Sawmill Business Podcast

At 41 years old, with no woodworking background and tools made from hot-glued blocks of wood, Craig Hedges won a YouTube scholarship that changed the trajectory of his entire family's life. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Craig Hedges, the new owner of Goliath Hardwoods in Evansville, Indiana. Craig's story starts with a $250 check from a YouTube woodworker's scholarship fund, a circular saw, a jigsaw, and a drill. What began with cornhole boards made alongside his wife and four kids eventually grew into pen turning, laser engraving, craft shows, and ultimately the purchase of a nearly 30-year-old hardwood retail business that was days away from closing its doors forever. You'll hear about how Craig and his family funded a trip to Disney World entirely from cornhole board sales, and the car ride home where the kids declared they were done making them. You'll hear about how he discovered Goliath Hardwoods as a customer, watched the sale fall through multiple tim

In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Marty Parsons of the Wood-Mizer Pennsylvania Authorized Sales Center. What started as a side hustle while Marty worked as a diesel mechanic at PennDOT quickly exploded when he and his wife Lisa sold 65 mills in their very first year. A quarter century later, Marty has built a family-run operation known across the East Coast for its hands-on training, free tech support, and the kind of honest, no-nonsense advice that has made him a go-to voice in the sawmill community. You'll hear about how the authorized sales center model got off the ground, the early pushback from within Wood-Mizer, and how Marty earned respect one perfectly aligned mill at a time. You'll hear about the real reasons sawyers get wavy cuts, why Marty swears by the 747 blade profile for mills of all sizes, and the fuel maintenance mistake that ruins more engines than most people realize. Marty also walks through common calls he gets from customers, from thick-and-t

In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Bob Kloes and Matt Schmitz of Kloes Specialty Hardwoods, a Wisconsin-based business specializing in curly maple, bird's eye maple, flame birch, and other figured hardwoods. What started as Bob's lifelong passion for custom furniture evolved into a lumber business when his wife suggested he start selling the stunning figured woods he had been sourcing for decades. Now, with Matt at the helm after purchasing the business, the two share a partnership built on mentorship, shared passion, and an unwavering commitment to quality. You'll hear about how Bob built relationships with sawmills over 20 years and developed an expert eye for selecting figured wood in the rough. You'll hear about the process of buying green lumber, working with a neighboring vacuum kiln operation, and sorting material by species, figure density, and customer specs for everyone from furniture makers to guitar builders and pool cue craftsmen. Bob and Matt also get

What if the trees being cut down in your neighborhood could become the art hanging on your walls or the table your family gathers around? Brian Presnell of Indy Urban Hardwood has been making that vision a reality in Indianapolis since 2016, and his story is one of the most compelling in the urban wood world. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, Jennifer Alger sits down with Brian to trace a journey that begins in art school at the Herron School of Art, winds through museum work and public art collaborations, and lands squarely in a sawmill shed in one of America's most tree-rich cities. Brian grew up surrounded by hardwoods in Indianapolis, watched them get hauled off and burned for decades, and decided to do something about it. Brian breaks down how Indy Urban Hardwood works, from sourcing logs through his firewood rig and local partnerships, to milling, drying, and turning urban hardwoods into furniture, art, and reclaimed wood products that tell the story of the city they came from. He talks cand

The next time you walk through Portland International Airport, look down. The floor beneath your feet is a piece of Oregon history, and Ben Deumling of Zena Forest Products helped put it there. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, Jennifer Alger sits down with Ben to trace the remarkable story behind Zena Forest Products, a family-rooted Oregon business that has spent 25 years figuring out what to do with the hardwoods everyone else overlooked. Growing up managing a diverse, mixed-species forest in the Willamette Valley, Ben inherited a problem: Oregon had virtually no infrastructure for milling anything other than Douglas fir. So he built one. What started as a mission to use more of their own forest has grown into a vertically integrated operation milling Oregon White Oak, Big Leaf Maple, Oregon Ash, and more, taking wood all the way from the tree to a finished, installation-ready floor. Ben breaks down the unique challenges of working with Oregon White Oak, one of the densest hardwoods in North Am

What does it take to walk away from a stable corporate career and build something with your own two hands? Nick Hardrath did exactly that, and the business he built, The Urban Craftsman, is proof that passion and strategic thinking can coexist beautifully. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, Jennifer Alger sits down with Nick to trace his journey from the corporate design world to running a full-time sawmill and bespoke furniture business. Nick started in 2016 with small projects and ornaments, went full-time in 2018, and has never looked back. He shares how his corporate background quietly shaped the way he approaches branding, client relationships, and business systems in ways most craftspeople never consider. One of the most compelling parts of Nick's story is his decision to control his own lumber supply. By milling urban wood himself, he gains creative freedom, quality control, and a storytelling advantage that sets his work apart. He talks about the thrill of opening a log and discovering unex

