Overview

Innovations in Forest Operations and Biomass Utilization in the Southwest

In Person in Albuquerque, NM—November 17th – 18th 2021

Can we realize value-added products from Southwest small-diameter trees?

Can we make forest operations and transportation more efficient and cost effective?

Find answers to these pressing questions at “Innovations in Forest Operations & Biomass Utilization in the Southwest”.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR SEMINAR OR WORKSHOP

Seminar topics (November 17 – 18):

Value-added products from small-diameter and low-value wood
In-woods forest thinning operations: machines, practices, and costs
Railroad transportation of woody biomass
Federal and state agency contracting
Challenges and opportunities for Southwest forestry contractors

Participants in the seminar are eligible for 9.5 Continuing Forestry Education Credits from SAF.

Virtual Workshops

Introduction to Lumber Dry Kiln Operations (8 CFEs): This free virtual workshop, hosted by Dr. Patrick Rappold, will take place over four 2-hour sessions in November (November 1, 8, 15, and 22). Participants will learn the fundamentals of kiln-drying lumber, including working with difficult species such as ponderosa pine and mesquite.
Financial Assistance for the Forest Industry (2 CFEs): This free, two-hour, virtual workshop will be held on November 10. Participants will hear from managers of four different grant and loan programs that cover the forest industry in the Southwest. Additionally, several grant recipients will share their experiences applying for and receiving the financial assistance.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

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What is the SWERI Wood Utilization Team?

The Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERI) Wood Utilization Team is a three-state (Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico) network of academic, government, and industry partners funded by the USFS Wood Innovations Program. The objective of the Wood Utilization Team is to expand the forest industry in the Southwest in order to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration activities in the region. Members of the team are:

Damon Vaughan, Ecological Restoration Institute
Damon Vaughan is a Research Associate in the Ecological Restoration Institute’s Forest Operations and Biomass Utilization Program. He serves as the program coordinator for the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institute (SWERI) Wood Utilization Team. He received a PhD from Northern Arizona University and an MS from Colorado State University, both in wood science. Prior to that, he worked for a tree trimming/removal company in Fort Collins, Colorado. Damon has a strong interest in wood structure, physiology, and utilization—particularly the utilization of “low-value” wood from forest restoration treatments and urban forestry.
Han-Sup Han, Ecological Restoration Institute
Dr. Han is a Professor and Director of Forest Operations and Biomass Utilization at the Ecological Restoration Institute, Northern Arizona University (NAU), Flagstaff, Arizona. At NAU, he manages research projects that are desinged to improve the efficiency of in-woods operations and wood/biomass utilization. His current project activities at NAU focus on the development of the forest industry to expand markets for wood and biomass resulting from fuel reduction and forest restoration thinning treatments as well as timber operations. Examples of recent efforts include railroad transportation to distant markets, forest operations training center development, wood and biomass supply analysis for various forest products, synthesis on thinning costs in the US West, and managing workshops and seminars. Over the last 20 years, Dr. Han participated in a wide range of research and demonstration projects investigating costs and operational logistics of timber and biomass harvesting activities. Utilizing his work experience, he took the lead on a collaborative research project (Waste to Wisdom; https://wastetowisdom.com/) including 13 Co-PIs (Principal Investigators) to improve the utilization of forest residues for production of bioenergy and bio-based products. Han received his B.S. degree in Forestry and first M.S. degree in Forest Ecology from Kangwon National University, South Korea; his second M.S. degree in Forest Operations from the University of Maine; and a Ph.D. in Forest Engineering from Oregon State University. He held faculty positions at the University of Northern British Columbia, Canada (1998-2001), University of Idaho (2001-2006), Humboldt State University (2007-2017) before joining NAU in January, 2018.
Tim Reader, Colorado State Forest Service
Utilization and Marketing program specialist for the Colorado State Forest Service. Responsible for technical and business assistance and delivery, applied research, program development, and administration. Program administrator for the CSFS forest business loan fund, Colorado Forest Products™ branding and marketing program, and wood to energy program. Member and current chair of the Council of Western State Foresters Forest Utilization Network. Previously served as acting biomass and forest stewardship coordinator for Region 2 of the USDA Forest Service. Former inventory forester for the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona, and Wood Products Technician for Dyno Polymers in Oregon. Received a Master’s degree in forest management from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and bachelor’s degree in Wood Science and Technology from Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
Carmen Austin, New Mexico Forestry Division
Carmen Austin serves as the Climate Change Specialist for the New Mexico Forestry Division in Santa Fe, NM. She previously held positions as the Woody Biomass Program Manager and District Forester on the Las Vegas District. The Forestry Division’s responsibilities include responding to wildfire emergencies on state and private lands, providing statewide leadership to improve forest health and watershed conditions, and administering a wide variety of programs for state and private lands that range from providing rural volunteer fire departments with grants for personal protective equipment, to helping private landowners identify insects damaging their trees, to protecting rare plants and conserving ecologically important lands, to supporting forest industry based on shared goals of long-term restoration and managing forest for resilience in changing climate conditions. Carmen earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the Northern Arizona University and pursued a Master of Science Degree in Forestry from the University of Montana.
Rich Edwards, Ecological Restoration Institute
Rich Edwards is a Research Associate in the Forest Operations & Biomass Utilization Program, Ecological Restoration Institute, Northern Arizona University. Current focus is on the development of a Forest Operations Training Center in northern Arizona. Other interests include safety, BMPs, ergonomics, logging productivity, and workforce incentives & motivation.Most recently/previously worked for the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) 10+ years as a Forestry Program Specialist in the Forest Planning & Implementation Division managing programs such as Denver Water Lands, Forestry Best Management Practices, Good Neighbor Authority Program, and Logger/Logging Systems Education. Prior to working with CSFS: 22+ years in the private forest industry sector with experience in logging and forestry services consulting and contracting; log procurement, timber sale administration, and product transportation for sawmills; high hazard industry safety engineering; and finished forest products sales. Lived and worked in the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon.Graduate of Northern Arizona University with a BS in Forest Management and Oregon State University with an MF in Forest Engineering. Currently in 41st year working in the forestry profession; 26 years of that as a Certified Forester.

