4th Annual Carolina Women In Timber Conference
New-Indy Catawba - Mill Tour
December 5, 2023
Pictured left to right: Jamey Hollis, Wood Operations Procurement Manager
Paul DeHaan, Continuous Improvement Manager
Marshall Thompson, Fiber Supply Manager
Jamie Lipscomb, Procurement Forester
A Message from New-Indy Catawba
“New-Indy Catawba is happy to host the 4th Annual Carolina Women In Timber Conference. This meeting is a good reminder of the web of connections throughout the forest products industry. We are all dependent on each part of the supply chain. From the woods to the mills, it’s a joint effort by many. We hope that you enjoy the tour and continue to grow your organization!”
Jamey Hollis, Wood Operations Procurement Manager
Group 1
The Ladies geared up and headed into the mill! What an opportunity for all of us to see their operation! Our tour guides did not disappoint! The tour of the wood yard was quite impressive! The women commented they loved driving through the yard with a small group as it was easier to ask questions and hear what the guide was saying.
4th Annual Carolina Women In Timber RECAP
A total of 38 enthusiastic and eager Carolina Women In Timber members showed up and were excited to get an eye-opening educational mill tour from our hosts at New-Indy Catawba!
The New-Indy mill tour was designed to educate and inform us of a successful mill operation, mill equipment and important personnel needed to operate smoothly and safely.
The overall process provided important information to help better understand the term “woods to mill.” Their willingness to donate their valuable time to us is very much appreciated by each and every member! Thank you New-Indy!
Thank you New-Indy Catawba for welcoming and inviting all of the Carolina Women In Timber members to tour your mill operation!
New-Indy Catawba is located at 5300 Cureton Ferry Road in Catawba, South Carolina. There are 450 employees. It covers 1,800 acres in size and the facility is 940,000 sq. ft.
Website: newindycatawba.com.
Group 2
The members commented that day on so many things they learned as they toured the mill and wood yard. We learned the process from beginning to end on “paper making” and what it takes to make a roll of paper. We loved learning that the mill reuses its resources to minimize their waste! Great Tour today!
Foothills Forest Products, Inc.
A.B. (Butch) Green, Jr., Owner/Area Manager
Whitmire, South Carolina
“Lori, thanks again for having the Carolina Women In Timber Annual Meeting. What a great time for all these ladies who work and play a key role in so many different Timber Industry Businesses. Hope you ladies have a great time fellowshipping with each other, putting faces with names and voices that you talk to on a regular basis, and taking a tour of the Catawba Paper Mill. Your tour of the paper mill will be very interesting and educational. Thanks again for all you ladies do to help this great industry move forward. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays” A.B. “Butch” Green Jr.
2023 Sponsors
2023 Carolina Women In Timber ~ Sponsors
________________________________________
Foothills Forest Products, Inc.
Green Valley Range
Jeremy & Betsy Kessinger
LOTS Group
Manulife Investment Management
Orbis, Inc.
Palmetto Stump & Brush Cutting LLC
Seven Hills Forestry, Inc.
Woodland Security, Inc.
Tour provided by: New-Indy
Green Valley Range
Jerry Tumminia, President
Las Vegas, Nevada
“Green Valley Range has been a leader in supporting women in the firearms industry. When I met Lori and she told me about her group “Carolina Women in Timber” I knew I wanted to support her! The timber industry seems like another male dominated industry just like the firearms industry and any chance to shine a light on some great women, I knew we would love to contribute!”
Jeremy & Betsy Kessinger, Duncan, South Carolina
Written by Betsy Kessinger
“I’ve spent most of my life connected with the timber industry. My father was a registered Forester and I also married a Registered Forester, Jeremy Kessinger. I’ve cruised timber and created stand maps. Even though I ended up choosing a different career path, I feel like forestry is in my blood. I met Lori Walker 7 years ago when she worked with my husband and we’ve been good friends ever since! Jeremy and I fully support Lori’s mission to celebrate and promote the Carolina Women In Timber organization!”
Woodland Security, Inc., Tom Kazee, Director
“Lori, I’m happy to make a small contribution to your fabulous project. And here are a few reasons why.
I have worked with women in woodland operations for forty-three years. They work tirelessly as foresters, managers, administrators, accounting professionals, and technical experts. They do every job that is performed by men, just as well if not better.
I’m certain that some women have not received the credit, pay, and promotions that they truly deserve. There are “manly” misconceptions about how a professional person should look, sound and interact with other professional people. When a person doesn’t fit a certain “mold”, they can be overlooked.
I recall a young lady working as an administrator. She did not have the advantage of a long academic career and her grammar was not always perfect. But her work was superb. She was conscientious, tireless, and had great attention to detail. She was a terrific asset to the company. Stuck in a job and unrecognized, she finally left the company. That company went through five new employees who failed to work out before they finally had a good replacement. That mistake cost the company tons of time, money and aggravation. All that could have been avoided.
I will close, but sincerely appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this cause.” Tom Kazee
LOTS Group, (Bellwether Forest Products, Inc.)
Matt Moldenhauer, President & CEO
Camden, South Carolina
“We continue to be a proud sponsor of Women in Timber because at LOTS we strive to bring new talent, new thinking and diversity of all kinds to the forest products industry. In the decade to come we will watch baby boomers retire at record numbers, especially in older industries like timber, leaving a huge gap in the labor force we need. The forest products industry will be faced with the challenge of replacing these workers by attracting new ones in largely small, and often shrinking, rural communities.