What if the tree in your backyard could become the floor beneath your feet, the table where your family gathers, or the beams holding up your home? Megan Offner of New York Heartwoods has spent 25 years making that a reality, and her story is one every woodworking and craftsmanship lover needs to hear. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, Jennifer Alger reconnects with Megan to hear how her business has evolved from running a sawmill and producing custom furniture to a bold new chapter as a project coordinator and wood sourcing consultant. Megan now bridges the gap between landowners, architects, designers, and small local mills, stewarding trees from the moment they are still standing all the way through to finished, traceable, place-based materials in the built environment. Megan opens up about the logistical complexity of working on large-scale hospitality and residential projects, including sourcing 27 walnut slab tables for a Hudson Valley hotel and turning four massive poplar trees into 8,000 l

What does it take to spend 21 years championing an industry most people take for granted? Jesse LaSon, Vice President of Sales at Rossi Group, has built a career doing exactly that, and his passion for American hardwoods is contagious. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, Jennifer Alger sits down with Jesse to explore the full journey of Appalachian hardwoods, from sustainably managed timberland to sawmills, kilns, and eventually the hands of craftspeople around the world. Rossi Group is a family-owned business with deep roots in the hardwood industry, and Jesse pulls back the curtain on how they manage multiple sawmills, distribute species like cherry, white oak, red oak, soft maple, poplar, and ash, and compete in both domestic and international markets. The conversation goes far beyond logistics. Jesse opens up about the real challenges facing the hardwood industry today, including the impact of tariffs, shifting export markets, trucking pressures, and the ongoing battle against misconceptions abo

Starting a hardwood retail business from scratch with no industry background might seem impossible, but the right combination of strategic sourcing, mentorship, and community focus can turn an outsider into a successful niche player in just 18 months. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Brett Neylan, founder of Capital Hardwood and Supply, to explore his unconventional entry into the hardwood industry. Coming from backgrounds in outdoor apparel and bicycles, Brett shares how COVID sparked his interest in woodworking and led him to launch a hardwood retail business that now serves hobbyists, contractors, and institutional clients across multiple channels. You'll hear about Brett's strategic approach to sourcing high-grade kiln-dried lumber from rural sawmills while also embracing the urban lumber movement, his inventory management philosophy that keeps stock lean with species variety on a 60-day cycle, and how he's built a business model focused on dimensional lumbe

A catastrophic event can either destroy a business or become the catalyst for creating something entirely new. For one Colorado family, a natural disaster became the unexpected beginning of a thriving sawmill operation. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with John Christenson of Native Lumber to explore his remarkable journey from managing a family ranch to running a successful sawmill business. John shares how natural disasters shaped his business decisions, the challenges of logging in Colorado's diverse terrain, and why finding a niche specialization has been critical to Native Lumber's growth and sustainability. You'll hear about John's approach to fire mitigation and sustainable logging practices that benefit both the business and the environment, how he's built employment opportunities and community impact through his operation, and the diverse timber species they work with in their logging and milling practices. John discusses his effective use of social media a

Three generations of family ownership doesn't happen by accident. It takes unwavering commitment to quality, strong relationships, and the ability to adapt while staying true to your core values. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Steve Jones from Ron Jones Hardwood to explore what it takes to build and sustain a successful family lumber business across generations. Steve shares insights into the hardwood lumber industry, the critical importance of quality control and consistency, and how Ron Jones Hardwood has navigated complex challenges like tariffs and export market fluctuations while maintaining their reputation for excellence. You'll hear about the distinctive branding elements like the red end color that differentiate Ron Jones Hardwood in a competitive market, the company's approach to vetting suppliers and building strong partnerships throughout the supply chain, and their operational efficiency strategies in lumber processing. Steve discusses the value o

Local wood economies don't just happen on their own. They require dedicated advocates who understand forestry, respect the trades, and can bridge the gap between landowners, loggers, sawmills, and communities. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Malloree Weinheimer of Chickadee Forestry LLC to explore her work championing small-scale loggers, supporting sustainable forest management, and connecting people to the trees in their own backyards. Malloree shares her journey from conservation research to private consulting focused on rural economic development, and why passing down forestry knowledge as experienced foresters retire has become critically important. You'll hear about the vital role foresters play in helping small landowners manage micro-forests sustainably, the importance of building stronger, cooperative relationships between foresters and loggers, and how local wood groups can create viable markets for locally sourced timber. Malloree discusses innovativ

Sometimes the best business opportunities come from the most unexpected places. A background in real estate doesn't seem like the obvious path to running a thriving reclaimed wood company, but that's exactly how one entrepreneur built a multimillion-dollar timber business. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Eric Freed of E & K Vintage Wood to explore his remarkable journey from real estate into the reclaimed wood industry. Eric shares how he discovered opportunities in salvaged timber during the 2008 recession and grew his business from a side project into a 24-employee operation that's moving to a larger facility to meet growing demand. You'll hear about the explosive growth E & K Vintage Wood has experienced, including building a social media following of 100,000 on Instagram that has expanded their customer base nationwide. Eric discusses their top-selling products like box beams, the importance of offering customization to meet diverse client needs, an