More information on the SWERI Wood Utilization Team.

Seminar Agenda

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

7:30 – 8:00	Breakfast
8:00 – 8:10	Welcome and introduction
8:10 – 9:00	Keynote speakers for Day 1 · Keynote 1: Brent Racher, New Mexico Forest Industry Association: Paths forward for the forest products industry in NM · Keynote 2: Nate Anderson, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, MT: Bioeconomy enterprises to improve the financial viability of forest restoration Dr. Nate Anderson is a Research Forester with the U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, in Missoula, Montana. His specialization is forest resources management, operations, and economics, with recent work focused on forest biomass, bioenergy and bioproduct supply chains. He has helped develop economic models to guide investment in restoration and the bioeconomy, including technoeconomic analysis of bioenergy projects and non-market valuation of fuel treatments in the wildland urban interface. He is a co-director of the Mid-Atlantic Sustainable Biomass Consortium (MASBio) and a co-lead of its Harvesting, Logistics and Supply Chain Management research team. He previously served as a director and co-PI on two large USDA-NIFA Biomass Research and Development Initiative projects and was a co-PI and team leader for the Bioenergy Alliance Network of the Rockies (BANR). Nate has a Ph.D. in Forest Resources Management from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and an M.S. in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology from the University of Maryland.
9:00 – 10:20	Panel 1: Value-added forest products from the Southwest: Wood Innovations Grant recipients (20 minutes each) · Tyson Nicoll, Arizona Log and Timber Works: Increasing forest acres thinned through production of peeled poles, bundled firewood, and biochar in Arizona Tyson is a member of Arizona Log & TimberWorks, a family owned and operated business located in Eastern Arizona. Arizona Log & TimberWorks started in 2008 with a treating facility for post and poles, and later added firewood processing to utilize cut-off waste from the post and poles. Tyson attended Brigham Young University-Idaho where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business and Economics in 2015. Tyson then went to work for a large agribusiness called Bunge in the Midwest. After working for a couple of years, Tyson returned to Arizona to work in the family business. In 2020 he graduated with a master’s degree in accounting from Auburn University. One of Tyson’s largest areas of focus has been in researching biochar. When Arizona Log & TimberWorks finally decided they wanted to produce biochar they applied for and received a USFS grant to aid in getting the project up and going. · David Old, Old Wood LLC: The road to market with small-diameter timber products David Old was raised on the Viveash Ranch, northeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico. In the 1990s, Old decided to leave a prosperous career in helicopter and aircraft sales and go back to the ranch with his wife to raise their family. However, his vision of continuing to grow the Old family’s business, which began as a small sawmill operation in the 1930s, might never have been fully realized. In 2000—and again in 2013—the family witnessed the Viveash and Tres Lagunas fires consume hundreds of acres of the ranch’s forested lands. Rather than be deterred, the family embraced their circumstances. With mountains of fire-burned trees all around them, they immediately began exploring ways to reclaim the charred timber. Today, Old Wood LLC is a thriving enterprise, producing US Forest Produced, export-grade end-grain wood products for commercial, industrial, and residential applications for clients in the U.S. and throughout the world. · Andrew Hawk, Timber Age Systems: Scaling CLT production for rural communities using ponderosa pine Andy Hawk is one of founders of Timber Age Systems Inc, a cross laminated timber manufacturer located in Durango Colorado. Timber Age was founded in part by a USDA Wood Innovation Grant in 2018 demonstrating the capacity to use regionally harvested ponderosa pine in the creation of smaller scale CLT. Andy supports Timber Age through communications and community engagement bringing together the diverse stakeholders engaged in the effort to build fire resilient communities and ecosystems. Building a company scaled to the needs of the community and forest on which it relies is what motivates Andy. Andy holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of New Mexico with a focus on ecology and ecosystem function. Andy and his wife have lived in New Mexico and Colorado for over twenty five years and love dearly all the opportunities the four corners region has to provide, culturally and environmentally. Questions and discussion (20 minutes)
10:20 – 10:40	Morning Break
10:40 – 12:00	Panel 2: Value-added forest products from small-diameter timber (20 minutes each) · Martin Twer, The Watershed Center: Wood Wool Cement – A scalable technology for wood infrastructure deployment using small diameter conifers Martin was born and raised in Germany, and earned a graduate degree in Landscape Ecology before moving to Montana in 2002. He holds an MS degree in Resource Conservation and Forestry from the University of Montana and has completed course work for an MA in Economics. After 10 years as Bioenergy Associate Specialist with the Cooperative Extension Service in Montana, he now lives, works, and plays in California’s Sierra Nevada. As Biomass Program Director for the Watershed Research and Training Center, Martin works with regional, State, and local efforts that encourage forest biomass development, related policy and economic opportunities. His first exposure to biomass utilization for energy came during a study-abroad year in Finland, and he has made a career out of bringing public awareness to biomass technologies and innovative wood products. These include sustainable bioenergy, low-value wood products markets, as well as biochar production and utilization. · Bob McElwee, REM Ventures: Commercializing new products from biomass – 4 success stories (renewable diesel, biochar, graphene, and Black Rooster) Managing partner, REM Ventures Bob McElwee is currently the managing partner for REM Ventures where he works with industry and government entities to develop renewable energy and other sustainable projects, focused on job creation and reducing their carbon footprint. REM is also working with partners and Arizona universities to develop production facilities as an investor and product developer. The REM focus is with waste & forest residue to renewable energy, biochar, graphene, building materials and organic soil supplements. Multiple projects are underway in North America. Bob has a B.A. in Journalism and an M.S. in Technology from Eastern Illinois University. He has served as a member of the Journalism faculty at Eastern Illinois University and as department head of publications and Communications faculty member at the University of Tennessee. · Jason Lalone, Erosion Control Innovations: From tree and back again: WoodStraw® – the ideal erosion control solution Questions and discussion (20 minutes)
