Focus on Building Leadership

By Barbara Coyner

There was a definite upbeat flavor to the 80th Annual Intermountain Logging Conference, and conference coordinator Julie Schwanz said the numbers showed it. “We were thrilled with the participation this year,” she said of the Spokane event held in early April. “Vendor and attendee numbers were both up, and more contractors brought their whole crew. We hadn’t seen that in a long time. And vendors brought more equipment. There was a lot of iron out there.”

Indeed, there was a lot of iron at the show. The space reserved was overflowing. And there was also a Northwest debut — the TimberPro D-Series, which features the 338 HP Cummins L9 Performance Series engine.

While contractors brought their crews and equipment dream sheets, one vendor was actually looking to hire loggers. According to Schwanz, Bonneville Power Administration asked to be at the conference in hopes of recruiting logging contractors to work on restoration projects. BPA representatives told of such projects as the Columbia River Gorge needing rehab work after the Eagle Creek Fire did major damage to forestlands there last summer. Power line right-of-ways were especially impacted.

Addressing the conference theme “Leading for Success,” keynote speaker Wendy Ferrand stressed, “You have to prime each employee with confidence,” to encourage leadership. The Maine businesswoman and writer added, “Confidence is taking control in circumstances rather than being dragged along by them.” She emphasized that a non-engaged employee can often be the most dangerous employee on the payroll, compromising crew safety and business interests.

Amplifying on the leadership theme, the conference cited attendee and vendor Shawn Keough, whose steady leadership in the Idaho legislature played a crucial role in promoting legislation helpful to the timber industry. Keough was elected in 1996, and served for 22 years, making her the longest serving woman in the legislature. She chose to step down after the recent session, and will now focus all her attention on the Associated Logging Contractors, which she has directed for several years.

Schwanz says a huge “thank you” goes out to the amazing sponsors. Because of their participation and support, the 80th Intermountain Logging Conference was success.

It was a great conference on all levels and the ILC is already looking toward 2019!