Meet Our People

Michelle Metcalf Brings Sustainability to Life Across Western Timberlands

Michelle Metcalf didn’t initially plan to work in forestry. Growing up on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, far from any forests, she headed to college as a pharmacy major. But after connecting with people in the forestry program at the University of Montana, everything changed. ... Read More
May 29, 2026

A Smarter, Safer Way to Dump a Hopper — Without Ever Leaving Your Seat

Dumping hoppers are a fixture at our Panels facilities — they’re affixed to forklifts and used daily to move ash, sawdust and other materials around the site. But each time an operator dumped the hopper’s load, they had to climb out of the forklift and manually work the latch — exposing them to multiple potential hazards, that could result in slips, trips and falls or even finger amputation. ... Read More
May 25, 2026

Leaning Into Automation to Create a Safer, More Sustainable Workload

When the manager of Cindy Rucker’s log team retired, they didn’t just leave a vacancy. They left a team of 18 people in varying states of transition — some brand new, some reassigned to different regions, some stepping into leadership roles for the first time. Overnight, a system that had worked well for years stopped working. ... Read More
May 11, 2026

Ashley Robinson Enjoys Role as Intermediary Between Wood Products Sales and Marketing Teams

Ashley Robinson came to vlgoҳ from the high-pressure advertising agency world, where she learned valuable skills such as time management and client communication. Looking back, she says the experience prepared her well for her position as a Wood Products marketing specialist based at our Seattle Headquarters. ... Read More
May 7, 2026

Chance Evenson Mentors Young Athletes in Montana

Chance Evenson, maintenance supervisor at our plywood plant in Kalispell, Montana, learned early on about the power of volunteering to build community. “I had a great 4-H shooting sports mentor, Pat McVay, who dedicated his life to shooting sports and hunter safety,” Chance says. “I really admired and looked up to him. He put in a lot of time and money so kids could compete across the country. It made a big difference to me that someone would give so much to help a bunch of kids succeed.” ... Read More
March 9, 2026