12:00 – 1:00	Lunch break
1:00 – 2:20	Panel 3: In-woods forest thinning operations: machines, practices, and costs (20 minutes each) · Matthew Mattioda & Preston Green, Miller timber: Rocky Mountain high: Operational perspectives on thinning for water quality and fire resiliency on steep slopes Preston came to Miller Timber Services in 2018 while still in Graduate School at Oregon State University where he finished a Master of Science in Sustainable Forest Management and a Master of Business Administration in 2019. Currently, Preston oversees all aspects of harvesting operations on a select number of cut-to-length (CTL) logging teams, as well as research and development of various software and technology-based projects across the entire CTL division. His work as the Director of University Outreach has bolstered Miller Timber’s collaborative research capacity across the United States, as well. Preston is an Oregon native, being the 4th generation in his family to work in the timber industry and is very familiar with the challenges and opportunities facing the timber industry today. Matt is a 1995 graduate from Oregon State University where he earned a BS in Forest Management with a business minor. He worked as a forester for Willamette Industries for 8 years in both Oregon and Washington. After working for Willamette, he worked for 3 years as a commodity buyer for Jeld-Wen in Bend, Oregon, and later for his family’s construction business. Matt has been with Miller Timber Services since 2010 as a forester and manager of Cut-to-Length harvesting systems. Today, Matt is Vice President of CTL Systems and is the Company’s Chief Forester. This position finds him working in Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado and Arizona for a variety of private and public landowners. Matt is a member of the Society of American Foresters. In 2017 he was in the Pioneer Class of REAL Oregon (Resource Education for Agricultural Leadership), and is now on the Board of Directors of REAL. Matt is also on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Logging Conference, and is a Santiam Christian Schools Board member. Matt and his wife Sabrina Mattioda live in Albany, Oregon with their 3 young children Rebecca, Joshua and Marissa. · Brian O’Connor, AirBurner: Electric Forest: A new age in forest restoration operations with forestry machines battery-powered using Air Curtain Burners Brian O’Connor is President and Chief Designer of Air Burners, Inc. a company he founded 24 years ago specializing in environmentally sound biomass waste reduction and energy conversion technologies. For more than 30 years, his professional emphasis as a designer has been technologies that protect the environment, reduce waste and develop green renewable energy. Currently Brian and the Air Burners team are working with the US Forest Service in a CRADA partnership to develop portable BioChar producing equipment. An honors graduate of the State University of New York, Mr. O’Connor has used his design and engineering expertise primarily in the area of environmentally responsible technologies. His design accomplishments include eleven US Patents covering inventions in these fields. The recently introduced PGFireBox is an example. A unique portable biomass energy system that eliminates vegetative waste and creates electricity. This electricity is then used onsite to charge battery operated forestry equipment and machines. · Heesol Chang, NAU School of Forestry: Meta-analysis on thinning costs of forest restoration/fuel reductions in the US West Heesol Chang is in a Master’s of Science program at Northern Arizona University, and he graduated from Kangwon National University with a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry. He worked as a forester for a year in Korea and moved to Arizona in 2019 to study forestry in the United States. He is currently studying the costs of forest thinning operations across the Western United States and focusing on machine feasibility. Another goal in his study is to make a model which will predict thinning operation (stump-to-truck) costs in the Western United States. Questions and discussion (20 minutes)
2:20 – 2:40	Afternoon break
2:40 – 4:00	Panel 4: Railroad transportation of woody biomass · Jeff Halbrook, US Forest Service: Chip & Ship Pilot Project: Logistics of suppling wood chips over long distances using railroad transportation · Alissa Murray, Burlington Northern Santa Fe: Railroad 101: What to know about shipping via rail · Michael Sussman, OnTrackNorthAmerica: The 2021 Nevada State Rail Plan, the Southwest Supply Chain Coalition, and a new future for rail-enabled supply chain efficiency Michael Sussman began his career in transportation in 1994 by launching Strategic Rail Finance, a North American transportation-industry consulting firm. Strategic Rail has advised private and public sector clients in 44 states and Canada. Michael entered the rail industry with the intention to improve how capital is invested in infrastructure and industrial systems. His commonsense message, based in whole system thinking, resonates across the political spectrum. Michael’s firm currently advises on $2B of rail infrastructure projects, including the Port of Long Beach $877M Pier B intermodal project. In 2007, Michael founded a nonprofit transportation think tank, OnTrackNorthAmerica. Having recently authored the 2021 Nevada State Rail Plan. Actualizing the plan’s recommendations, OnTrackNorthAmerica currently leads a new institutional design for multi-state, regional supply chain planning and investment, the Southwest Supply Chain Coalition, a collaboration among Nevada, California, Arizona and Utah. OTNA also leads the Land Freight Lifecycle Impact Project, gathering data on 40 comparative factors between building roads and rail lines to move freight. Questions and discussion (20 minutes)
4:00 – 4:10	Closing words for the day

