6th Annual Conference

For our last year as The Carolina Women In Timber, the 6th annual conference was hosted by Great Woods Companies in Bennettsville, SC.
Over 50 attendees came from across 7 states for a day of connection, recognition, and empowerment in the timber industry.
We hosted our first ever Social Evening Event, which was a smash hit!

We had 4 guest speakers, Jennifer Goodnow, Nadaya Butler, Simone Handfield, and Brandy Gammon. The highlight of the day was visiting a logging site presented by Bob Lussier where the ladies got to watch and learn about a skidder, feller buncher, and a chipper. Ladies were offered an opportunity to get up in the machine and learn about the controls and what it takes to operate these machines.

Other special guests included Jessica Johnson of the Southern Loggin'​ Times and Scott Dane, Executive Director of the American Loggers Council.

We presented our 2nd scholarship to Skylar Deaton, a junior in Forest Management at North Carolina State University. We also presented our charity donation to We Are Sharing Hope SC an organ and tissue donation program for the state of South Carolina.

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  • “I usually have trouble networking and attending these kinds of events, but every woman was so friendly and made it very enjoyable for me! Great meeting. I’ll be back”

    —Attendee

  • “I will be attending all these annual meetings – there’s nothing else out there like this that recognizes my contribution as a woman to this business! About time! Thank you Lori!”

    —Attendee

2025 Sponsors

  • Foothills Forest Products, Inc

  • Manulife Investment Management Forest Management

  • Seven Hills Forestry

  • Jeremy & Betsy Kessinger

    Written by Betsy Kessinger

    “I’ve spent most of my life connected with the timber industry. My father was a registered Forester and I also married a Registered Forester, Jeremy Kessinger. I’ve cruised timber and created stand maps. Even though I ended up choosing a different career path, I feel like forestry is in my blood.  I met Lori Walker 7 years ago when she worked with my husband and we’ve been good friends ever since! Jeremy and I fully support Lori’s mission to celebrate and promote the Carolina Women In Timber organization!”

  • Woodland Security, Inc

    Tom Kazee, Director

  • Orbis, Inc.

  • Forestry Association of South Carolina

  • WilRidge Forestry, Inc.

  • American Loggers Council

  • Boise Cascade

  • Carolina Custom Decks

  • Duncan Maceachern

  • Generations Forestry

  • Southern Loggers Cooperative

  • Mulberry Plantation

  • Premier Forestry

  • SCTPA

  • Tidewater Equipment Co.

  • Tim Kirven

  • TimberRisk

  • White Oak Forest Managment

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2024