Rick Armstrong Named Chairman of Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc. Association

Furniture World News

Rick Armstrong of Homer Gregory Inc., Morehead, KY, was named the chairman of Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc. at the 2008 Annual Meeting. He received the gavel from John Crites of Allegheny Wood Products, Petersburg, WV, at the AHMI Chairman's Banquet. In his closing remarks to AHMI members during the Annual Meeting, Crites looked back on all of the change during the past two years. Markets for hardwood lumber have expanded around the world, the American lumber industry is shrinking, and AHMI transitioned to new staff and programs. "We have been the talk of both the producing and wood consuming world with our promotion on the sustainability of the Appalachian Forest and work with the U.S. Forest Service," he said. "But it has been more than talk with AHMI members seeing sales results and increased interest from buyers wanting green products." Armstrong will lead AHMI from 2008-2010. The other officers are Chairman-elect Jimmy Powell of Canton Hardwoods, Canton, NC; Vice Chairman of Finance Chris Keziah of Oak Ridge Hardwoods, Oak Ridge, TN; and Past Chairman Crites. The Board of Trustees elected for the 2008-2010 term are: 1st two-year term: Tim Borntraeger of Babcock Lumber Co., Pittsburgh, PA; and Scott England, Gilbert Lumber Co., S. Charleston, WV 2nd two-year term: Bill Campoll of Coastal Lumber Co., Weldon, NC; Kent Carr of Augusta Lumber Co., Staunton, VA; Roy Cummings of Cummings Lumber Co., Troy, PA; and John Foley of Pine Mountain Lumber Co., Whitesburg, KY 3rd two-year term: John R. Graybeal of McCloud Lumber Co., Hampton, TN; Steve Hamer of Jim C. Hamer Co., Kenova, WV; Mike Hoover of Neff Lumber Mills, Broadway, VA; and Mark Vollinger, of W.M. Cramer Lumber Co., Hickory, NC. The Associate Member representatives are: Consumer: Chris Ghiloni of American Woodmark, Winchester, VA Distributor: David Kay of Forest Products Inc., Conover, NC Forestry: Doug Toothman of WPPLP, Huntington, WV AHMI honored retiring board members Ed Ramsey of Taylor-Ramsey Corp., Lynchburg, VA; Steve Houseknecht of Wagner Lumber Co., Owega, NY; and Jerry Vaughn of Emmet Vaughn Lumber Co., Knoxville, TN, for their service to the board. AHMI was founded in 1928 and represents more than 200 lumber manufacturers, distributors, consumers, foresters and suppliers to the industry. The regional trade association is headquartered in High Point, NC, and its mission is to promote the hardwood timber and products from the Appalachian Region of the eastern United States. For more information, contact AHMI President Tom Inman at info@appalachianwood.org.