Thursday, November 18, 2021

7:30 – 8:00	Breakfast
8:00 – 8:10	Introduction to the day
8:10 – 9:30	Panel 5: Federal and state agency contracting: Good Neighbor Authority, stewardship contracting, and others (20 minutes each) · Matt Etzenhouser, USFS Region 2: Overview of different USFS contracting mechanisms Matt Etzenhouser has served as the regional Appraisal, Timber Sale Preparation and Stewardship Contracting Specialist for the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region for the past seven years. Prior to that he spent 11 years managing the timber program for the Gunnison Ranger District on the GMUG NFs and six years in the private sector conducting inventory and sustained yield modeling for large industrial private land owners in Northern California. Matt earned a B.S. degree in Forest Management and a Master of Science Degree in Forest Science both from Colorado State University. · Andrew Frederick, NM Forestry Division: Good Neighbor Authority and other state timber contracting mechanisms New Mexico State Forestry Division Andrew has worked for New Mexico State Forestry Division for 15 years and has previously held positions as the State Timber Management Officer in Santa Fe and Staff Forester and Timber Program Manager for the Chama and Capitan Districts of NM Forestry Division, respectively. Andrew currently is the Resource Management Bureau Chief for the New Mexico State Forestry Division. In this role, Andrew is responsible for the Cooperative Forestry programs and Hazardous Fuels Reduction programs. These programs provide technical assistance to private forest landowners and allows State Forestry to participate with cooperators and collaboratives interested in natural resource management and watershed protection across all lands. Major goals of the Forestry Division include administering forest fuel reduction projects for wildfire protection and increasing forest health in and around communities and priority watershed areas. Andrew currently lives in Rio Rancho, NM with his family and is a graduate of Northern Arizona University, School of Forestry in Flagstaff, AZ. · Molly Pitts, Colorado Timber Industry Association: Industry perspectives on trends in state and federal contracting Molly Pitts is a forester by trade and has her BS in Forestry from Northern Arizona University and a MS in Natural Resources from Oregon State University. Prior to moving to Colorado in 2012, she served as the Executive Director for the Northern Arizona Wood Products Association. Molly is currently the Executive Director for the Colorado Timber Industry Association and the Colorado Programs Manager for Intermountain Forest Association. She also serves as staff for the Federal Timber Purchasers Committee. Molly and her husband Jim have two sons and two bird dogs and live in Pueblo West, Colorado. Molly is a very active person and enjoys camping, backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting and in general spending time outdoors. Questions and discussion (20 minutes)
9:30 – 10:00	Morning Break
10:00 – 11:40	Panel 6: Challenges and opportunities for Southwest forestry contractors (20 minutes each) · Damon Vaughan, Ecological Restoration Institute: 2020 Southwest forestry contractor survey Damon Vaughan is a Research Associate in the Ecological Restoration Institute’s Forest Operations and Biomass Utilization Program. He serves as the program coordinator for the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institute (SWERI) Wood Utilization Team. He received a PhD from Northern Arizona University and an MS from Colorado State University, both in wood science. Prior to that, he worked for a tree trimming/removal company in Fort Collins, Colorado. Damon has a strong interest in wood structure, physiology, and utilization—particularly the utilization of “low-value” wood from forest restoration treatments and urban forestry. · Annie Lutes & Chris Bockey, SWCA Environmental Consultants: Not another roadblock: Addressing resource-based constraints to on-the-ground implementation Annie Lutes is a cultural resources lead and environmental specialist for SWCA Environmental Consultants. With an academic background in archaeology, she holds a BA from the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!), an MA from the University of Arizona, and an MS from Northern Arizona University. Her recent graduate work focused on indirect fire impacts to archaeological resources on the Kaibab National Forest, advocating for the benefits of thinning within site boundaries to mitigate high-severity effects to these sensitive resources. Prior to joining SWCA almost 9 years ago, Annie spent time as an archaeologist on the Coconino National Forest, gaining operational experience as a Type 2 wildland firefighter on prescribed and managed fires, as well as serving as a fire archaeologist and resource advisor on larger wildfires under Type 1 and Type 2 IMTs. Along with her role as a cultural resources specialist, she also works on fire management and forest planning