Ever changing hardwood log prices can affect your bottom line. But what if, there was a way to identify the true value of the log and realize the profit potential? Join NHLA Chief Inspector, Dana Spessert, Ed Thomas of the U.S Forest Service and Urs Buehlman of Virginia Tech for a discussion on hardwood profit recovery. What you’ll learn: * How to determine which log size and species are best suited for your sawmill production. * How to predict outcomes. * Are you paying too much for your logs? * What area should you be monitoring in the sawmill.
Steve Zambo (CEO of the AGL Group) hosts this webinar on the basics of exporting. If you are looking to get into the export space, are new to the export space, or have basic questions regarding exporting, this webinar is for you. Steve will discuss some of the pitfalls to avoid as an organization that is new to exporting.
This webinar will give you perspective on crosstie markets, the Rail Tie Association, and how to become more involved in the industry. Attendees will learn how important tie production is to the overall market, industry, and economy of our country; gain a broad understanding of the market; develop a working knowledge of tie type, grade, and the defects that determine grade; and wood species used in ties.
Gene discusses practical techniques for shortening kiln to drying time as well as kiln start-up conditions after air drying.
Improve the overall quality of your kiln dried lumber and have your specific drying questions answered – lunch is not provided.
With significant increases in import duties and retaliatory measures limiting access to key export markets, companies across the industry are facing mounting pressure. Given that over half of U.S. hardwood production is exported, understanding current trade policies — and how to leverage mitigation strategies like duty drawback, foreign trade zones, and relief programs — is critical to protecting profitability and maintaining global competitiveness. Our featured speaker, Kate Rayer, a +20-year customs and compliance expert, will break down: What’s happening now with U.S. tariff investigations and applications Practical “Tariffs 101” guidance tailored for hardwood businesses Mitigation strategies (duty drawback, foreign trade zones, import/export relief programs) Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights and tools to help your business navigate today’s tariff landscape. Originally aired September 17th, 2025. Thank you to our sponsor, SII Dry Kilns! Learn more about SII Dry Kilns by visiting their website: www.siidrykilns.com
What You’ll Learn Expanded Role of Inspection: Inspection is no longer just grading lumber — NHLA’s services go far beyond what was offered in the past. Consultative Value: NHLA inspectors act as business advisers—helping with quality control, marketing strategy, and connecting you with other businesses that can support your growth. Full Service Line-Up: • National Inspectors to assist when staff is stretched • Inspection Services to ensure grading accuracy, operational efficiency, and profitability • NHLA Certification Programs to demonstrate your business meets recognized standards • NHLA Grading Rules — the foundational standards for hardwood lumber measurement and inspection • Custom In-House Training tailored to your business’s unique needs • Yield & Quality Control analysis to improve efficiency and reduce waste Certification Programs: Dana will close the session by outlining how NHLA certification programs work, what benefits they offer, and how to get started. Why It’s Worth Your Time Upgrade your understanding of inspection from grading only to strategic resource. Discover practical tools to improve operations, marketing, and partnerships in the hardwood supply chain. Learn directly from Chief Inspector Dana Spessert and leave with actionable takeaways. Who Should Attend Business owners and operations leads in the hardwood industry Quality control, grading, and production staff Anyone considering or currently using NHLA inspection services or certification Learn all about our services at NHLA.com/Services Originally aired on September 24th, 2025
Join NHLA and the "Wood Doctor" Gene Wengert for a 4-Part Webinar Series on Drying Hardwood Lumber.
Join NHLA and NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association) for a webinar that will provide you with a better understanding of where the hardwood flooring market is, where it is going, and the major influences and trends affecting it. You can learn about the NWFA resources available to you and your team, including how the newly developed wood flooring Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) clearly position wood flooring as the least impactful flooring material and wood products in general as the most significant potential mitigator of climate change. You will also learn about the newly launched NWFA Engineered Refinishable program, which differentiates real wood products from look-a-likes, encourages the use of longer-life products, and brings clarity to the wood flooring channel. Who should attend: Owners, salespeople, marketing folks, and all who have an interest in learning more about the wood flooring industry, NWFA, and their newly developed environmental tools and programs which benefit the entire wood products industry. Instructors: John Forbes, Manufacturer Services Director at NWFA. Michael Martin, President and CEO at NWFA
Discover the benefits of the DOE’s Onsite Energy TAP program and how it can revolutionize your sector. Plus, learn about no-cost technical services from Southcentral Onsite Energy TAP experts.
