Welcome to NHLA

The National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) is excited to welcome Jared Klepko to our team as the new Corporate Partnership Manager. With a unique blend of legal, business, and entrepreneurial expertise, Jared brings over two decades of diverse experience to the hardwood industry.

Jared’s journey began with a focus on finance, earning his degree from the University of Utah before completing a dual JD/MBA from the University of Memphis. His educational background provided a strong foundation in business strategy, legal frameworks, and organizational leadership. This was further enriched by his early career in purchasing and supply chain operations, where he gained hands-on experience in vendor relations, logistics, and cost management—skills that continue to shape his approach to business.

Throughout his career, Jared has excelled on both the franchisor and franchisee sides of business, mastering the complexities of scaling operations, building systems, and supporting small businesses in competitive markets. As a successful entrepreneur, he has owned and operated several small businesses, honing his ability to identify growth opportunities, develop strategic partnerships, and drive value. His practical, solutions-driven leadership style has made him a trusted advisor in every role he has held.

Beyond his professional achievements, Jared is a dedicated family man. He and his wife have been happily married for 20 years and are the proud parents of eight children—a role that has continually shaped his perspective on leadership, responsibility, patience, and resilience.

In his new role as NHLA’s Corporate Partnership Manager, Jared will focus on recruiting additional corporate partners, enhancing member benefits, and creating mutually beneficial relationships within the hardwood industry. We encourage you to visit our web-site at www.nhla.com to learn more about our corporate partnership opportunities and discover how your organization can get involved.

The National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) is thrilled to announce the addition of Dr. Sailesh Adhikari as our new Director of Research and Development. With a remarkable background in sustainable biomaterials, industrial engineering, and technology management, Sailesh brings a wealth of expertise and a global perspective to the hardwood industry.

Originally from Kathmandu, Nepal, Dr. Adhikari holds a Ph.D. in Sustainable Biomaterials from Virginia Tech, where his groundbreaking dissertation focused on assessing cross-laminated timber (CLT) markets for low-value hardwood lumber. His research led to a significant milestone—yellow poplar becoming the first hardwood species included in the ANSI/APA PRG 320 standard for CLT, a move that expanded market opportunities for underutilized hardwoods in mass timber construction.

Sailesh’s academic journey also includes dual master’s degrees in Sustainable Energy and Technology Management from Eastern Illinois University, where his research emphasized biomass utilization and sustainable construction materials. He began his academic path with a bachelor’s in industrial engineering from Thapathali Engineering College in Nepal.

Professionally, Sailesh has made substantial contributions to sustain-able innovation and applied research. He most recently served as an ORISE Research Scientist at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory and has previously worked as a Postdoctoral Associate and Graduate Research Assistant at Virginia Tech. His experience spans wood product innovation, life cycle analysis, and market development, supported by extensive certifications in quality systems, data science, machine learning, and project management.
In his new role at NHLA, Dr. Adhikari will focus his expertise in three key areas:

• Thermal Modification (50%): Sailesh will lead initiatives to ad-vance thermal modification technology in North America, including developing industry best practices, conducting market analysis, and enhancing the application of thermally modified wood. He will also be responsible for producing the annual “NHLA Report on North American Thermal Modification Market,” funded by Jartek.
• Structural Hardwood (25%): Sailesh will work on expanding the use of hardwood species in structural applications, building on his groundbreaking CLT research to drive innovation in sustainable construction materials.
• Product Development (25%): His efforts will include exploring new markets for hardwood products, such as pressure-treated decking and other exterior applications, ensuring NHLA members remain competitive in evolving markets.

This partnership with Jartek is particularly significant, as Jartek is a Walnut-level sponsor for the NHLA Convention. We are proud to create this alliance to support the North American thermally modified wood market and further strengthen our industry.

We are excited to welcome Sailesh to the NHLA team and look forward to the leadership and innovation he will bring. His commitment to sustainable materials, combined with his extensive research background, will be invaluable as we continue to support our members with cutting-edge research and development. Welcome aboard, Sailesh!