projects with SWCA’s Fire and Forestry team and is a member of the company’s Wildfire Advisory Group to develop protocols and practices related to wildland fire safety for field employees. In addition, she also serves on the Coconino Resource Advisory Committee representing Archaeology and History for the distribution of grants to fund projects on Federal lands in Coconino County. Annie currently resides in Flagstaff where she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and backpacking in the beautiful forests and backcountry of northern Arizona. Chris is a Lead Environmental Planner with SWCA Environmental Consultants in Flagstaff, Arizona.Chris has a BA in Landscape Architecture and over 12 years of experience as an environmental planner with a focus on wildfire planning and scenic resources. He has a diverse skill set and works directly with local, state, and federal partners throughout the Intermountain West on a wide range of public and private land resource impacts associated with large-scale projects. Prior to becoming an environmental planner, Chris was a structural firefighter, and he brings this experience and knowledge to the developing wildfire planning projects associated with community wildfire protection plans and wildfire management plans, as well as evaluating proposed project impacts associated with wildfire. In his spare time, you can find Chris at the local climbing gym, mountain biking, or running the trails around Flagstaff. · Rich Edwards, Ecological Restoration Institute: Forest Operations Training Center: Forestry machine operators, truck drivers, and repair & maintenance professionals Rich Edwards is a Research Associate in the Forest Operations & Biomass Utilization Program, Ecological Restoration Institute, Northern Arizona University. Current focus is on the development of a Forest Operations Training Center in northern Arizona. Other interests include safety, BMPs, ergonomics, logging productivity, and workforce incentives & motivation. Most recently/previously worked for the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) 10+ years as a Forestry Program Specialist in the Forest Planning & Implementation Division managing programs such as Denver Water Lands, Forestry Best Management Practices, Good Neighbor Authority Program, and Logger/Logging Systems Education. Prior to working with CSFS: 22+ years in the private forest industry sector with experience in logging and forestry services consulting and contracting; log procurement, timber sale administration, and product transportation for sawmills; high hazard industry safety engineering; and finished forest products sales. Lived and worked in the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon. Graduate of Northern Arizona University with a BS in Forest Management and Oregon State University with an MF in Forest Engineering. Currently in 41st year working in the forestry profession; 26 years of that as a Certified Forester. · Tim Reader, Carmen Austin: Forest industry updates and post-pandemic stimulus from Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona Utilization and Marketing program specialist for the Colorado State Forest Service. Responsible for technical and business assistance and delivery, applied research, program development, and administration. Program administrator for the CSFS forest business loan fund, Colorado Forest Products™ branding and marketing program, and wood to energy program. Member and current chair of the Council of Western State Foresters Forest Utilization Network. Previously served as acting biomass and forest stewardship coordinator for Region 2 of the USDA Forest Service. Former inventory forester for the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona, and Wood Products Technician for Dyno Polymers in Oregon. Received a Master’s degree in forest management from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and bachelor’s degree in Wood Science and Technology from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Utilization and Marketing program specialist for the Colorado State Forest Service. Responsible for technical and business assistance and delivery, applied research, program development, and administration. Program administrator for the CSFS forest business loan fund, Colorado Forest Products™ branding and marketing program, and wood to energy program. Member and current chair of the Council of Western State Foresters Forest Utilization Network. Previously served as acting biomass and forest stewardship coordinator for Region 2 of the USDA Forest Service. Former inventory forester for the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona, and Wood Products Technician for Dyno Polymers in Oregon. Received a Master’s degree in forest management from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and bachelor’s degree in Wood Science and Technology from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Questions and discussion (20 minutes)
11:40 – 12:00	Closing words for the seminar

