FRA 2025 Western Region Spring Meeting: Summary of Business
The FRA 2025 Western Region Spring Meeting took place from March 31 to April 1 in Sunriver, Oregon. Despite the calendar signaling spring, winter’s grip remained strong in the Pacific Northwest. Despite the chill, more than 55 professionals from across the wood products value chain convened to exchange ideas, explore emerging innovations, and tackle pressing industry issues, including workforce development, trucking regulations, and industry trends. The event concluded with compelling updates from FRA President Tim O’Hara, reinforcing the association’s national outlook and strategic priorities.
FRA Western Region Spring 2025 Meeting Presentations
2025 Forest Products Industry Outlook– Matt Elhardt, ResourceWise
Commodities, Connections, and Communities– Rose Boleen, Timberlab
Oregon Trucking Updates– Jana Jarvis, Oregon Trucking Association
Medium and Heavy-duty Transportation Electrification and Grid Readiness 2025– Bill Boyce, West Coast Clean Transit Corridor
Oregon Workforce Development– Amanda Sullivan-Astor, Associated Oregon Loggers
Barbara Roberts CTE Center in Sheridan-Kristin Rassmussen, Hampton Lumber
Forest Landowners and Carbon Markets– Jacob Putney, Oregon State Extension Service
Forestry and Communicating to Small Landowners– Malloree Weinheimer, Chickadee Forestry
FRA Policy Priorities– Tim O’Hara, Forest Resources Association
Please click Here to view the presentations we have permission to share on the FRA website. To access them, you must sign in as an FRA member.
Please contact FRA’s Communications and Marketing Manager, Vanessa Connelly, at [email protected] if you need assistance.
A highlight of the event was the distinguished recognition of Chris Lunde of Port Blakely, who received a lifetime honorary membership in FRA. Serving as Vice-Chair of the National Operations Committee from 2020 to 2022 and later as Chair from 2022 to 2024, Chris demonstrated steady leadership and a collaborative spirit. His guidance helped the committee stay focused on developing innovative and effective solutions to the complex challenges within the wood supply value chain. Chris has been a cornerstone of FRA’s efforts in the Western Region, and his deep industry insight and thoughtful guidance will be greatly missed.
FRA sincerely thanks our generous sponsors for helping make the 2025 WR Spring Meeting a success.
With the successful completion of the Sunriver meeting, FRA is already looking ahead to the FRA Western Region Fall 2025 Meeting, which will be held in partnership with the Montana Wood Products Association in beautiful Whitefish, Montana. If you have suggestions for topics or speakers you’d like to see included in the program, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Lindsay Warness at [email protected]. We welcome your ideas and look forward to another productive gathering this fall.
