3nd Annual Conference

The third annual conference was held at the The Front Porch in Richburg, SC on December 7, 2022.
26 women were in attendance. We had 2 amazing guest speakers, Summer Ruff and Traclynne Allison who taught us a great deal about their experience and knowledge.

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Never Give UP

The 3rd Annual Women In Timber Conference was one that I truly thought would not happen.

It was late September 2022. My phone rang. It was Summer Ruff calling to say hello as she often did. She asked me when the upcoming annual conference was going to be.

I had not even thought about preparing or organizing the event.

I had lost my job with GreenWood Resources December 31, 2021. An unexpected blow.

I had taken a job with “The Plant Truck” in Spartanburg, SC in June 2022 as the Operations Manager. This was a wholesale foliage company. I loved my boss Carla Fuller, and liked my job, but it wasn’t the timber business. I wasn’t “home.”

The day Summer called, I remember saying to her, “how in the world can I lead a group of women in the timber business when I am not even employed in the business myself any longer?”

Summer simply said this to me very softly. She said “Don’t give up Lori.”

I listened to her. Thank God I did. The 3rd Annual Conference was held on December 7, 2022.

Summer made this sign for me and gave it to me at the meeting. It’s displayed beautifully in my home. Every time I look at it, I recall the details of our conversation and always remember her kind words and the time she spent with me, encouraging me - to never give up.

Yes, it is very rewarding that I pushed on, that I pursued, that I didn’t give up and I was able to put the conference together in less than 2 months.

But it is 1000 times MORE rewarding to know that I have made such caring, amazing, devoted, wonderful friends through this organization who BELIEVED IN ME, ENCOURAGED ME, WHO STOOD BEHIND ME, WHO SUPPORTED ME, WHO WOULDN’T LET ME GIVE UP, and who helped me through some really difficult times.

This is a heartfelt THANK YOU to all the Carolina Women In Timber who let me lead them through the conference that day.

What they may not realize is, IT WAS THEM LEADING ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

  • “I loved both speakers! I thought the most educational part of this was learning what everyone’s biggest challenge was. It helped me understand everyone and their needs currently. It allows me to potentially help them!”

    —Attendee

  • “I wish this was open to a whole-day event and would love to expand the membership!”

    —Attendee

  • “I was most amazed by Dana Bloome today. Her courage to rise and have her own logging business was impressive! Plus I loved her children's book she wrote!”

    —Attendee

2022 Sponsors

  • Bellwether Forest Products

  • Foothills Forest Products, Inc

  • Myers Timber Company, Inc.

  • Seven Hills Forestry

    “Seven Hills Forestry  is a 50%  woman owned reforestation company with over 20 years of experience in primarily tree planting and seedling harvesting. Having the annual Women In Timber conference that brings together other women in the forestry and forest products industry helps to encourage growth and awareness of an industry that is a vital part of the economic stability of many states, especially South Carolina. I am glad to participate with any group that seeks to add diversity to its ranks.  I am encouraged to see that there is a place and group that come together annually to broaden the reach of this industry, especially among young women. I appreciate the handwork and effort Lori Walker has put and continues to put into making this conference successful every year.”

  • Palmetto Stump & Brush Cutting

  • Jeremy & Betsy Kessinger

    “I am a former colleague of Lori’s and had the pleasure of working with her for 5 years. I supported her efforts to establish the Carolina Women In Timber organization while at our former employer. My wife Betsy and I have become close friends with Lori over the years. When she let us know she planned to continue and hold the 2022 Conference, we wanted to continue to show our support to the wonder endeavor of the Carolina Women In Timber.”

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