Introduction to Lumber Dry Kiln Operations

Introduction to Lumber Dry Kiln Operations

November 1, 8, 15, 22: 12:00-2:00 PM Mountain Standard Time

Format: Zoom Webinar

Participants will be eligible to receive 8 SAF CFE Credits

Please join us for a free 4-part short course taking place Mondays in November, 2021. Dr. Patrick Rappold will deliver an introduction to lumber dry kiln operations, with a focus on difficult species such as ponderosa pine and mesquite. Participants will also hear from guest speakers Elijah McCarty and Henco Viljoen from Nyle Systems, and Scott Lyon of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Complete agenda (pdf)

Calendar placeholder (Outlook Calendar)

General agenda:

Overview of lumber drying operations
Wood/water relationship
Structure & properties of wood as it relates to drying
Monitoring moisture content
Air dry yard operations
Dry kiln operations
Drying schedules
Quality control in the drying process
Dry kiln maintenance
Safety

Register for the virtual workshops and/or the in-person seminar at the link below. Please note that if you are only registering for the virtual workshops, you will not need to pay anything and will not be prompted to enter credit card information.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR SEMINAR OR WORKSHOP

Financial Assistance for the Forest Industry

Financial Assistance for the Forest Industry

November 10, 2021: 8:00-10:15 AM Mountain Standard Time

Format: Zoom Webinar

Participants will be eligible to receive 2 SAF CFE credits

Please join us for a free webinar on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. Panelists will present information on different types of financial assistance available to the forest industry and how to apply. Recipients of grants will present case studies highlighting their experience with these programs. The workshop will feature Wood Innovations Grants and post-pandemic stimulus, as well as several federal and local economic development programs.

