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Karen Koenig
Editor

Karen M. Koenig has more than 30 years of experience in the woodworking industry, including visits to wood products manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As editor of special publications under the Woodworking Network brand, including the Red Book Best Practices resource guide and website, Karen’s responsibilities include writing, editing and coordinating of editorial content. She is also a contributor to FDMC and other Woodworking Network online and print media owned by CCI Media. She can be reached at [email protected]

WOOD 100 Honorees

Want more customers? 17 strategies to improve service: WOOD 100

Good customer service is key when it comes to retaining, as well as obtaining, customers. Today's wood products manufacturers must also work harder, smarter and faster than their competitors. What follows are some of the customer service strategies put in place by manufacturers of wood components, cabinetry, architectural woodwork and furniture. Read all the 2016 WOOD 100: Strategies for Success

Pricing & Supply

Two Rivers Lumber $65 million startup brings jobs to Alabama

Plans are underway for the startup of Two Rivers Lumber Co.'s first sawmill, a $65 million investment that will bring 55 jobs initially, and up to 95 jobs eventually, to west Alabama. When completed, the mill will have an annual capacity of 200 million board feet and produce southern yellow pine dimensional lumber for sale throughout the United States.

Market Leaders

2016 Wood Industry Market Leaders revealed

Meet the 2016 Wood Industry Market Leaders. This elite group of woodworking professionals are thriving as they meet the competitive and economic challenges facing North American businesses – a fact highlighted by the number of firms included in this year’s FDMC 300 listing of the wood industries' largest firms.

Market Leaders

Wood Industry Market Leader: Farooq Kathwari, Ethan Allen Interiors

A fortuitous meeting started Farooq Kathwari on the path to becoming the chairman, president and CEO of Ethan Allen Interiors – and turned the Kashmir-born man into a true American success story. Under Kathwari’s leadership, Ethan Allen has become a top producer of residential furnishings, with nine manufacturing facilities, including six U.S. production facilities and a sawmill, plus plants in Mexico and Honduras.

Market Leaders

Wood Industry Market Leader: Todd Wegman, Stevens Industries

Teamwork: It’s what drives not only Stevens Industries President Todd Wegman, but is the very essence of the employee-owned, multi-million dollar panel laminator, commercial casework and millwork manufacturer, and private label manufacturer. Under his leadership, he has created at Stevens a culture that drives entrepreneurialism.

Market Leaders

Wood Industry Market Leader: Sylvain Garneau, Groupe Lacasse

Opportunity led Sylvain Garneau to join Groupe Lacasse. A passion for woodworking is what has kept him there. Under Garneau’s leadership, Groupe Lacasse has continued to be proactive with regards to productivity, diversification and in particular, creativity. It has been recognized for its achievements, including several “Best of NeoCon” awards.