ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Warren Spitz, President and CEO of UCS Forest Group of Companies in Toronto, Canada, assumes the role of President of the International Wood Products Association (IWPA) for 2012/2013. The announcement was made during IWPA’s annual meeting March 28-30, 2012 in Indian Wells, California.

Spitz has been an IWPA Board member since 2006 and has served as Treasurer and on the Executive Committee since 2008. “Warren’s background in international trading and innovative leadership style will help IWPA to continue to best meet the needs of our membership,” stated Brent McClendon, IWPA Executive Vice President.

Spitz founded UCS Forest Group twenty-five years ago and built it to one of North America's premier importer, exporter, and distributor of specialty wood products serving discerning customers in the architectural woodworking industry. The UCS Forest Group of Companies consists of Sierra Forest Products in the United States, Upper Canada Forest Products in Canada, UCS Global Internationally, and as A&M Wood Specialty in specialty markets.

Joining Spitz as Officers on IWPA’s Executive Committee are Alan McIlvain, Alan McIlvain Company (Philadelphia, PA) as immediate Past President; Cindy Bergin, Newman Lumber Company (Gulfport, MS) as Vice President; and Chris Connelly, Wood Brokerage International (Portland, OR) as Treasurer.

The IWPA 2012/2013 Board of Directors are: Elizabeth Baldwin (Metropolitan Hardwood Flooring); Cindy Bergin (Newman Lumber Company); Chris Connelly (Wood Brokerage International); Geoff Doudera (Liberty Woods International); Craig Forester (Rex Lumber Company); Carl Gade (The Penrod Company); Paul Gates (Tradelink Wood Products); JoAnn Keller (Holland Southwest International); John Hedin (Columbia Forest Products); Livy Haskell (Lumber Liquidators); Kenny MacMaster (Argo Fine Imports); Alan McIlvain (Alan McIlvain Company); Bronson Newburger (Clarke Veneers and Plywood); Hugh Reitz (PRS Guitars); Greg Simon (Far East American); Warren Spitz (UCS Forest Group); David Weed (Robert Weed Plywood); Gregg Wilkinson (Bridgewell Resources).

Source: International Wood Products Association