MSR Annual Workshop
April 29 - May 1, 2026 | Orange Beach, AL
Save the date for the 2026 MSR Workshop
Begun in 1995, the MSR Workshop brings together members of the entire lumber supply chain, from production and grading to sales and distribution to end users, and offers a unique opportunity for participants to directly network and gain a broader perspective on the MSR market and opportunities for growth.Read more about the 2025 Workshop as well as how this unique event has been a valuable experience for many over the past 20+ years:
- 2025 MSR Workshop: Relax, Connect, Learn
- 2024 MSR Workshop: A Place to Gain Understanding & Be Understood
- Opportunities Abound at 2024 MSR Workshop in Charlotte
- Face Time Is Favorite at the MSR Workshop
- Gain Insight into MSR Lumber Market at April Workshop
- Component Manufacturers Enjoy Valuable Networking & Learning Opportunities at 2022 MSR Workshop
- Workshop Tour Adds Layer of Unique Learning for All
- Networking Made Easy
Save the date and check back for more details about session topics and other activities as they become available.
“Sometimes we don't know what we don't know. Getting together at an event like the Workshop gives everyone a chance to keep their ears open for new opportunities and ways to become more efficient.”
–Mike Momb, Hansen Pole Buildings
Schedule
Wednesday, 4/29
- Golf Outing at Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club or Fishing Charter
- Social Hour
- Independent Dinner
Thursday, 4/30
- Educational Sessions
- Plant Tour: Canfor
- Hosted Dinner
Friday, 5/1
- Educational Sessions
- Roundtable
Workshop is scheduled to conclude by 10:15 am on Friday, May 1. Please note that the schedule of events is subject to change.
Hotel Information
Island House Hotel – a DoubleTree by Hilton
26650 Perdido Beach Blvd
Orange Beach, AL 36561
Hotel Deadline: April 6, 2026
To book via phone and/or extend your stay before or after the workshop, please contact the reservations department at 251-981-6100 and mention the block code for reference of CDT908.
Rates and Registration
Register by March 15, 2026, to receive early-bird pricing.
| MSRLPC Member | Non-Member | |
|---|---|---|
| Early-bird Rate (before 3/15) | $900 | $1,015 |
| Standard Rate (after 3/15) | $1,025 | $1,150 |
| Guest Rate | $175 | $175 |
Not a member yet? Join Today!
2026 Workshop Sessions
Southern Yellow Pine in Global Markets: Trends, Trade & Opportunities
Speaker: Eric Gee, Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA)
Take a data-driven look at how Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) is evolving to meet shifting global demand and how the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) is helping expand its footprint worldwide through market development and trade initiatives. This session will examine U.S. production trends, mill investments in automation and grading, and how these advancements support export growth. You will gain insights into leading export regions, including the Caribbean, Mexico, China, Vietnam, and India, along with product mixes and buyer expectations for quality, moisture control, and sustainability. Whether you focus on truss manufacturing, engineered systems, or market strategy, you will leave with a clear understanding of how SYP is growing its presence in a competitive global marketplace.
As Executive Director of the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA), Eric Gee leads initiatives to promote Southern Pine lumber in both domestic and international markets, as well as oversees SFPA’s marketing, technical, and educational programs. A Licensed Registered Forester in Alabama and Certified Forester with the Society of American Foresters, Eric earned his BS in Forest Resources from Auburn University. Before joining SFPA in 1997, he worked as a consulting forester throughout the southeastern U.S., assisting landowners with sustainable forest management.
Analyzing Trends in the 2024 MSR Production Survey
Speaker: Crystal Gauvin, Forest Economic Advisors, LLC
Since the MSR Lumber Producers Council (MSRLPC) began tracking data in 1994, the annual MSR Production Survey has become a valuable tool for both monitoring the progress of the industry in North America and promoting the use of MSR lumber worldwide. Join FEA’s Crystal Gauvin for a deep dive into the results of the Council’s most recent survey.
FEA Senior Economist Crystal Gauvin has worked in the industry since 2008. She is the primary author of FEA's Wood Market Status & Trends newsletter, is responsible for FEA's Sawmill Profiles, and is leading the development and launch of PricePulse.
North American Macro, Housing & Lumber Markets: Where Do We Go From Here?
Speaker: Crystal Gauvin, Forest Economic Advisors, LLC
FEA’s Crystal Gauvin will help you gain a clear understanding of the U.S. economic outlook and its impact on the wood products industry. She will provide answers to questions about where the U.S. economy is headed and how residential construction markers will fare, so that you can better anticipate the effects of inflation, interest rate fluctuations, and housing market trends. In addition, Crystal will explore the future of lumber production in Canada and how timber supply constraints across North America could impact lumber markets in the year ahead.
FEA Senior Economist Crystal Gauvin has worked in the industry since 2008. She is the primary author of FEA's Wood Market Status & Trends newsletter, is responsible for FEA's Sawmill Profiles, and is leading the development and launch of PricePulse.
Workshop Roundtable: The Final Countdown
Speaker: Dan Uskoski, Metriguard Technologies, Inc.
Join another lively discussion on the Workshop’s most important topics! This roundtable is a great way to revisit the valuable content from other sessions or ask the questions you didn’t get a chance to ask. (Feeling shy? Get your question to Dan to ask anonymously – he’ll ask anything!) Then depart the Workshop with a plan to integrate everything you learned into your business plans.
With almost 40 years of experience in the industry, Dan Uskoski is Product and Projects Manager for Metriguard Technologies based in Pullman, Washington. Dan has been an active member of MSRLPC for more than three decades and served as the organization's president from 2009 to 2013.
2026 MSR Workshop - Plant Tour
Canfor
Axis, AL
In 2024, Canfor opened a modern sawmill in Axis, Alabama. With more than 150 employees, this community in Mobile County is known for its growing industrial sector, close connection to the city of Mobile, and access to the natural beauty of southern Alabama.
Workshop attendees will enjoy learning more about how SYP Structural Lumber is produced as they follow Canfor’s milling process from the logline through the sawline. The tour will also include a visit to the control tower, where visitors can observe both the sawmill and the planer in action. Additional stops may include the finish shed, the dry kiln, and the main office.
“Tours have always been an important aspect of the Workshop because it’s beneficial for CMs to tour other types of facilities where they can see the use of automation, labor, and other manufacturing processes they potentially haven’t seen before.”
–George Hamilton, Roseburg Forest Products
“I attended on the recommendation of a lumber supplier and the entire experience was valuable to me. I learned a lot – from the different presenters to the plant tour and just speaking with other participants.”
–Adam DeBiasio, United Lumber Home Hardware Building Center
“The Workshop puts you in front of the right people in one place to get answers to your questions about MSR, whatever they might be.”
–Ross Harter, Drexel Building Supply
“I enjoy the Workshop because of its intentional focus on creating opportunities for valuable face time. It’s a lot more intimate than other shows I attend during the year, which makes it a forum where you really get to know people and they get to know you.”
–Ben Evans, Birmingham International Forest Products
“It’s a much more tight-knit group than you get at bigger shows. I found a good homogenous mix of suppliers, brokers, and end users that wasn’t too skewed toward one group. That made for good conversations that track with reality. We will try to attend every year in the future!”
–Sam Lewis, Pineridge Lumber
“Lumber is your #1 used item — you need to know what you’re buying and using. The knowledge I gain about the lumber market and the forecast for the coming year is invaluable to my business.”
–Sean Kelly, Automated Building Products
Cancellation Policy: Cancel by March 15, 2026, to receive a registration refund (less a $75 non-refundable processing fee). No refunds will be issued for registrations cancelled after March 15.