AITKIN, MN -- The Aitkin County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has been recognized as meeting the forest certification standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for their management of family forestlands in the county. The Aitkin SWCD joins the more than six million acres of Minnesota forests that have become FSC-certified since 1997.  

MANNING, SC -- More than 100 workers at Southwoods-Arauco Lumber & Millwork LLC will lose their jobs when the company closes at the end of June, according to the Charlotte Observer. Diego de la Maza, general manager of the Chile-based company, told workers June 1 that a depressed housing market has not allowed the company to generate the volume of business needed to stay open.

  WINCHESTER, VA — American Woodmark Corp., maker of kitchen cabinets and vanities, reported fiscal 2008 earnings are expected to be down sharply due to the current housing slump. The company expects sales to fall 7% to 11% in 2007, resulting in lower profits of $1.50 to $1.80 per share, down from $2.04 per share in the 2006 fiscal year.

CHARLOTTE, NC – Biesse America announced the appointment of Mary Weil as its North American marketing communications manager. Her responsibilities will include coordinating the company’s overall internal and external marketing communications strategy, as well as facilitating Biesse America’s public relations programs. Weil has 20 years of professional experience in marketing, communications, strategic planning and management.

SEATTLE — National flooring chain iFLOOR.com opened its 24th store in West Roxbury, MA, on June 1. The 8,250-square-foot facility allows customers to browse and purchase hardwood, laminate, bamboo and cork flooring. iFLOOR’s 25th store opened June 4 in Stanton, CA. The nation’s first and largest online flooring retailer has plans to open stores in Danvers, MA, and Nashua, NH, in the coming weeks.

FAIRFIELD, OH – Rivercity Woodworking Inc., a national manufacturer of permanent point-of-purchase displays, store fixtures/casework and kiosks, announced plans to expand its current production facility during the summer of 2007. The estimated completion date is September 30.

CHICAGO – CraftMaster Manufacturing Inc. (CMI) announced it has opened a new door-manufacturing plant in Garland, TX, to produce its complete line of CraftMaster Interior Doors. The 253,000-square-foot facility is the company’s third door-manufacturing plant, with the other two facilities in Christianburg, VA, and Ozark, AL.

GORDONSVILLE, VA – Klockner Pentaplast /Americas announced the hiring of Tracy Scott as vice president of operations for the company’s North and South American operations. Scott will assume overall operations responsibility of Klockner Pentaplast’s plants in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Canada and will work in conjunction with the general managers of the company’s South American facilities.

TUCKER, GA – Panel Systems Unlimited, a supplier of affordable office furniture and work stations, announced that it has been accepted into Compatico’s new premium dealer program. The companies have worked together for more than a decade. As a premium Compatico dealer, Panel Systems Unlimited will receive preferential service and pricing on Compatico’s major offerings.

MEMPHIS, TN — The National Hardwood Lumber Assn.'s (NHLA) Annual Convention and Exhibitor Showcase will be held Sept. 12-15, in Washington, DC, at the Washington Hilton.