Complete agenda (pdf)

Featured financial assistance program descriptions & recipient case studies:

USDA Forest Service (USFS) Wood Innovations Grants
USDA Rural Development (RD) Financial Assistance Programs
USDC Economic Development Administration (EDA) Grants
New Mexico Economic Development Department (NM EDD) Assistance

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR SEMINAR OR WORKSHOP

Hotel Information

Hotel Andaluz

125 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Click here for Hotel Andaluz conference registration.

Registration Information

Registration Now Open

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR SEMINAR OR WORKSHOP

Regular registration: The earlybird fee (before October 22) for the seminar (November 17 – 18) is $195 until October 22, after which the fee will increase to $245. Registering as a regular participant will grant you access to all of the conference videos.

Videos only: For $125 you can obtain a password to view the videos from the seminar. These will become available after the conference has concluded.

Virtual workshops: Both the virtual workshops will be offered free of charge. You can register for these at the same website as the in-person seminar. Please note that if you are only registering for the virtual workshops, you will not need to pay anything and will not be prompted to enter credit card information.

Please Note: Cancellations received by November 8, 2021 are subject to a 15% service charge. Cancellations received after that time will be charged the entire registration fee, but substitutions are always welcome.

Seminar sponsorship opportunities

Sponsorship will help keep our registration fees low and give your organization the opportunity to increase visibility and facilitate networking at the event. Below are the different sponsorship levels, which can be selected at the registration website. Please contact Damon Vaughan (damon.vaughan@nau.edu) with any questions.

$500 Sponsorship Level

1 complimentary registration

Logo included on seminar website, agenda, and other materials

$1000 Sponsorship Level

2 complimentary registrations

Logo included on seminar website, agenda, and other materials

Sponsor thanked before a break

$1,500 Sponsorship Level

3 complimentary registrations

Logo included on seminar website, agenda, and other materials

Sponsor thanked before a break

Display table at event

$2,000+ Sponsorship Level

Please contact damon.vaughan@nau.edu for a custom arrangement

Covid 19 Info

We will be following all local, state, and federal guidelines regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, and will take necessary measures to ensure a safe in-person event.

Conference measures

Currently, an indoor mask mandate is in place throughout New Mexico (https://www.newmexico.org/covid-19-traveler-information/). At our event, masks will be required except while presenting or dining.

Low-occupancy tables with increased spacing between seats will be available for those that desire them.

Conference attendees will be able to choose a red lanyard (desire for a strict adherence to social distancing), or a green lanyard (social distancing less of a concern).

Hotel Andaluz measures (more info at: https://www.hilton.com/en/p/what-to-expect/)

Staff will wear masks
Meals will be served by staff rather than self-serve
Hotel offers upon-request housekeeping

Seminar will be held at the Hotel Andaluz in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico.

I wanted to congratulate you on a great seminar. You are doing a great service to folks in the Southwest by introducing all the presented concepts.

Steve Horner, Campbell Global

Overview

What is the SWERI Wood Utilization Team?

Seminar Agenda

Introduction to Lumber Dry Kiln Operations

Financial Assistance for the Forest Industry

Hotel Information

Registration Information

Covid 19 Info

Overview

Innovations in Forest Operations and Biomass Utilization in the Southwest

In Person in Albuquerque, NM—November 17th – 18th 2021

Can we realize value-added products from Southwest small-diameter trees?

Can we make forest operations and transportation more efficient and cost effective?

Find answers to these pressing questions at “Innovations in Forest Operations & Biomass Utilization in the Southwest”.

Virtual Workshops

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Sign up for Updates on These Events

What is the SWERI Wood Utilization Team?

Seminar Agenda

Introduction to Lumber Dry Kiln Operations

Introduction to Lumber Dry Kiln Operations

November 1, 8, 15, 22: 12:00-2:00 PM Mountain Standard Time

Format: Zoom Webinar

Participants will be eligible to receive 8 SAF CFE Credits

Financial Assistance for the Forest Industry

Financial Assistance for the Forest Industry

November 10, 2021: 8:00-10:15 AM Mountain Standard Time

Format: Zoom Webinar

Participants will be eligible to receive 2 SAF CFE credits

Hotel Information

Hotel Andaluz

Registration Information

Registration Now Open

Seminar sponsorship opportunities

Covid 19 Info