Maine Governor Paul LePage presented the Pine Tree Award from the Maine Wood Products Association (MWPA) to Maine Wood Concepts owners Doug Fletcher, Jody Fletcher and Gary Fletcher. MWPA presents the Pine Tree Award annually to a Maine wood products manufacturer that has shown innovation and strength in the industry over the past several years.

Maine Wood Concepts has been in the Fletcher family since 1971, and in the last year added 40 jobs to support their expansion into a line of gourmet kitchen products sold under the Fletcher’s Mill brand. Maine Wood Concepts is the leading U.S manufacturer of custom wood turnings, wood tool handles and custom molded wood parts.

“The Fletchers have used entrepreneurship, calculated risk-taking and perseverance to keep their company competitive,” said Dan Crowley, executive director of the Maine Wood Products Association (MWPA). “They have secured local markets for Maine’s high quality hardwoods and created good jobs in Maine while facing down foreign competition.”

Collin Miller, director of wood products initiatives for the Northern Forest Center, coordinates the Regional Wood Products Consortium to facilitate innovation in the wood products sector across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. Miller facilitated a team to work closely with the Fletchers to help Maine Wood Concepts transition to its expanded business model. “They saw a need to take a strategic approach to growth of their workforce and began focusing on internal changes that could address their needs,” said Miller.

The Regional Wood Products Consortium is a collaboration between the Northern Forest Center and the wood products manufacturing industry in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and northern New York. The Consortium facilitates innovation to enhance the economic competitiveness of the wood products sector. The Northern Forest Center, a nonprofit organization, advocates for the Northern Forest region and helps its communities benefit from forest-based economic and conservation initiatives.

The Maine Wood Products Association (MWPA) seeks to improve the competitive position of its members and build quality employment in the State by sharing technical, marketing and business expertise. The MWPA is a 501(c) 3 organization.

Source: Northern Forest Center and Maine Wood Products Association