During this webinar, Dr. Wengert discusses stacking best air-drying practices, assessing lumber for sawing issues that affect drying and the story about drying sheds.
The National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) is now accepting rules change proposals for the 2027 Hardwood & Cypress Lumber Grading Rules. This is your opportunity to shape the future of the hardwood industry and ensure the rules reflect the evolving needs of the market. Join our upcoming webinar to learn how the rules change process works, what makes a strong proposal, and how your input can directly impact the industry's standards.
Watch this webinar to discover the opportunities for improving grade and yield of your hardwood logs.
Join NHLA to learn how data drives the future of hardwood sustainability.
Join NHLA and sponsor Jartek for an in-depth discussion on the current and future state of thermal modification in the hardwood industry. This webinar will provide a concise overview of the thermal modification process and explore the development of both process and durability standards.
Join NHLA and Tom Inman with Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc. (AHMI) for a review of trends in domestic hardwood lumber use in furniture for 2023. This webinar is designed for hardwood lumber sales and marketing staff to understand domestic and international furniture manufacturing trends in 2023. It covers the trends revealed at High Point Furniture Market, including photos of Spring Market introductions and comments from leading furniture manufacturers. Participants will learn about projections for hardwood species use for the next two quarters. Instructor: Tom Inman with AHMI
Are you maximizing the value of your hardwood lumber? Many sawmills overlook a critical component of their operation—process control—which can significantly impact profitability. Join NHLA Chief Inspector Dana Spessert for a live webinar where you’ll uncover how Statistical Process Control (SPC) can help your business: -Pinpoint the break-even value of your logs and maximize returns. -Optimize resources by managing both equipment and personnel effectively. -Target raw material usage for better efficiency and cost savings. -Understand why continuous quality control is an investment, not an expense. This webinar is the perfect opportunity to ask questions, gain insights, and see why NHLA’s SPC course has helped companies save.
NHLA members recently voted on proposed updates to the NHLA Rules. While the approved changes will not take effect until January 1, 2027, this webinar provides an early opportunity for members to understand what’s coming and prepare accordingly. Join NHLA Chief Inspector Dana Spessert as he explains: Which Rules changes were approved What will change—and what will remain the same How the updated Rules will be applied once in effect What members should be doing now to prepare for 2027 This session is ideal for grading supervisors, inspectors, management, and anyone responsible for training, compliance, or operational planning. Originally aired on January 21, 2026.
Your Peers Are Benchmarking—Are You? How does your operation really compare to others in the hardwood industry—and what could that insight mean for your bottom line? Join NHLA and The Beck Group for a practical overview of the Hardwood Lumber Benchmarking Study and Competitive Assessment, a confidential, industry-wide effort designed to help participating mills better understand their operational and financial performance relative to peers. In this session, you’ll learn: What data is being collected—and why it matters How participating mills will receive customized, confidential benchmarking reports Which metrics are being evaluated, including costs, staffing, yields, and sales realizations How benchmarking insights can support smarter decision-making and long-term competitiveness This webinar is designed for mills considering participation in the study and will walk through the process, timeline, and value of contributing your data. Why participate? Mills that complete the survey will receive actionable insights that highlight strengths, uncover opportunities for improvement, and provide a clearer picture of how their operation fits within today’s hardwood market. Recruitment is open now, with data collection beginning in March and reporting scheduled for April–June. Attend the webinar to learn more—and take the first step toward participating in the Benchmarking Study. Your peers are already benchmarking. Don’t miss the opportunity to see where you stand. This webinar originally aired on February 19th, 2026.