Foundation of Forest Products

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Introducing Foundation of Forest Products – Your On-Demand Guide to Forest Products Essentials

NAWLA is excited to launch Foundation of Forest Products, a convenient, on-demand course designed to provide essential forest products knowledge anytime, anywhere. Perfect for new employees, industry newcomers, or those looking to expand their understanding, Foundation of Forest Products features seven concise less than 20-minute modules, adapted from our flagship in-person Wood Basics Course. Each module includes key takeaways and assessments, giving you the flexibility to learn at your own pace.

Expand your knowledge with Foundation of Forest Products —get started today and take the first step toward mastering the forest products industry!

Modules Overview: 

The Forest: Forestry and Harvesting: Explore the fundamentals of forestry, including forest management practices and the different types of forests that contribute to wood production. 
Wood Basics and Anatomy: Delve into the structure and composition of trees, understanding how growth patterns, water content, and strength factors influence wood characteristics. 
Lumber Manufacturing: Learn the step-by-step process of turning logs into lumber, from debarking through to packing and shipping. 
Lumber Grading: Discover the different grades of lumber and plywood, and understand how wood defects and quality control play a role in the final product. 
Engineered Wood Products (EWP): Examine the manufacturing processes and applications of engineered wood products, such as plywood, OSB, and I-joists, and how they enhance construction. 
Treated Wood: Understand the wood treatment processes that protect products from decay and insects, focusing on sustainability and long-term durability. 
Transportation & Logistics: Gain valuable insights into the logistics of shipping wood products, including the modes of transportation, packaging requirements, and innovations in the field.

David Jones, Ph.D.

Director of Treated Wood and Laboratories

Timber Products Inspection

David Jones is currently the Director of Treated Wood and Laboratories with Timber Products Inspection. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Resources/Wood Science from the University of Georgia, a Master of Science in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Forest resource Management from Clemson University. Previously he has worked as an auditor of forest products manufacturing both domestically and abroad, and was an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at Mississippi State University. David resides in his family home in Hampton, Georgia.

Jay Hilsenbeck

Director of Product Management and Marketing

Arxada

Jay Hilsenbeck has been in the wood protection industry since 2006.  He has been a member of AWPA since 2010 and since then has served on a number of Preservative and Treatment Committees, joined the Executive Committee in 2021 and served as AWPA’s 2024-2025 President.  Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to attend Carnegie Mellon University, graduating with a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.S. in Polymer Science.  Jay moved to north Jersey to work for a specialty chemicals company supplying ingredients to the personal care and pharmaceutical industry.  He joined the wood protection industry after moving to Atlanta, Georgia to accept a position as Senior Research Chemist for Arch Wood Protection (now Arxada), and today is the Director of Global Product Management and North America Marketing for Arxada’s Wood Protection business.  In addition to his responsibilities at AWPA, Jay has been active in numerous industry organizations including RTA, ASTM, WDMA, CWPA, and CSA

KayCee Hallstrom

Vice President

Zip-O-Log Mills, Inc.

KayCee started her career with Zip-O-Log Mills, Inc. in 2012. From 2012-2015 KayCee worked in the Planer facility all positions, Log Yard all positions, Trucking – threw straps, shadowed all Supervisors and all operators to either observe or do their jobs. Administrative/Financial – all positions - AP, AR, Log Accounting, Financial Statements, all reports. First NAWLA Event was the Wood Basics 2012 in Corvallis, OR and first Trader’s Market was 2012. Became part of the NAWLA 10 Group GenNext 1 in 2013. Also attended the NAWLA Executive Management Institute (EMI) course in 2015.  Learned to grade from the PLIB (Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau) and got certified.

 

2015-2021 KayCee worked mostly at the custom glulam facility from floor plans, getting certified with the APA to begin production in June 2016. Responsibilities were Sales, Production and Logistics/Shipping, and Operations. I joined the NAWLA Scholarship Committee in 2019-2022 and became Head Chair of the Education Committee in 2022.

  June 2021 – present – Became a co-owner as the Vice President along with my father Karl Hallstrom as President and my sister KelCee Hallstrom as the Secretary/Treasurer and oversee operations of all facilities.

Lon J. Sibert

President

Renewable Resource Associates, Inc.

Lon J. Sibert is the founder and president of Renewable Resource Associates, Inc. (RRA), established in 1995. With over 48 years of experience as of 2022, Lon is a respected figure in the lumber industry. He holds a B.S. in Forest Management from Humboldt State College and is accredited by the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC). RRA provides comprehensive grading, inspection, and certification services, with expertise spanning North American species and international lumber markets in Europe, South America, and beyond. Throughout his career, Lon has been a key player in ensuring the quality and integrity of lumber products. He previously managed and served as Vice-President of the Lumber Division at Timber Products Inspection for 18 years, helping to restore and maintain its ALSC accreditation. He is also a voting member of the ALSC and serves on the ASTM Technical Committee D-07 for wood.

Terry Haddix

Operations Manager

Patrick Lumber Company

Terry Haddix took on the role of Operations Manager at Patrick Lumber Company in 2021.  She has nearly 30 years of diverse industry experience in wholesale and remanufacturing.  In her current position, she is responsible for creating, refining, and documenting processes, training, on-boarding, IT and special projects. Her previous position at PLC was in Business Administration, where her primary objective was to manage all aspects of her Trader's business, allowing them the freedom and flexibility to focus solely on buying and selling lumber.

Tyler Freres

Vice President of Sales

Freres Lumber Co.

Tyler Freres is the Vice President of Sales for Freres Lumber Co., Inc. He has worked directly in plywood manufacturing since 2004. Tyler is responsible for selling and sourcing all veneer for Freres veneer and plywood operations. As an executive team member, he takes an active role in determining the long-term direction of the company. 

Tyler attended Southern Methodist University (SMU), in Dallas, Texas, where he earned a B.A. in English Literature and a B.B.A. in Business Administration with Finance minor. After graduation from SMU, Tyler attended Oregon State University College of Forestry. In 2016, Tyler conceived of and the company later created Freres’s Mass Plywood Panel (MPP). Tyler’s passion for the future of veneer is evident. “I believe that the veneer and panel industry has the greatest potential of transforming and producing innovative wood products to create the greatest structures at the lowest cost with the least environmental impact.” 

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Foundation of Forest Products Tutorial
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Begin self-paced component package. Please complete this brief tutorial to help you navigate the course.
Foundation of Forest Products Course
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Course Survey
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Certificate of Completion
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