Great companies are looking for passionate people like you to fill a wide range of fulfilling positions.
Are you ready?
Great companies are looking for passionate people like you to fill a wide range of fulfilling positions.
Are you ready?
NAWLA Job Board NAWLA Job Board 
Lumber isn’t glamorous, they say. I’ve had a taste of that life, and it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. At the start of my college years, I aspired to a career in fashion—it doesn’t get more glamorous than that, right? I thought so, too, until I entered a fashion merchandising degree program and found myself surrounded by superficiality. I’m a “people person,” so I knew it wasn’t going to work. The exact opposite type of energy embodies the lumber industry, by the way. Not only is it a place where you can be your authentic self both personally and professionally—which is good, since your customers and suppliers very likely will be your friends—but, importantly, it’s also a place where you have a real shot at achieving your goals.
My father cashed in a favor to land me a part-time receptionist job at Patrick Lumber Co. more than a decade ago, to earn extra money while enrolled at Washington State University. I expected to stay no longer than six months. However, the escalating recession and a growing pile of student loan debt persuaded me to put school on the back burner and increase my responsibilities at Patrick Lumber. I worked full time as a trader assistant for about eight years, before applying for a lumber trader position and finishing my marketing degree in 2017. Prior to that, though, I questioned whether I wanted to stay in the industry and was tempted multiple times to see what else might be out there for me.
The pivotal decision to dig in for the long haul came when my personal life crumbled in 2017, punctuated by a divorce and the sale of my home. These events created a crucible of sorts for me, and I began to look at the future through a different lens as I set my sights on a happier 2018. I also recognized the level of support I had received at Patrick Lumber and felt a strong pull not to let my work family down. I took the trader role and was rewarded with what has been the best year of my life! Instead of worrying if the grass was greener on the other side, I realized that there was a huge opportunity on the table right in front of me and that I’d be a fool to leave it there. I understood what kind of doors could open if I was just willing to go for it. The result is that my career goals and my personal goals are aligned with one another, and being in a sales position allows me that flexibility. I changed my attitude about the opportunity, and it changed my direction.
My experience matters because it speaks volumes about the kind of people who make this industry special and how anyone can find happiness and success with a career in lumber—even if they weren’t looking for it there. Especially now. Patrick Lumber gave me a vehicle (lumber) to connect to people, be a part of solving problems, and find creative ways to adapt. My career in lumber has not only given me a living, but it’s given me life.
The lumber industry offers vast opportunities but unlocking and claiming them means digging past the labels that cloak the sector’s true value. In addition to being dismissed as not sexy, it is viewed as old-fashioned. It’s true that this has been a highly traditional industry; and I, for one, appreciate the people before us who worked to create the supply, build the relationships, and bring the industry to where it is. Its foundation rests on values like trust and loyalty, but other hallmarks of the business—such as gender disparity—scream stagnation. What outsiders may not realize, though, is that lumber is ready and ripe and, in fact, already on the brink of evolution.
I’m a perfect example of how the transition is starting to play out. When Patrick Lumber hired me on in 2007, it—and many other companies—were set up with male traders on the sales floor and a staff of female assistants to provide support. That is not to say that my firm didn’t support women doing sales; it was just the status quo. Not anymore. I’m one of two female traders at Patrick Lumber, and I think this is just the beginning. I don’t want to ignore the elephant in the room, because there are very real challenges to being a woman in some aspects of this industry. We aren’t always taken seriously; in fact, it’s not uncommon to be mistaken as a receptionist. But if what you want is a role that has traditionally been male-dominated or if what you want is a leadership position, overall the industry will back that play. First, though, you have to ASK for it. There’s a book called Women Don’t Ask, which cites research on how long people wait to ask for something they want. The study found that men ask when they’re about 60 percent ready, while women put it off until they are 100 percent ready. Postponing the ask, however, postpones the payoff. So, ASK. Say what you want and need, and then go for it.
Not only should women go for it, so should younger workers and people of different races and backgrounds. NAWLA is helping with that, for example, with it’s new Young Emerging Lumber Professionals (YELP) group, designed to address industry issues for the next generation. The conclusion is the industry needs as many perspectives as possible. Diversification can only improve innovation, which can only bolster the bottom line. It’s the perfect time, too, if you consider the rate at which the lumber industry is losing Baby Boomers to retirement. That applies to anyone looking to launch or propel their career. The trend is opening up all kinds of opportunities at all levels, from marketing and admin to IT. It also potentially creates a faster track to leadership for those interested in that pathway.
