Optimized Dallin Brooks
Dallin Brooks

Executive Director

NHLA Staff

John Hester
Chief Development Officer
Dana Spessert
NHLA Chief Inspector
Natalie Thelen
Chief Marketing Officer
Sailesh Adhikari
Director of Research and Development
Melissa Ellis
Creative Director
Desiree Freeman
Chief Financial & Operating Officer
Brennah Hutchison
Hardwood Industry Liaison and Content Director
Ashley Johnson
Convention & Events Director
Jared Klepko, JD, MBA
Corporate Partnership & Member Engagement Manager
Jens Lodholm
Database Manager
Roman Matyushchenko
Instructor of the NHLA Inspector Training School & Associate Dean
Kathryn Mitchell
Office Assistant
Darci Shannon
Member Services Advisor
Rachel Spiers Blossman
Digital Marketing Specialist

NHLA National Inspectors

Please click the button for a full list of the NHLA National Inspectors.

Board of Directors - Executive Committee

Bucky Pescaglia
Chairman of the Board

Missouri-Pacific Lumber Co., Inc.

Stephanie VanDystadt
Vice Chairman of the Board

Hull Forest Products

Jon Syre
Past Chairman 2022-2024

Cascade Hardwood LLC

Sam Glidden
ITS & ITSEF Mission Leader

GMC Hardwoods, Inc. 

Bill Courtney
Membership & Networking Mission Leader

Classic American Hardwoods

Rob Cabral
Market Impacts Mission Leader

Upper Canada Forest Group

Current NHLA Board Members

Ed Armbruster

Hood Distribution

Brady Banks Portman

Banks Hardwoods, Inc.

Chuck Boaz

Corley Manufacturing Co.

Parker Boles

Hermitage Hardwood Lumber Sales, Inc.

Vince Catarella

Baillie Lumber Co.

Tom Coble

Market Impact Deputy Mission Leader
Hartzell Hardwoods, Inc.

Guy Dollinger

DZD Hardwood Inc.  

Alex Fischer

Maley & Wertz, Inc. 

Greg Fitzpatrick

Convention Deputy Mission Leader
Fitzpatrick & Weller, Inc.

Brant Forcey

ITS & ITSEF Deputy Mission Leader
Forcey Lumber Company

Jason Gobel

NWH

Matt Gutchess

Gutchess Lumber Co., Inc.

Patti Heintzelman

Keiver-Willard Lumber Corp.  

Sean Herlihy

Holt and Bugbee Company

Tyler Kamps

Kamps Hardwoods, Inc.  

Jesse Lason

Rossi Group 

Chris McQueen

Anthony Oak Flooring

Andy Nuffer

Ram Forest Products

Tim Pleimann

Farrow Lumber Co.

Chris Rider

Membership & Networking Deputy Mission Leader
AHC Hardwood Group

Jason Sencaj

Adentra Companies

Past NHLA Chairmen

Jon Syre

Cascade Hardwood LLC

2022 - 2024
Jeff Wirkkala

Hardwood Industries, Inc.

2020 – 2022
Darwin Murray

McClain Forest Product

2018 – 2020
Brent Stief

Huron Forest Products, Inc

2016 – 2018
Pem Jenkins

Turn Bull Lumber Co.

2014 – 2016
  Scott Heidler

Heidler Hardwood Lumber Co.

2012 – 2014
Dave Redmond

Highland Hardwood Sales, Inc.

2010 – 2012
   Ted Rossi

Rossi Group

2008 – 2010
  Jim Howard

Atlanta Hardwood, Inc.

2006 – 2008
Orn Gudmundsson

Sr., Northland Corporation

2004 – 2006
Walter M. (Wally) Fields III

Memphis, Tennessee

2002 – 2004
D. Greg Kitchens

Utica, Mississippi 

2000 - 2002
Robert M. Owens

Duluth, Minnesota

1998 - 2000
Andre G. Lemire

Sherbrooke, Quebec

1996 - 1998
Wendell M. Cramer

W.M. Cramer Lumber Co., Inc.

1994 - 1996
 Jim C. Hamer

Kenova, West Virginia

1992 - 1994
Henry Fulcher

Wilmer, Texas

1990 - 1992
 John G. Thomson

Alliston, Ontario

1988 - 1990