This summer marked my one-year anniversary as Executive Director. As I reflect on the past year, one thing is clear: resilience remains one of our greatest strengths. Ours is an industry rooted in hard work, innovation and an unwavering commitment to the communities that depend on Maine’s forests. While this year brought significant challenges, it also delivered important victories and reasons for optimism about the future. Any new job comes with challenges, but given the year we have had, I am immensely grateful for the foundation that Patrick laid for me.
This year brought both reasons to celebrate and moments that tested us deeply.
One of the highlights of the year has been the opportunity to visit members across the state and learn firsthand about their businesses, their employees and their vision for the future. From logging operations and trucking companies to sawmills, paper mills and secondary manufacturers, every visit reinforced the importance of this industry to Maine’s economy and way of life. I have been inspired by the ingenuity, commitment and pride I have witnessed across Maine. These conversations have helped shape our advocacy efforts and strengthened my appreciation for the people who make this industry work every day.
Among the year’s encouraging developments was the decision to pause the federal relicensing process for Shawmut Dam. This pause creates an opportunity for additional dialogue and collaboration around the future of hydropower, fish passage and industrial energy needs in the Kennebec River corridor. To further dialogue across organizations, I wrote an article in the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine about the Comprehensive Land Use Plan highlighting the potential impact to the Unorganized Territories. Thoughtful solutions that balance environmental stewardship with economic realities are critical for Maine’s manufacturing sector and the communities it supports.
We also celebrated major investments that demonstrate confidence in Maine’s forest economy. Irving Woodlands’ announced expansion plans for its Ashland sawmill, reinforcing its long-term commitment to northern Maine and the region’s workforce. Hancock Lumber broke ground on a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, another strong signal that Maine remains a competitive and attractive place to invest in forest products manufacturing. The designation and funding associated with Maine’s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub likewise generated excitement across the sector, highlighting the tremendous opportunities that exist at the intersection of traditional forestry and emerging technologies.
At the same time, we experienced profound loss.
The explosion at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont shocked our entire industry with losses that deeply affected colleagues, families and communities throughout Maine. Our thoughts and prayers remain with all those impacted, and for those who are still on the road to recovery.
The year also brought difficult economic news. The closure of Pride Manufacturing and Lumbra Hardwoods represented the loss of jobs, expertise and community anchors that had contributed to Maine’s forest economy, and the Council, for decades. These closures underscore the ongoing challenges facing manufacturers, including log procurement issues linked to diminished low-grade markets, volatile markets, rising costs and global competition.
Yet even amid hardship, Maine’s forest products community continues to move forward and evolve. The dedication of our workers, landowners, loggers, truckers, manufacturers and business leaders is remarkable. Their perseverance is what sustains this industry through both prosperous and difficult times.
As we look ahead, the Maine Forest Products Council remains committed to advocating for policies that support responsible forest management, strengthen manufacturing competitiveness and create opportunities for future generations. While our industry faces many challenges, I am confident that we will emerge stronger.
Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our members that have opened their doors to staff this summer, and to our Board of Directors for their tremendous and ongoing support. I hope to see you all on September 13 and 14 at the beautiful NEOC for our annual meeting where we plan to celebrate the contributions of a number of deserving individuals and organizations.
Registration will only be open for a few more weeks, so please fill out the form today.
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