As We See It: Leadership

October 2014

By Brian Nelson, ALC President

The success of any organization or business is directly related to the quality of its leadership. No matter how good of a product you produce, service you provide, or vision you have, you still need the leadership of quality individuals to pull it all together.

Looking back at the leadership that the American Loggers Council (ALC) has enjoyed over the years and the strides that have been made-I can’t help but feel proud to have been a part of the vision that our founders had for the ALC. That vision being a “National Voice for Professional Loggers” in this country. The ALC has accomplished many things over the past twenty years through the hard work and dedication of some of the finest loggers (and individuals) this country has to offer.

I’ve always believed it was far more productive to build upon successes as opposed to trying to “reinvent the wheel” and that has been a constant through the years with the ALC leadership-building upon what those before them had started. Few things, especially in the legislative arena, can be resolved in the short span of one’s term as ALC President making it all the more important to build upon those successes.

It’s hard to believe that my term as ALC President is nearly over but as that time nears I look back at what we all accomplished and question if we could have done more for our nation’s loggers. We all strive to do more, unfortunately that is not always possible for one reason or another.

We have had a very productive year nonetheless, primarily on the legislative front. After seventeen years we were finally successful in getting our truck weight language of “state legal tolerances on interstate highways” introduced into legislation, while it may not go anywhere this Legislative session, we do have a bill now and will continue to work on this issue. Also we were able to get a bill drafted and introduced in both the U.S. House and the Senate to allow children of logging company owners to begin careers in the industry at the age of 16. Neither of these issues are “done deals” and both are going to take a concerted effort by all in the industry to get signed into law but I’m confident we can get it done. These are just a couple of the many issues that the ALC has been working on this past year.

The ALC has been fortunate to have had the leadership they have had over the years and I count myself lucky to have been able to work with many of them. I am proud to have been a small part in what ALC has been able to accomplish over the years and am completely confident in its future because of the leadership we have coming up in the next few years.

As I am writing this month’s article plans are well underway for this year’s ALC Annual meeting to be held at the Island Resort and Casino in Harris, Michigan. This will be a special homecoming- since the very first ALC Annual meeting in 1994, we will be returning to Michigan for our twentieth anniversary. My wife, Maureen and I are excited to showcase the beauty of the Great Lakes and the fall colors of the U.P. and look forward to seeing you all in our neck of the woods.

It has been an honor and a privilege to represent Michigan and all the professional loggers of this country as the ALC president.

Thanks to all for the support and encouragement this past year, it was and is truly appreciated.

Until next time,

LOG SAFE

Brian Nelson

Brian Nelson is the current President of the American Loggers Council and he and his brother David own and operate Marvin Nelson Forest Products, Inc. based out of Cornell, Michigan.

The American Loggers Council is a non-profit 501(c) (6) corporation representing professional timber harvesters in 30 states across the US. For more information, visit their web site at www.americanloggers.org or contact their office at 409-625-0206.