Hancock Lumber Promotes Matt Duprey To Chief White Pine Officer

Matt Duprey has been promoted to Chief White Pine Officer of Hancock Lumber, effective immediately, according to an announcement by the mill company. This new role reflects both his remarkable career journey and his continued impact on the Hancock eastern white pine business and the industry at large.

A part of Hancock since 1994, Duprey joined the sawmills after earning his Forestry and Wood Science + Technology degree. For more than 32 years, he has grown alongside the business, taking on a wide variety of roles and responsibilities while helping shape the success of Hancock’s white pine operations.

From supervising kiln, boiler, and yard operations early in his career, to leading production, distribution, scheduling, sales, marketing, and revenue growth, Duprey has built an unmatched understanding of the business from the ground up. His willingness to learn every aspect of the operation, combined with a relentless focus on customers, teammates, and continuous improvement, has made him an invaluable leader.

Throughout his career, Duprey earned several promotions including becoming Assistant Vice President in 1996, General Manager of Sawmill Production & Distribution in 1997, General Manager of Marketing Sales in 2001, Sales Manager in 2005, and eventually serving as Chief Sales Officer for the Hancock sawmill business.

“Matt Duprey is one of the finest people and leaders I’ve ever known or worked with,” comments Board Chair, Kevin Hancock. “He bleeds red because that’s the color of blood and the color of Hancock Lumber. Matt is also a generational giant in the eastern white pine industry broadly. The entire North American lumber community knows and respects Matt. Hancock Lumber’s leading position in the world of pine is in large part a reflection of Matt’s skill, care, and effort. Finally, I trust Matt implicitly. His business judgement, competitive spirit, and core values are a direct match for the things Hancock Lumber cares about most.”

In his elevated role as Chief White Pine Officer, Duprey will have full responsibility for the strategic direction and operational excellence of Hancock’s Eastern White Pine business. He will provide leadership across the Bethel, Casco and Pittsfield operations, overseeing sales, manufacturing, customer programs, and market performance while helping position Hancock for continued growth and success in the years ahead.

Duprey impact beyond Hancock is equally noteworthy. He is widely recognized as one of the leading voices in the eastern white pine industry through his service in the NeLMA organization including marketing committee chair for several years and most recently NeLMA’s board chair. Throughout his career, he has served as a tireless advocate for eastern white pine and the industry at large, helping promote the value, sustainability, and market opportunity of eastern white pine across North America and the world.