Superstorm Wood Recovery, Wood Pellets, Emerald Ash Borer, and More Bring Forest Industry Pros to Rochester, Minn., June 3-5 for the 2014 SmallWood Conference
Rochester, MN (PRWEB) April 01, 2014 -- What are the wood utilization options for urban trees infested by invasive species like the emerald ash borer? Elite minds within the forest products industry will address this question—and many more—at the 2014 SmallWood Conference in Rochester, Minn., June 3-5.
Attendees will immerse themselves in three days of educational panels, industry tours, and personal access to experienced professionals and industry thought leaders from across North America.
Twelve educational tracks will discuss the many opportunities and threats to the industry, including forest watershed protection, export markets, urban forestry, natural disaster response, green building, invasive insects and diseases, and more. Society of American Foresters CEU credits will be available to participants.
“Southern Minnesota is a hotbed of major primary and secondary wood manufacturing facilities, so it’s a perfect part of the country to continue our efforts to spur peer-to-peer communication and innovation at the SmallWood Conference,” said Rusty Dramm, Program Manager for the Forest Products Marketing Unit of the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, which is providing partial funding for the event.
The conference will encourage business and connection-building at a variety of networking breaks and receptions, including a summer evening hog roast on Rochester’s beautiful Peace Plaza. “The SmallWood Conference has long been a catalyst for forest professionals to exchange new and exciting ideas with others in the industry to find out what's actually working in their markets and niches,” said Craig Rawlings, President & CEO of Forest Business Network, the producer of the event. “We’re even introducing a new, complimentary mobile app for SmallWood 2014 that will help ensure attendees receive a greater ROI from the conference and grow their network easier and faster right from their mobile devices.”
This year’s event offers two different industry tours. One will focus on forestry and biomass and the other on secondary manufacturing. The tours typically sell out quickly and attendees who reserve their seat will enjoy viewing an active hardwoods logging site, a tour of the largest manufacturer of furniture in the world—Ashley Furniture, the Stella-Jones pressure-treated wood products facility, Tuohy Furniture, and more.
Sponsors include the U.S. Forest Service, HewSaw, Rawlings Manufacturing, Pellet Fuels Institute, and Rawlings Industrial. Exhibitors such as Ponsse North America, Biomass Energy Resource Center, HewSaw North America, and more will fill out the exhibit hall, where many of the networking events will take place.
More information and a comprehensive agenda can be found on the SmallWood Conference website where attendees can register before the early bird deadline of April 25 (end of day) to save $50 on the cost of their registration. Complete information on exhibiting and sponsorship can also be found on the site.
About Forest Business Network
Forest Business Network owns and operates the forest industry's leading news website and email newsletter. It also produces two of North America's top forest industry conferences—the SmallWood Conference and the Small Log Conference.
Tom Waddell, Forest Business Network, http://www.forestbusinessnetwork.com/, 406-546-5977, [email protected]
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