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
Eacom’s Timmins Mill To Reopen In April 2013
Work is beginning to rebuild a Timmins sawmill destroyed by fire this past winter. About 120 people were put out of work in January when the Eacom mill was shutdown after the blaze. Company vice-president…
Log Exports To China Drop, Improving The Timber Supply To Northwest Mills
China’s slowing economy may benefit Oregon’s lumber and plywood mills by making more timber available at reasonable prices, industry observers say. Wood Resource Quarterly, an industry journal based in Seattle, reported China reduced log imports…
Timber Could Be Growth Industry If Housing Soars
For some reason, investors seem to be wary of stocks. It may be because bonds have beaten the stuffing out of stocks for the past 20 years. It may be the stream of scandals plaguing…
Sawdust Fuelled Most B.C. Sawmill Fires In Last Decade
Sawdust, wood shavings and chips, which are suspected to have played a part in two recent deadly sawmill explosions, have also fuelled dozens of fires at B.C. sawmills over the past decade. Sawdust was listed…
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.