Call for Nominations

Softwood Lumber Board Seeks Candidates

The Softwood Lumber Board (SLB or Board) seeks nominations of softwood lumber manufacturers, importers (industry members), and a public representative interested in candidacy for Board seats coming open in January 2026. The deadline for nominations is February 7, 2025.

The SLB is seeking nominees to fill the following industry seats:

Four member seats whose terms expire on December 31, 2028:

• Three domestic manufacturers:
  • One small company representing the U.S. South;
  • One small company representing the U.S. West;
  • One company of any size representing the U.S. NE. and Lake States; and
• One importer:
  • One large company representing Canada West.

Each industry member will serve a three-year term and may serve for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

Three new alternate industry seats as follows:

• Two domestic manufacturers of any size:
  • One representing the U.S. South;
  • One representing the U.S. West; and
• One importer of any size.

The initial terms for these three new alternate industry member seats will be staggered for two, three, and four years, to be recommended by the Board at its March 2025 meeting.

The SLB is also seeking nominees to fill one new member and one new alternate member seat representing the public whose terms expire on December 31, 2028.

Qualifications for serving on the SLB follow:

Industry Members and Alternates

• The Board is comprised of manufacturers and importers of softwood lumber who annually ship or import 15 million board feet or more of softwood lumber into the United States;
• Industry seats on the Board are apportioned by region based on the volume of softwood lumber manufactured or imported;
• Nominees for U.S. seats must reside in the United States;
• Under the program, large companies are defined as those that account for the top two-thirds of the volume of assessable softwood lumber annually and small companies account for the remaining assessable softwood lumber. Based on a review of 2021-2023 data, companies that ship or import about 560 million board feet or more of assessable softwood lumber annually would be considered large.
• Nominees must be able to commit the time to serve and have the authority to represent their respective company. The SLB holds four meetings per year— two virtually and two in-person. SLB members also serve on committees that meet periodically throughout the year.

Public Member and Alternate

• The Board is comprised of one public member and one public member alternate who shall not be a domestic manufacturer nor an importer;
• The public member and alternate will have the opportunity to provide input on the SLB’s mission to promote market growth for softwood lumber products;
• Interested persons with leadership experience in the architecture, engineering, construction, or developer sectors, or other related sectors, are encouraged to apply; and
• The public member should be able to devote sufficient time to attend Board meetings and to familiarize themselves with the background and economies of the softwood lumber industry.

Additional Guidelines

• No two members or alternates of the Board may be employed by a single company. This includes subsidiaries and affiliates thereof;
• Interested persons may self-nominate or nominate other eligible persons by completing the form—“NOMINATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE SOFTWOOD LUMBER BOARD”—and providing it to the SLB.
• Nominees may provide a short background statement outlining their qualifications to serve on the Board. This is due by the February 7, 2025, deadline.
• Nominees may seek nomination to the Board for all open seats for which the nominees are eligible.

The Board will evaluate all eligible nominees and submit the name of one nominee for each open seat and the name of one additional nominee for each open seat to the Secretary of Agriculture. Other qualified persons interested in serving in the open seats but not recommended by the Board will be designated as additional nominees for consideration by the Secretary.

The SLB administers an industry-funded and -directed program (commonly known as a “checkoff”) designed to promote the benefits and uses of softwood lumber products in both established and new market segments. Programs and initiatives supported by the SLB focus on increasing the demand for softwood lumber products in the United States. The Softwood Lumber Checkoff took effect in 2011 and assessment collection began in 2012. The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the program.

The SLB sees the pursuit of diversity in Board membership as an opportunity for embracing new ideas to better serve the industry. Central to this effort is recruiting new leadership that reflects a diversity of size of operations, experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. All eligible persons, particularly those from underserved communities, are invited to seek nomination for a seat on the SLB by the February 7, 2025, deadline.

Interested parties may self-nominate or nominate other eligible persons by completing the form – NOMINATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE SOFTWOOD LUMBER BOARD (FRENCH HERE) and providing it to the SLB.

Below you may submit the form.

You may also email the form to Maureen Pello, SVP of Operations at mpello@softwoodlumberboard.org, or send via physical mail to Maureen Pello, Softwood Lumber Board, 2205 Beavercreek Road, Suite 101-397, Oregon City, OR  97045.

The timeline for the nomination and appointment process follows:

January 2 through February 7, 2025:
Eligible persons may submit nominations to the Board. Self-nominations are welcome

February 7, 2025:
Nominations close. Background statements outlining candidates’ qualifications to serve on the Board are due.

Last February 2025:
The Board’s Industry Relations & Governance Committee will meet and evaluate all eligible nominees. The Committee will recommend nominees to the Board.

March 10, 2025:
The SLB will meet and evaluate all eligible nominees. The Board will submit the name of one nominee for each open seat and the name of one additional nominee for each open seat to the Secretary. Other qualified persons interested in serving in the open seats but not recommended by the Board will be designated by the Board as additional nominees for consideration by the Secretary.

No later than April 1, 2025:
The Board plans to submit its nominations to the Secretary. From the nominations submitted, the Secretary shall select the members of the Board.

Prior to December 31, 2025:
The Secretary appoints the new Board members.

January 1, 2026:
The 2026 term of office begins.