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The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has appointed 19 representatives to serve on the first national Softwood Lumber Board to oversee the new “check-off” lumber promotion effort. Members will serve two-, three- or four-year terms.

Members appointed to represent U.S. manufacturers are: Alden Robbins for the Northeast and Lake states region; Jack Jordan, Henry Scott, Michael Case, Robert Taylor, Fritz Mason and Aubra Anthony, Jr. for the South region; and Steven Zika, Marc Brinkmeyer, George Emmerson, Andrew Miller and Rick Re for the West region.

Members appointed to represent Canadian manufacturers are: James Lopez and Charles Tardif for the East region; and Duncan Davies, Al Thorlakson, Hank Ketcham and H. David Gray for the West region. Francisco Figueroa will represent all other importing countries.

The Softwood Lumber Board will use the assessments for research and promotion projects to help build demand for softwood lumber within the U.S. The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection will collect assessments from importers.

The Softwood Lumber Board stems from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order effective next year. In a recent referendum, eligible domestic manufacturers and importers voted in favor of implementing a national softwood lumber research and promotion program.