Collaboration Supports Growth and Awareness in Hardwood

Collaboration: to work jointly with others, especially in an intellectual endeavor. To cooperate with an agency with which one is not immediately connected.

At NHLA, collaboration is more than a definition—it’s a cornerstone of our strategic plan. We are committed to fostering relationships both within and beyond the hardwood industry. Throughout my term as Chairman, I’ll use Hardwood Matters to spotlight the connections we’re building and the progress we’re making together.

For example, the NHLA Hardwoods Special Edition is an exciting collaboration created in partnership with Building Products and The Merchant Magazine. These trusted publications, with a combined circulation of over 20,000 industry professionals—ranging from lumberyards to manufacturers—will feature our special edition in February. This collaboration gives us an incredible platform to educate a broader audience about the unmatched value of hardwood and promote the industry we are all so passionate about.

The special edition will delve into critical topics for today’s environmentally conscious marketplace. It will emphasize the sustainability of hardwood as an unequivocally renewable resource and spotlight the innovative work of the Real American Hardwood® Coalition (RAHC). Readers will be introduced to the coalition’s website, realamericanhardwood.pro, which serves as a comprehensive guide for hardwood benefits for professionals. This platform showcases the powerful story of hardwood’s role in biophilic design and its health and environmental advantages. Whether it’s in architecture, furniture, cabinetry, millwork, or flooring, hardwood connects people with nature in a way no other material can.

What makes this edition even more special is the collaboration behind it. It features articles from industry experts like Rob Cabral, Vice President of Lumber and Inventory Management at UCS Forest Group of Companies; Thea Rose Lemberger, M.S., an Ecologist; and Dan Meyer from Hardwood Review. Their insights and expertise enrich this publication, ensuring a comprehensive look at the hardwood industry’s many facets.

And here’s some exciting news: We’re making the special edition available online for our members to access, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to benefit from this valuable resource.

Producing the NHLA Hardwoods Special Edition is a reminder of how much we can achieve when we work together. As members, I encourage you to stay engaged in our promotion and education efforts throughout the year. Opportunities for collaboration are abundant, and your NHLA leadership is steadfast in its mission to promote hardwood and educate the marketplace about the unmatched benefits of our products.

Together, let’s continue to grow and strengthen our industry.

Bucky Pescaglia

NHLA Chairman | Missouri-Pacific Lumber Co., Inc.