A background in conservation and wildlife biology might seem at odds with running a logging and sawmill operation, but for some, it's the perfect foundation for sustainable, community-focused timber harvesting. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Katrina Amaral of Timberdoodle Farm and Sawmill to explore her unique journey from conservation work to the timber industry. Katrina shares how Timberdoodle evolved from a side project into a full-time family business run with her husband Miles Amaral, and how her environmental background informs their thoughtful approach to logging and milling. You'll hear about the innovative full circle projects that set Timberdoodle apart, where they log trees and provide lumber for local building projects, creating a complete supply chain from forest to finished construction. Katrina discusses their certification as lumber graders which allows them to provide structural timbers, their flexible business model that includes selling logs

A 36-year career in law enforcement might seem like an unlikely path to running a successful sawmill operation, but for some, retirement is just the beginning of a new chapter. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with John Bartlett from Maryland Logs 2 Lumber to explore his remarkable transition from law enforcement to becoming a skilled sawmill operator over the past 24 years. John shares the unique aspects of his business model, where he doesn't sell wood but instead mills logs owned by customers, focusing on building strong relationships with three main clients who trust him with their valuable timber. You'll hear about the high-value projects and unique logs John has worked with, the importance of quarter sawing techniques for producing premium lumber, and how he's invested in Wood-Mizer equipment over the years to improve his operation. John discusses the challenges of navigating business regulations and taxes, the significant impact COVID-19 had on operational cos

Sometimes it's the catalyst that leads you to build the business and life you've always wanted. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Justin Czar of Liberty Lumber Products to explore his journey from working in fencing to establishing a thriving custom woodworking business. Justin shares the pivotal moment that pushed him to start side hustling and eventually transition full-time into woodworking, proving that it's never too late to pursue your passion. You'll hear about the real challenges Justin has faced in the wood industry, including sourcing lumber during supply shortages, navigating the impact of tariffs on materials and pricing, and adapting to economic pressures that affect sales and customer demand. Justin discusses his focus on custom builds and innovative projects, the importance of social media (particularly his successful YouTube channel) in his marketing strategy, and how community engagement through charity events has helped raise significant funds w

A lumber company that's been in business since 1851 has seen it all, from economic shifts to pandemics, and its survival depends on more than just selling wood. It's about relationships, education, and adapting to change. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Chris Black, President and GM of Century Mill Lumber, to explore the remarkable history of a company that predates Canada itself. Chris shares his personal journey from selling high-end wood doors to running a lumber business with deep roots and a forward-looking vision, emphasizing how customer relationships, continuous education, and innovation have kept Century Mill thriving for over 170 years. You'll hear about the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19 and how the pandemic reshaped the lumber industry, the complexities of navigating the lumber supply chain from sourcing to delivery, and the evolving trends in both hardwood and softwood markets. Chris discusses the importance of investing in qual

Growing a woodworking business isn't just about craftsmanship. It's about building systems, forming strategic partnerships, and adapting to unexpected opportunities that can transform your entire operation. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Ryan Moore of Urban Wood Company to explore the evolution of his Oklahoma City-based woodworking business. Ryan shares how he went from drying wood and building custom furniture to expanding into cabinet projects and developing new product lines, all while navigating the challenges of scaling a team, implementing systems, and maintaining profitability. You'll hear about the unexpected opportunities that shaped Ryan's business growth, including how unforeseen events like house fires opened entirely new markets for cabinetry work. Ryan discusses the critical role of strategic partnerships with CNC companies and suppliers, effective use of social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook for marketing finished projects, and his

The path to becoming a master woodworker doesn't always start in a workshop. Sometimes it begins on a mountain bike trail during the off-season. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger welcomes Simon Silver of Simon Silver Designs to explore his remarkable journey from mountain bike athlete to accomplished woodworker and sawmill operator. Simon shares how he discovered woodworking as a hobby during the off-season and how a pivotal class with a skilled mentor accelerated his learning and instilled a detail-oriented mindset that defines his work today. You'll hear about Simon's commitment to creating timeless furniture pieces from urban wood, storm trees, and reclaimed materials, and his sawmill business that sources local redwood logs to provide unique lumber for custom projects. Simon discusses the balance between commissioned work and personal creative projects, the evolution of his business from small pieces to large-scale installations, and the increasing complexity and reward of

What does it take to bridge the gap between engineering precision and the living art of forestry? Vadim Kovalev, Wood World Industry Ambassador and founder of Koval Digital, shares how he traded blueprints for bark and became one of the forestry industry's most passionate storytellers. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Vadim to explore his unconventional journey from engineering to the heart of the wood industry. Vadim pulls back the curtain on the myths plaguing modern forestry, revealing why sustainable practices aren't just good ethics but smart business. He discusses how international markets are reshaping the industry landscape and why connecting with the public through authentic media and storytelling has become more critical than ever for woodworkers and forest professionals alike. From debunking misconceptions about sustainable forestry to sharing how his personal faith guides his approach to craftsmanship and environmental stewardship, Vadim offers a ref