As We See It: September 2016

As We See It: Loggers Working for Loggers
by Richard Schwab

As my time serving you as the President of the American Loggers Council is set to expire at the end of September, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the accomplishments of the American Loggers Council over the past twelve months, but more importantly, give you an idea as to where we are headed today and well into the future.

First let me state that I have been humbled by the opportunity and the experience to serve and represent all of you over the past twelve months.  I have been afforded the opportunity to speak at several conventions and venues where I can share the message of unity and working together to get things done.  I’ve literally gone from the East Coast to the West Coast this year doing my best to inspire professional timber harvesters throughout the country to be proud of what we do for a living and to continue to work together to effect change in our industry.

I am especially proud of all of the work that our volunteers have done to continue to promote and advocate for this profession, and the record number of visits that were paid to both House and Senate members as we continued the tradition of taking our issues to the Hill, but what excites me the most is the knowledge that the American Loggers Council will remain in good hands for years to come primarily due to the class of professional loggers who are engaged in the organization, and willing to lead it into the next decade.

We are fresh back from a strategic planning session in Dallas where we not only looked at where we have been, but where we are headed over the next 5 years and longer.  There are great things in store for the loggers who remain engaged in the dialogue.  We are ramping up our activities in Washington, we are continually improving or communications and messaging, not only to our peers, but to the general public, and we are going to leverage the tremendous partnerships that we have with all of our sponsors and look for opportunities to work together for the betterment of the industry.

Each and every year we have strived to get better at what we do, and that job is working for you, “Loggers Working For Loggers.” 

Richard Schwab is the Procurement Manager for M.A. Rigoni, Inc., a full service timber harvesting and forest management company located in Perry, Florida.