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
Piece Of History Cut At Lumber Mill
It is not every day Sierra Forest Products sees logs like it saw last week — logs that had been preserved under water for the past 100 years. Cut up were two truck loads of…
Southern Pine Industry Eyes Recovery Signals
During this first half of 2012, some faint glimmers of hope have appeared for the recovery of home construction markets, perhaps in the not-too-distant future. Building permits are up one month, down a bit the…
B.C. Lumber Exports Showing Growth
There is good news on lumber exports for B.C. Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell tells Opinion 250, “China is still looking very good. The first quarter figures show we are up. The…
Fire Destroys Another B.C. Mill
Investigators are trying to determine the cause of an unwieldy blaze that tore through a lumber mill in southern British Columbia, the third mill fire the province has seen this year. Huge flames lit up…
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.