The only way in which the industry can accomplish this long-term is to invest in and welcome the other 50% of the population to participate: Women. If the demographic shift in the industry is coupled with a new pipeline of female talent and leadership, the next decade will be a great one for local timber communities.”
ORBIS, Inc.
Kim Kean, Director of Marketing
Charlotte, North Carolina
“At Orbis, Inc., we support the empowerment and advancement of women in the timberland and natural resource management industry.
Sponsoring Women in Timber is one small way we can show that support.
From front office positions, to boots on the ground, it’s important to uplift and celebrate women through this event and other initiatives like it.”
Manulife Investment Management Forest Management
Matthew Bonham, President
“Not only am I excited to sponsor this great event, I am more excited to have Lori Walker on our team. As a member of our team, Lori brings unique experiences and perspectives to make our team better everyday. Promoting Women in Timber provides opportunities to bring more people to the forest sector and in where we all benefit from a diversity of team members who process information differently, who see new solutions to problems and offers differing viewpoints to the challenges we face in our industry.
At Manulife, we fully support advancing diversity of thought, experiences and perspectives to improve our company and the industry as a whole. Thank you, Lori, for taking the initiative to make the timber industry stronger and better through empowering women to lead in timber organizations across the country.”
Seven Hills Forestry, Inc.
Brandy Gammon, President-Owner, Rome, Georgia
“Seven Hills Forestry is a 50% woman owned reforestation company with over 20 years of experience in primarily tree planting and seedling harvesting. Having the annual Women in Timber conference that brings together other women in the forestry and forest products industry helps to encourage growth and awareness of an industry that is a vital part of the economic stability of many states, especially South Carolina. I am glad to participate with any group that seeks to add diversity to its ranks. I am encouraged to see that there is a place and group that come together annually to broaden the reach of this industry, especially among young women. I appreciate the handwork and effort Lori Walker has put and continues to put into making this conference successful every year.”
Palmetto Stump & Brush Cutting, LLC
Timmy & Summer Ruff
Ridgeville, South Carolina
“We have been a part of The Carolina Women in Timber for 3 years, sponsoring 2 of them. It is such a great experience to be involved, and an honor to support.
There is a true need for this group.
It gives women an opportunity to have fun and enjoy learning the industry, not just work in it. The comradery is outstanding, each meeting brings so much fun and laughter, something we all need more of these days.
Looking forward to many years of success and continued growth.”
TESTIMONIALS
“I loved the format of the meeting this year - lots of education and learning! My favorite part was once again the camaraderie and fellowship with other women in the timber industry!”
“I can clearly see this is a growing organization and I’m so glad to be a part of it! I just love how Lori brings all the women together who work in this amazing business! I love seeing the faces to the voices that we know! Thanks for all you do Lori!”
“I was so impressed with so much today! The paper machine was amazing - the guides were awesome and took a great deal of time with us explaining processes! Lorraine Green was very impressive also!”
“This organization is very important to our industry. It recognizes the value of women who support this industry!”
“I was so impressed with Lori and her ability to raise money from sponsors to cover all this and to provide us such a wonderful experience! You have done an outstanding job putting this together!”
WAY TO REPRESENT!
Representatives attending from:
Boise Cascade
BRK Marketing
Domtar
Foothills Forest Products
Forest Investments Associates
Hillcrest Timber Farm, LLC
LOTS Group
Manulife Forest Management
Miliken Forestry Company
Mulberry Plantation
Nuveen Natural Capital
Orbis, Inc.
RMS
Seven Hills Forestry
South Carolina Forestry Commission
WilRidge Forestry
WestRock
2024 Carolina Women In Timber Gift
Hand Made Cutting Board
Tom Weiser of Smethport, Pennsylvania custom designed and hand made the Hard Maple Cutting Boards and laser engraved them for each member!
2024 Carolina Women In Timber TShirt
Our featured Model - Kim Kean of Orbis, Inc.
CWIT Tshirts were made by Southern Panache in Inman, SC, for each member and also given to our CWIT Sponsors! We are proud to promote them and brag about their support for us! When I asked Kim if she would model the Tshirt, she told me she was in the process of moving and most of her belongings were boxed up…. but not her CWIT Tshirt! Kim is the Director of Marketing at Orbis, Inc. Thank you Kim! You wear it well!
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
Jamey Hollis, Paul DeHaan, Lori Walker, Marshall Thompson, Jamie Lipscomb
I would like to personally thank so many people that helped make the 4th Annual Conference such a huge success!
To New-Indy Cawtaba - and our amazing tour guides! Also thanks for the help by others at New-Indy!
To all of our personal and professional sponsors!
To Jersey Mikes - for feeding us!
To Summer Ruff for the assistance and much needed help in organizing the meeting!
To Madeline Feltman for always volunteering to jump in and help and for taking amazing notes!
To Grace Beatty - for being our social media guru!
To Southern Panache - for creating our 1st ever Tshirts and to Kim Kean- for modeling it so well!
To Tom Weiser of Total Engraving - you never fail me! Thank you!
To our official Carolina Women In Timber Board of Directors:
Summer Ruff - Vice President
Jessica Garabino - Treasurer
Caroline Wilson - Secretary
To Jerry - my right hand man. Thank you for all your help, guidance and support.
Thank you to all the devoted, talented and kind Carolina Women In Timber!