Then, Now, Next: Women’s Evolving Role in the Lumber 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.