What started for me as a flash in the pan to make some side cash turned into 12 years of growth, opportunity, and change. Lumber offers the same kinds of opportunities as other industries, with the added bonus of really great people and a culture predicated on values such as family, trust, and loyalty. If you align with any of those attributes, then you’re doing yourself a disservice by passing the industry over.
When I entered the lumber industry more than a decade ago, I had no exposure to and, frankly, no interest in the industry – what interested me was paying the bills. I was fresh out of college, unsure of my next steps, and in need of a job while I tried to figure it all out. When an entry-level accounting position at a wholesale lumber company opened up, I saw what I thought was a short-term solution. What I found instead was my “forever” career and my passion. I had earned a degree in accounting and entertained a future in law, but the lumber industry was never even on my radar. That’s because, I think, you really just don’t know how much this profession has to offer until you’re submerged in it. And once you get in, you’re going want to stay in!
Wood has a reputation—undeserved, in my opinion—for not being “glamorous” or “sexy” enough. As industry participants we need to stop perpetuating this misconception and start demonstrating how great this work can be. The aspect that captured me at age 22, and that has motivated me to remain in the business for 13 years and counting, is the culture.
I recognized the difference right away: while my friends were landing plum jobs at big-name accounting firms in their specialties, they were just a number, part of the corporate machine. I wasn’t. Lumber is a relationship-based business defined by a sense of family, which is palpable. People know each other’s spouses and children—because they CARE about them. They socialize outside of the workplace—because they CARE about each other. For me, a young person striking out on her own in a new state, that nurturing benevolence at my first industry job was just what I needed at that time in my life. It’s a quality that is important to me in general and why I stuck with the industry even when I moved on to another lumber company.
My current employer, Capital Lumber, is located in the midst of California wine country and in the heart of Silicon Valley; these are the supposedly “sexy” markets that we compete with at job fairs. But those firms have revolving doors—sure, you might get in, but you’re only going to be there for a few years. And your manager might only be there short-term as well. The friends that you’ve worked with and have gotten to know will be leaving after six months. That’s not how the lumber industry is, though. This industry holds people in, people who have endured the ups and the downs, who have raised their families through a career in this business. Working with glitzy wine and tech as a backdrop only reinforced my understanding that the people who work in this industry care about it, and about each other. And I think that’s the single-best thing about lumber. I always say the lumber industry is just like the Eagles’ song Hotel California—you can check out any time, but you can never leave.
I was fortunate with both of my jobs in the industry to walk into really well-run firms with good people working for them. But was it only luck? The “family” reference isn’t just figurative, it’s literal. There’s a long list of actual family-owned businesses in our sector, which I think only lends to its warm, tight-knit community feel.
The prevalence of family-owned companies also might speak to the male dominance in lumber, which in turn could help explain the low rate of female representation. I can remember times when it felt like the record player screeched to a halt when I walked into a NAWLA event because I was the only woman. That’s slowly changing, however. More focus is being put on succession planning, as companies start to look at what happens when the next in line—a son, a nephew—wants to pursue a different career. Some of those questions could be addressed by market conditions, such as more mergers and acquisitions. But there also is a concerted effort underway to consider how to put not only more non-family members but also more women into leadership roles. In addition, companies are increasingly starting to recognize the importance of mentorship. I think most people would agree that having a cheerleader and a counselor to help you as you progress can be career-altering. I was blessed to have this kind of guidance from several excellent role models as I was advancing in the industry, with favorable results. While my mentors were all male, female mentorship is a movement; and it is growing.
I do my best to contribute to that movement by telling my story on the recruitment scene and when Capital brings on interns and new hires. I’m able to talk about how far I’ve come in this business since getting started at just 22 and demonstrate how they, by mapping out their own path, can also achieve big things in this industry. While the message is meant for everyone, I find that women especially need that encouragement because they worry that lumber is not a good fit for them.
