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
Hankins Lumber To Restart Grenada, Mississippi Sawmill
Officials from Hankins Lumber Co. announced that the company is reopening its southern yellow pine lumber facility in Grenada, Miss. following a 15 month closure due to the downturn in the economy. The project includes…
Work Starts On New Sawmill At Site Of Deadly Prince George, B.C. Explosion
Prince George Mayor Shari Green acknowledged that “there are broken hearts” in the breaking of the ground at Lakeland Mills. Dignitaries, mill employees and loved ones gathered to watch construction get underway on B.C.’s newest…
Georgia-Pacific Completes Acquisition Of Temple-Inland Building Products
Georgia-Pacific today announced it has completed the acquisition of the Temple-Inland Building Products assets from International Paper Co. after receiving clearance from the Department of Justice under the Hart-Scott-Rodino merger review process. The purchase price…
Southern Lumber And Timber Market Recovery Underway
Economic recovery is producing promising outgrowths for the Southern lumber and timber industry. Increasing demand and constrained supply globally are inciting a long-term rebound across the U.S., which is good news for Florida where timber…
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.