Month: September 2021

Allison DeFord – North American Forest Foundation – 901-860-4131 – adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org  – www.northamericanforestfoundation.org

North American Forest Foundation Welcomes Allison DeFord as new Executive Director.

Collierville, Tennessee, February 3, 2020 – The North American Forest Foundation (NAFF) is excited to welcome a new Executive Director to the team. Although this is her first job in the forest products industry, she’s not new to the culture or mission. Being married to a lumberman for over 31 years will do that. DeFord grew up in Anderson, Indiana. Upon graduating from high school, she travelled west and planted roots in Southern California, where she’s lived since 1986. She has a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from California State University at Long Beach. And is also a member of non-profit, Women in Manufacturing.

As the founder of Felt Marketing, since 1994, she’s also no stranger to building materials and wood-related organizations. Felt specializes in marketing retrofits for manufacturers and primarily those in building materials. She can also be heard leading courageous conversations about sales and marketing for manufacturers on her weekly podcast with Ray Ziganto, MFG OutLoud.

To find out more please reach out to Allison DeFord at adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org, or visit NAFF’s website. About North American Forest Foundation:  The North American Forest Foundation was originally established in 1989 as the Hardwood Forest Foundation. In 2019, the organization expanded to be more inclusive to the softwood industry – becoming NAFF. The non-profit has always focused on educating the public, and as the organization grows into NAFF, it continues on that path – to spread the word about sustainability, and the opportunities the hardwood and softwood industries provide throughout North America.

Allison DeFord – North American Forest Foundation – 901-860-4131 – adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org  – www.northamericanforestfoundation.org

North American Forest Foundation Welcomes Three New Board Members

Memphis, Tennessee, August 16, 2019 – The North American Forest Foundation (NAFF) is thrilled to introduce three new board members. Jesper Bach, Andy Johnson, and Cindy Squires are joining the team in one of the organization’s most evolutionary years since it was founded in 1989. This year, the North American Forest Foundation emerged from what used to be called the Hardwood Forest Foundation. This more inclusive name allows the organization to work on a more comprehensive approach to promoting the entire forest products industry through its educational programs. The new board members will help guide the North American Forest Foundation as it branches in this new direction. Jesper Bach lives in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he is the Director of Imports at Baillie Lumber. He grew up in Denmark, where he attended Silkeborg Handelsskole Business College and served in the Danish Military before beginning his lumber career in 1993. Bach quickly developed a niche in the international arena, working with species of lumber from around the world, and managing contracts and shipments on a global level. In 1996, Bach made Wilmington his home when he moved to the area to step into the role of Vice President at Inter-Continental Hardwoods. Bach has been at Baillie for 13 years. He is in charge of imports to the U.S. and Canada, and overseas purchases. Andy Johnson is Hardwood Market Report’s Assistant Editor. The Memphis-based company publishes the prolific Hardwood Market Report, which had its first run 97 years ago. Hardwood Market Report also delivers HMR Executive and HMR Import Newsletter to industry professionals throughout the world. Johnson entered the hardwood industry in 1989 and fostered a comprehensive career that allowed for experience in lumber production, processing, purchasing, and sales. Johnson’s broad knowledge of the industry has helped him successfully analyze and report on North American and worldwide markets for over 20 years. Cindy Squires is the Executive Director of the International Wood Products Association, located in Alexandria, Virginia. She also sits on the boards of the American Hardwood Export Council, the Global Timber Forum, and the American Boat and Yacht Council. She is the Co-Chair for the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Advisory Committee for Forest Products, Building Materials, Construction and NonFerrous Metals, and is a member of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee. Squires graduated cum laude from Washington College of Law, American University, and worked as Chief Counsel of the National Marine Manufacturers Association for almost ten years, and spent about a decade working on agricultural policy as a legislative liaison and regulatory analyst in the Executive branch, before entering her current position in 2013. Interested parties can learn more by contacting Allison DeFord at adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org, or by visiting NAFF’s website. About North American Forest Foundation  The North American Forest Foundation was originally established in 1989 as the Hardwood Forest Foundation. In 2019, the organization expanded to be more inclusive to the softwood industry – becoming the NAFF. The non-profit has always focused on educating the public, and as the organization grows into the NAFF, it continues on that path – to spread the word about sustainability, and the opportunities the hardwood and softwood industries provide throughout the continent.

Allison DeFord – North American Forest Foundation – 901-860-4131 – adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org  – www.northamericanforestfoundation.org

North American Forest Foundation Introduces Stephanie Van Dystadt as New President

Memphis, Tennessee, August 12, 2019 – The North American Forest Foundation (NAFF) is excited to introduce Stephanie Van Dystadt as its President. Van Dystadt took the reigns from Past President, Jeff Durst of Hull Forest Products at NAFF’s summer meeting. Van Dystadt has been in the forest products industry since 1998 when she began working at DV Hardwoods, Inc. where she is a leader in international sales and business development. She steps up into her position as President from her previous role as Vice President, which she held since 2017. Her familiarity with NAFF’s history and current mission has made the transition smooth. “We’ve worked hard over the past two years. We had to take a few steps back so we could move forward, and under Jeff’s leadership, we focused on rebuilding our foundation. We have a new name, went through a full rebrand, and now we’re starting to see why it was worth the effort. For the next two years, I’d like to continue building upon that foundation, keeping true to our mission and values,” Van Dystadt shared. The North American Forest Foundation, formerly the Hardwood Forest Foundation, is well into its first year under its new moniker. The updated name complements the organization’s new and inclusive mission – to promote the entire forest products industry through public engagement and education, rather than focusing exclusively on the hardwood sector. “In many organizations, each time there is a change in leadership, there’s also a pivot when it comes to its mission,” Van Dystadt said. “As NAFF Vice President, I worked with Jeff and the board to help create our mission. We’re not pivoting, we know where we’re going, and we’ll get there faster due to our shared vision.” Interested parties can learn more by contacting Jennifer Reith at adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org, or by visiting NAFF’s website. About North American Forest Foundation  The North American Forest Foundation was originally established in 1989 as the Hardwood Forest Foundation. In 2019, the organization expanded to be more inclusive to the softwood industry – becoming the NAFF. The non-profit has always focused on educating the public, and as the organization grows into the NAFF, it continues on that path – to spread the word about sustainability, and the opportunities the hardwood and softwood industries provide throughout the continent.

Allison DeFord – North American Forest Foundation – 901-860-4131 – adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org  – www.northamericanforestfoundation.org

For Immediate Release: HFF Branches Out with New Name and Advanced Mission: Introducing North American Forest Foundation

Memphis, Tennessee, February 27, 2019 – Today, the Hardwood Forest Foundation (HFF) is thrilled to begin its next chapter in the organization’s evolution with an updated mission, new name, and modern look. The association’s new name, North American Forest Foundation (NAFF), highlights the comprehensive goals set out by the NAFF executive team and board members – to spread awareness of the lumber industry, while being inclusive of both hardwood and softwood sectors, so the public can become more conscious to the benefits of wood products and make informed choices.

Since its inception, the focus of HFF has been educating elementary-age children about the benefits of the hardwood industry. The award winning “Truth About Trees” educational kits provided by HFF have helped classrooms throughout the continent by delivering science-based lessons, and it will continue to be part of NAFF’s program. However, NAFF has plans to introduce a more age-inclusive curriculum that includes materials that relay the wealth of career opportunities for young adults in the hardwood and softwood industries.

“As an industry, we need to develop a unified front. We have the product that is the greenest in terms of carbon neutrality and renewable resources, but we don’t promote it as a whole,” noted NAFF Vice-President, Stephanie Van Dystadt. “Our new mission includes educating the public as a whole, to re-introduce them to benefits of the lumber industry, whether they’re a young adult seeking career inspiration, or a consumer looking for smarter choices.”

The NAFF’s updated mission is to support the Forest Products Industry through education, promotion, and advocacy of science-based facts about sustainable forestry, and revealing the truth about trees – our world’s most diverse, abundant, renewable natural resource.

Jeff Durst, NAFF’s President shared, “As an organization, we’ve been focused on education at the elementary level. That certainly remains an important part of what we do, but in realigning ourselves as the NAFF, we’ve expanded our mission to have a greater impact on more areas – allowing us to be better collaborative partners with other organizations that exist.”

In an effort to highlight the career paths available to young people, NAFF’s first goal is to create an educational video that can be distributed to various associations. The aim will be to share the opportunities within the forest industries – whether the viewer sees themselves working in the woods or sitting at a desk (made of wood, of course). Along with the more traditional roles, the video will showcase opportunities in a variety of settings, including accounting, sales, research and development, and others that may not seem obvious to young people seeking meaningful career paths.

Interested parties can learn more by contacting NAFF’s Executive Director, Allison DeFord, at (901)860-4131 or adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org, or by visiting the organization’s updated website: www.northamericanforestfoundation.org

Allison DeFord – North American Forest Foundation – 901-860-4131 – adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org  – www.northamericanforestfoundation.org

For Immediate Release: North American Forest Foundation Receives $12K Gift from Los Angeles Hardwood Lumberman’s Club Memphis, Tennessee, February 27, 2019– This month, the North American Forest Foundation (NAFF) was thrilled to receive a generous donation of $12,000 from the Los Angeles Hardwood Lumberman’s Club (LAHLC). The big check was presented to NAFF at the February meeting of the LAHLC. The donated funds were raised through the club’s 17th Annual Alan Bohnhoff Memorial Golf Tournament. The tournament, which pays tribute to one of the club’s former presidents, draws about 100 industry professionals from around the nation to the golf course each year. “Even though we’re competitors, we’re a close-knit group. We like the comradery, and enjoy sharing information. We have about 250 local members, and people from back east like to come play golf with us, too,” shared Jim Gaither, who directs the tournament. Like the NAFF, LAHLC is a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the lumber industry. The club, which meets monthly, has made donating the proceeds from the tournament a tradition. When asked why they choose NAFF as a recipient, the club’s President, Dan Bohannon, said, “We want to get the word out to people that wood is a renewable resource, and it’s a foundational resource. When you cut the trees down, that’s not the end of the show. It goes on and on.” This sentiment is relayed through the NAFF’s “Truth About Trees” program, which provides teachers throughout North America with a kit and lesson plans that assist in the sharing of science-based lessons for elementary-age children. The donation will help with the continuation of this program, and with the implementation of new education initiatives in development. “We’re so thankful for the generosity of the Los Angeles Hardwood Lumberman’s Club,” said Jennifer Reith, NAFF’s Executive Director. “This gift will help us reach many young minds, as we share the many benefits of the forest industry – including its sustainable nature.” Interested parties can learn more by contacting Allison DeFord at (901)860-8220, or by visiting: https://northamericanforestfoundation.org