The fact is it may be a perfect fit—like it was for me—but sometimes knowing requires stepping out on faith. Like so many others in the lumber industry, I stumbled into the business completely by chance. Although this incredible journey initially was not by design, that doesn’t have to be the case for the next generation of wood professionals. You can take a job in this industry anywhere you want to, on purpose. My advice to anyone just starting out in the business is this:
Don’t be afraid to say, “yes!” Just because you haven’t done something before doesn’t mean that you can’t be a rock star at it. If someone has enough confidence in you to suggest it, it’s probably worth a try. Even though I knew nothing about lumber 13 years ago, I never said “no” just because I was a woman. I never said “no” just because I lacked experience, and I never said “no” because I was afraid of failing. That tenacity paid off. Back then I was one of the only females working in this profession, and today I’m one of the only females in a leadership role in the industry. While I still may not be the most likely face of lumber, I’m excited to watch the evolution continue in this industry.
It’s no secret the wood industry is graying and that companies are anxious to fill the shoes of seasoned pros who reach retirement age. As a member of the newest wave to enter the workforce—Generation Z—and the youngest employee in my office, I’m just getting my feet wet in this business. But one year out of school and on the payroll, I already see why the people who work in the industry also love it.
Having no exposure to the wood products sector, no related coursework, and no family ties, I also had no expectations when I landed an internship with Timber Products Company at the start of my senior year of college. My academic focus was on sales and marketing, a skill that can apply just about anywhere, but luck put me in the path of Timber Products. I never expected that a fast commitment to the firm and to the industry would lead to a full-time position, new friends, and a sense of purpose at the start of my professional career.
That’s exactly what happened, though: the initial 9-month internship was renewed for a shorter, summer stint after graduation. That morphed into an offer, and with a Bachelor’s degree in hand I joined Timber Products in an official capacity last October. While there are a few other 20- and 30-somethings in our office, the vast majority of workers are long-time pros. Being the low man on the totem pole might be intimidating in some workplaces, but I quickly learned at Timber Products that this is a company—and an industry—where youth is not a deficit, but an asset.
Of course, the veterans are there to show the younger employees the ropes. I personally have a number of mentors, including my boss, whom I seek out for knowledge. But there’s also a recognition among the experienced set that they have something to learn, too. It’s not unusual, for example, for the operations teams to approach me or the other younger associates because they want to know what people our age like and want. And instead of continuing to do things the same way that they’ve always been done, they often come to us for fresh perspective—such as suggesting a new way to accomplish an existing task or solve a problem, like through software development. Showing young newcomers that they still have something to offer despite limited time in the industry and offering them a seat at the table, so to speak, has the power to instill gratitude, loyalty, and drive, if I am any example.
That give-and-take of knowledge between the old guard and the new breeds a level of trust and dependability, and that in turn allows friendships to bloom and work relationships to thrive. At first, I thought that inclusive culture was just a Timber Products thing. Then, I attended NAWLA’s Traders Market, and I soon realized that this just might be an industry thing. During those crucial networking events, it didn’t matter that I hadn’t even been in the industry full time for a good six months. From sales managers up to CEOs, people went out of their way to introduce me to important connections, make room for me in the conversation, and encourage my participation. No one was looking at my age; and when they were, it was because they were seeing the benefit in it. I remember a marketing director from another firm spending the time to pick my brain — mine, one of the youngest people at the event!—demonstrating that even seasoned insiders outside of Timber Products see value in me and other people my age.
Traders Market also was the gateway for me to get even more involved and build even more relationships, by joining NAWLA’s marketing committee. When I asked for the opportunity to pursue a seat on the panel, my company easily could have deferred on the grounds that I hadn’t been in the industry long enough. Instead, I met nothing but encouragement and support.
That give-and-take of knowledge between the old guard and the new breeds a level of trust and dependability, and that in turn allows friendships to bloom and work relationships to thrive. At first, I thought that inclusive culture was just a Timber Products thing. Then, I attended NAWLA’s Traders Market, and I soon realized that this just might be an industry thing. During those crucial networking events, it didn’t matter that I hadn’t even been in the industry full time for a good six months. From sales managers up to CEOs, people went out of their way to introduce me to important connections, make room for me in the conversation, and encourage my participation. No one was looking at my age; and when they were, it was because they were seeing the benefit in it. I remember a marketing director from another firm spending the time to pick my brain — mine, one of the youngest people at the event!—demonstrating that even seasoned insiders outside of Timber Products see value in me and other people my age.
Traders Market also was the gateway for me to get even more involved and build even more relationships, by joining NAWLA’s marketing committee. When I asked for the opportunity to pursue a seat on the panel, my company easily could have deferred on the grounds that I hadn’t been in the industry long enough. Instead, I met nothing but encouragement and support.
