Tom Shandy has over 22 years of combined experience developing leaders in business, storied military organizations, and as an educator. His unique background enables him to communicate proven leadership principles to a variety of audiences expertly.

Specially educated in strategy and design thinking, Tom has developed plans to align large organizations to implement new strategies and policies. He has built cohesive teams amongst multi-national partners from across the globe to develop and achieve key objectives. In addition, he has experience with curriculum and faculty development for educational institutions across the department of defense.

Tom also has a unique background in developing business leaders. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University, he began his tenure as the program director for a successful small business chain.

He selected and trained new supervisors, resulting in dynamic growth and national recognition as program director of the year.

Tom’s diverse background allows him to be an expert in employing the art and science of leadership to maximize team cohesion and performance. He translates executive key objectives into plans and strategies that can be easily understood and executed to get results. His education and training allow him to identify organizational friction and design unique and grounded solutions.

Tom has advanced degrees in Adult Learning and Leadership from Kansas State University and Operations from the School of Advanced Military Studies.

Claudia St. John, SHRM-SCP, SPHR is a keynote speaker, bestselling author, and the Founder and CEO of The Workplace Advisors, a leading HR consulting, recruiting, and training firm specializing in equipping businesses with the consulting support and people skills they need to grow. The Workplace Advisors is the North American Wholesale Lumber Association's endorsed HR and workplace resource.

Claudia is an SHRM Certified Senior HR Professional and a Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst who empowers organizations with evidence-backed insights, so they can navigate the evolving landscape of talent acquisition, engagement, and retention with confidence and foresight. Known as The Workplace Advisor, she helps organizations zoom out, shift their mindset, and build businesses that lead their industry. 

Minnesota born and raised, Allie Emch is the Talent Acquisition Manager at Forest City Trading Group (FCTG), supporting recruiting efforts across multiple companies throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is passionate about connecting driven, competitive individuals with careers in the forest products industry and encouraging more people to see themselves in an industry full of opportunity.

 A former college soccer player, Allie still brings a competitive mindset to both work and life. Outside of recruiting, she enjoys hosting friends and family, lake weekends, carbs in all forms, and a good episode of Dateline.

Joy is a 25-year veteran in the building materials industry working as a trader for Sherwood Lumber. Starting as an Executive Assistant to the CEO she was put on the sales floor a year later and has been there ever since. She is also one of the top performing salespeople at Sherwood. Joy was a board member of New York’s Natl Assoc of Women In Construction where she served in multiple roles.

She is currently working on publishing a book empowering women on how to be successful in male populated spaces. 

Judy Haney works as a region commodity procurement manager for Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution. Her responsibilities include helping develop new products with home center sales teams, supervising home center procurement specialists, overseeing external remanufacturing contracts, and helping source composite panels for 39 branch locations. 

She has over 29 years’ experience in the forest products industry and has been with Boise Cascade for 16 years. She is a forester by education and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management and a Master of Science degree in Forest Economics from Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas. She worked for forest product companies throughout the Southeast US before coming to Boise, Idaho in 2010. She has held positions throughout the wood products supply chain from wood procurement to finished product sales.

Her family inspires her passion to learn and advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Judy also enjoys gardening, watercolor painting, reading, hiking, and spending quality time with family and friends. She has been married to Mike Mann for 25 years and the couple has two sons and one daughter.

Connie D. Baker is an accomplished Human Resources professional with over 20 years of progressive leadership experience across HR strategy, organizational development, and engineering. As the Senior Director of Human Resources at RoyOMartin Companies, she leads HR operations for the largest plywood manufacturing facility in North America, supporting a workforce of more than 750 team members.

Connie is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and SHRM-CP, recognized for her ability to align HR functions with operational goals. Her leadership has been instrumental in major organizational initiatives, including workforce expansion, supervisory training, employee engagement, and the design of a pay-for-knowledge compensation structure for the plywood facility.  She also played a key role in launching an in-house skilled craftsmen apprenticeship program and supporting new facility startups through effective talent acquisition and internal mobility strategies.

Before her tenure in HR, Connie built a successful early career as a Mechanical Engineer, where she supported Procter & Gamble’s manufacturing operations. Her engineering background lends her a unique analytical perspective in HR, enabling her to develop data-driven solutions and continuous improvement processes.

Connie holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Southern University and A&M College. She is a graduate of LSU’s Executive Education program and an active member of several professional and civic organizations, including the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she is serving as Chapter President. She was honored in 2013 as Louisiana’s sole recipient of the national Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Production Inaugural (STEP) Award given by the Manufacturing Institute.

In addition to her corporate responsibilities, Connie is deeply committed to community development, serving as immediate past Chair of the Alexandria Civil Service Commission, a member of the NSU Industrial Advisory Council, and Advanced Manufacturing Program Advisory Group, and current education chair of the National Wholesale Lumber Association.  Her career reflects a dedication to excellence, diversity, and impactful leadership in both the workplace and the community. She is a member of St. Juliana Catholic Church. Connie is the current president of the Alexandria (LA) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Natalie Martin Monroe is the Vice President of Talent, Engagement and Sustainability Operations for RoyOMartin and a member of the Strategic Action Leadership Team (SALT).  She also serves as the Corporate Secretary for the Martin Sustainable Resources (MSR) Board of Directors. As a fourth-generation leader, Natalie began her career at RoyOMartin working as an intern at the home office for many summers and then served as a land surveyor intern during the construction of the plywood facility in 1995. After graduating college, she worked as an environmental consultant before joining the company as the Corporate Environmental Manager in July 2003. She then served as the Vice President of Environmental, Safety and Sustainability Operations from 2022 to 2026.  She is a 1998 graduate of Vanderbilt University and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree specializing in civil and environmental engineering. She also earned a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University in 2002.

In her talent, engagement and sustainability role at RoyOMartin, Natalie drives people, culture and sustainability strategies across the company.  She oversees the development and execution of integrated programs that strengthen employee engagement, enhance the company’s reputation, attract and retain top talent and ensure long-term environmental and social responsibility.  She also serves as Treasurer of the Martin Foundation, where she manages employee and dependent scholarships to colleges and universities across Louisiana and Texas.

Natalie is the recipient of the STEP Ahead Women in Manufacturing award, which she received in 2017.  She also received the “20 under 40” Young Professional Group award in 2016.  In 2025, she was recognized as a 40’s Distinguished Woman of the Year by the YWCA.

Natalie served on the Martin Family Council Steering Committee from 2006 to 2013 as Vice President and then as President.  Natalie is past President of the Alexandria Country Day School Board of Trustees and past President of the YMCA board.  She is also a sustaining member of the Junior League of Alexandria and a member and greeter at Calvary Baptist Church.  She currently serves as President of the American Cancer Society board for Louisiana, is a member of the Keep Louisiana Beautiful board and serves as Secretary of the CenLA Strong Political Action Committee.  In her free time, she is a Body Pump instructor at Louisiana Athletic Club. When she is not working or volunteering, she loves spending time with her husband, Darryl, and their four children, Ryan, Raegan, Parker and Pierson.