Roots & Reflections

The Hardwood Tipping Point

On this special IHLA edition of the Roots & Reflections podcast, we chat with the Director of Sales & Purchasing at Aurora Timberland, Clay Miller. Clay’s path through the industry has been anything but linear — from growing up around his family’s mill, to taking a detour in education and retail, and ultimately steering back to a career in hardwood lumber through a chance encounter. Our conversation explores the role of generational wisdom, the importance of industry storytelling, and the urgent need for the hardwood industry to reintroduce itself to a new generation of consumers. We also dive into lessons from The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, the surprising rise of shiplap, and how the industry might learn to grow its message — one meaningful connection at a time.

Making the Grade | Featuring: Dana Spessert

On this episode of the Roots & Reflections podcast, we sit down with NHLA’s Chief Inspector, Dana Spessert. As a third generation lumberman who grew up around his family’s sawmill in West Virginia, Dana got his first taste of the lumber business at age three and never looked back. Our conversation digs into Dana’s childhood and early career, the countless experiences and lessons that led him to his current role, the many hats he wears with NHLA, and the advice he would give to the next generation of young men and women in the industry.

The eLIMBS Evolution | Featuring: Phil Coyner

On this episode of the Roots & Reflections podcast, we sit down with eLIMBS founder, Phil Coyner. eLIMBS, which has since been acquired by DMSi, was one of the industry leading providers of hardwood lumber inventory management software solutions. Over the course of nearly 18 years, Phil and his Wife, Amy built a business that changed the way the hardwood industry looked at software.

Tropical Trailblazers | Featuring: Jordan Dery

On this special IHLA edition of the Roots & Reflections podcast, we chat with the Co-Founder, and current Vice President of Tropical Forest Products, Jordan Dery. Jordan, along with his twin brother Justin, and good friend Jassi founded Tropical Forest Products in 2017 at the age of 24. In the relatively short time since their launch, Jordan and his team have grown Tropical Forest Products into a thriving business with multiple locations in the United States and Canada. Our conversation touches on the early days of Tropical Forest Products around the family’s kitchen table, bringing on strategic partners, and the parallel growth of Tropical Forest Products as a business and Jordan as an entrepreneur.

Horsepower to Hardwood | Featuring: Steve James

On this episode of the Roots & Reflections podcast, we sit down with the President & CEO of Frank Miller Lumber, Steve James. Family-owned for 120 years, Frank Miller Lumber is among the world’s largest quarter sawn hardwood lumber producers. Our conversation touches on Steve’s early career with General Motors, making the jump to the hardwood industry, and how his leadership philosophy helped reshape the culture at Frank Miller Lumber.