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 open! Both events are in person only.
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Mapping the Course registration rates:
MTC Early bird – $275
*Early bird registration extended through April 21
MTC Regular – $375
Regular registration begins April 22
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. You do not need to attend MTC in order to attend the Summit.
The summit includes lunch on Wednesday, breakfast on Thursday, and lunch on Thursday.
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.
NEW EXTENDED DEADLINE – Use the booking link to reserve your room by 4/21/2026
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
7:30am – Breakfast social (provided in Deschutes S, ends at 8:30am)
8:15am – Convention Center is open for registration and coffee
AM Presentations – State of the Sector
8:45am – Conference welcome, Blake Manley, WFCA
9:00am – Keynote Address: The Future of Forestry: Markets, Workforce, and Operational Reality, Anthony Robinson, CEO, Forestnet Media
9:40am – Stressors and Opportunities for the North American Forest Industry, Steve Courtney & Roy Anderson, The Beck Group
10:20am – Break
10:50am – Strategic Issues in the PNW, Archie Gray, Idaho Department of Lands
11:20am – Rayonier & Potlatch Merger of Equals Update, Todd Reitz, Rayonier
11:50am – A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: Cross Sector C-Suite Panel: Inland Empire Paper Company, Freres Wood, Peterson CAT
Moderator: Lindsay Warness, Forest Resources Association
12:30pm – Lunch
PM Presentations – Finance and Capacity
1:30pm – Timber Market Outlook, Mike Buffo, Mason, Bruce & Girard
2:10pm – Chip Markets, John Holte, Roseburg Forest Products
2:40pm – Biomass Updates, Amanda Sullivan-Astor, Associated Oregon Loggers, and Parametrix staff TBA
3:10pm – Break
3:40pm – Forest Products Transportation, Tim Atkinson, Stimson Lumber
4:20pm – Regional Logging Panel: How are Business Decisions Being Made in the Logging Sector: Jeff Plikat (OR), Josh Wampler (OR), Roger Smith (WA), Erika Sussi (ID)
Moderator: Amanda Sullivan-Astor, Associated Oregon Loggers
5:00pm – Garden reception (drinks & appetizers provided)
Mapping the Course
7:15am – Breakfast social (provided in Deschutes S, ends at 8:15am)
8:00am – Convention Center is open for coffee & networking
AM Presentations – Innovation Throughout the Supply Chain
8:30am – Reforestation Technology, Matthew Aghai, Viridian Ecosystems
9:00am – Tether Trucking Technology, Mike Ashley, Tether
9:30am – Microtec CT, Denny Jones, Idaho Forest Group
10:00am – Break
10:30am – Reimagining Training and Recruitment in Forestry Through Innovation, Eli Jensen, Ironwood Forestry
11:00am – Ways to Engage, Nick Smith, American Forest Resource Council
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