Steve Swanson Is Timber Processing’s 2026 Person of the Year
Longtime Northwest forest products executive Steve Swanson, CEO of Swanson Group based in Roseburg, Ore., was named Timber Processing magazine’s 2026 Person of the Year in its February 2026 issue. Swanson is the 38th winner of the prestigious national award, which debuted in 1989 to honor innovation and success in the North American lumber industry and also involvement outside the mill in support of the industry and state and local communities.
Swanson’s commitment to Oregon’s rural economy and his involvement with the lumber industry’s fair trade efforts are big reasons why he was chosen for the honor: Swanson Group operates a sawmill at Roseburg, plywood plants at Glendale and Springfield and a pellet mill in Oakland, Ore. that employ more than 1,200. Swanson has also served as Chairman of the U.S. Lumber Coalition from 2000-2012 and just started another term this year. He has led his family-owned company since 2001 before naming son Chris Swanson as President in 2025, and remains CEO.
Swanson will accept the Timber Processing 2026 Person of the Year award during a ceremony at 3 p.m. on September 23 during the Timber Processing & Energy Expo held September 23-25 at the Portland Expo Center, Portland, Ore.
Latest News
Beetle Plague Spurs Canadians On U.S. Sawmill Buying Spree
In the 60 years since Bob Jordan III joined his family’s North Carolina sawmill business, he hasn’t seen anything quite like the Canadian invasion of the South’s lumber industry. “You didn’t have people coming in…
Western Forest Products To Spend $30 Million On Vancouver Island Sawmills
Western Forest Products is spending $30 million — most of it in Nanaimo — to upgrade three Vancouver Island sawmills. Lee Doney, company chairman, said today at the Duke Point mill: “Our harvesting strategies and…
Washington’s Allen Logging Lumber Mill Expects To Cease Operations Next Month
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1548381510056-0’); }); Allen Logging, the last production lumber mill on the North Olympic Peninsula’s West End, expects to cease operations by mid-July. The closure will idle 45 workers, including drivers, millwrights, mechanics and…
Maine Sawmill Workers Face Temporary Layoff
A Quebec-based company that completed the purchase of Fraser Timber’s lumber mill in Masardis in January will temporarily layoff its 135 employees next week due to market conditions. The layoff at Maibec will last four…
Find Us On Social
Newsletter
The monthly Timber Processing Industry Newsletter reaches over 4,000 mill owners and supervisors.
Subscribe/Renew
Timber Processing is delivered 10 times per year to subscribers who represent sawmill ownership, management and supervisory personnel and corporate executives. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Advertise
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative.