The Way Forward for Forestry and Forest Products in 2026 and Beyond
Mapping the Course is a one and a half-day conference that provides in-depth analysis and discussion on forest products market challenges and opportunities facing the North American West Coast timberland region.
New for 2026: This event will coincide with the Oregon Forest Resources Institute Workforce Summit
The Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI), in partnership with the Western Forestry & Conservation Association (WFCA), invites you to join a statewide Forest Workforce Summit focused on strengthening Oregon’s forest sector workforce. This two-day summit will bring together leaders from across the forest sector to examine the current workforce landscape, identify challenges and gaps in education and career pathways, and develop practical, collaborative recommendations and next steps for supporting sector workforce development.
Who should attend the workforce summit:
Forest sector employers, educators and training providers, workforce and community partners, land managers, policymakers, and anyone interested in collaborative, solution-driven approaches to forest sector workforce development are encouraged to participate.
Credits:
This event will offer Society of American Foresters CFE, AOL, WCLA, and ALC-ID credits.
Registration is now open!
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Mapping the Course registration rates:
MTC Early bird – $275
Early bird registration ends April 15
MTC Regular – $375
Regular registration begins April 16
The MTC registration fee includes a welcome happy hour, breakfast & lunch each day, refreshments & snacks, and a conference social.
Sponsorship opportunities available! Your support of this event ensures a professional development experience that meets industry’s education and networking needs.
OFRI Workforce Summit – Free, but you must register
The summit includes lunch on Wednesday, breakfast on Thursday, and lunch on Thursday.
Both events are in person only.
Join us in Bend at the beautiful Riverhouse Lodge, located on the banks of the Deschutes River.
3075 N Hwy 97, Bend, OR 97703
A block of rooms at a reduced rate has been reserved for the conference for Monday night 5/11, Tuesday night 5/12, and Wednesday night 5/13.
Rooms are $189 per night, which includes the resort fee and provides amenities such as self-parking, morning coffee service in the lobby, in room coffee, tea and water service, local shuttle transportation, spa and indoor/outdoor pool, complimentary internet in all guestrooms and 20% discount on golf at River’s Edge Golf Course.
Use the booking link to reserve your room by 4/10/2026
For those looking to come early or stay later, group rates will be honored for attendees three days before group arrival and three days after group departure based on rate and space availability. Cancelations made within 7 business days prior to arrival will be charged for the entire reservation stay dates.
5:30pm – Early registration & welcome happy hour (drinks & appetizers provided)
Mapping the Course
8:00am – Breakfast social (provided)
AM Presentations – State of the Sector
9:00am – Conference welcome
9:10am – Keynote Address
9:40am – Stressors and Opportunities for North American Forest Industry
10:10am – Break
10:30am – Strategic Issues in the PNW
11:00am – Realignment of the Sector
11:30am – A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: CEO Panel
12:30pm – Lunch
PM Presentations – Finance and Capacity
1:30pm – Timber Market Outlook
2:00pm – Pellet Markets
2:30pm – Chip Markets
3:00pm – Export Markets
3:30pm – Break
3:50pm – Forest Products Transportation
4:20pm – Connecting Harvest Operations to Company Decision Makers: Regional Logging Panel
5:00pm – Garden reception (drinks & appetizers provided)
Mapping the Course
AM Presentations – Innovation Throughout the Supply Chain
7:30am – Breakfast social (provided)
8:30am – Reforestation Technology
9:00am – Tether Trucking Technology
9:30am – Microtec CT
10:00am – Break
10:30am – Presentation TBA
11:00am – Ways to Engage
11:35am – Award presentation
11:45am – Conference adjourns
12:00pm – Joint MTC & OFRI Workforce Summit networking lunch (provided)
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OFRI Workforce Summit – full PDF agenda
11:00am – Registration
12:00pm – Networking lunch
1:00pm – Welcome to the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) Workforce Summit
1:20pm – Workforce needs
2:20pm – From classroom to forest
2:45pm – Break
3:15pm – Forest sector workforce development: K-12 education
4:00pm – Forest sector workforce development: Post-secondary education
4:45pm – Reflections of the day and preview of day two agenda
5:00pm – Adjourn (dinner on your own)
Dinner on your own
OFRI Workforce Summit
7:00am – Breakfast social
8:00am – Welcome back and day two framing
8:15am – Youth crews, internship and apprenticeships
9:00am – Workforce development successes
9:30am – Break
10:00am – Identifying gaps and potential solutions by subsector
11:30am – Lunch
12:30pm – Discuss potential solutions and next steps
1:15pm – Story of success
1:45pm – Closing reflections and next steps
2:00pm – Summit concludes