From Slogans to Standards: AHMI’s Ongoing Mission to Promote Appalachian Hardwoods

As market pressures and policy changes challenge hardwood stakeholders, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc. (AHMI) continues its decades-long work educating manufacturers and promoting Appalachian hardwood as a resilient and sustainable choice. These campaigns not only shaped public perception in their respective decades—they continue to influence how Appalachian hardwood is positioned in today’s global market.

• America’s finest lumber resource – Appalachian. (1950s)

• Appalachian Oak – nature’s beauty. (1960s)

• Demand Appalachian - Longer Lengths and Wider Widths. (1970s)

• Appalachian Poplar – made for furniture. (1980s)

• Appalachian Hardwoods – The Height of Beauty. (1990s)

• Appalachian Hardwoods THE Sustainable Resource - 2.5 trees growing for each tree harvested or dying combined. (2000s)

• Certified Appalachian Sustainable and Legal. (2015 to today)

AHMI birthed these initiatives to benefit landowners, sawmillers, and manufacturers in and around the region. Its mission since 1928 has been to promote this hardwood resource to companies that make finished goods and ensure a supply of trees for the future.

The quest continues in the 2020s as new concepts are being developed to promote Appalachian carbon capture. AHMI partners with companies and individuals to develop and implement these strategies.

One of its most successful efforts began in 2007 and continues today – Appalachian Hardwood Verified Sustainable. AHMI staff asked the U.S. Forest Service in 2006 to develop a matrix for the 344 counties in the 12-state region that detailed growth, harvest, mortality, standing inventories, and more.

Researchers captured data from the Forest Inventory Analysis. They learned that 2.4 cubic meters of hardwood fiber were added in the AHMI-defined region for every cubic meter harvested or dying naturally, 2.4 to 1. This far exceeds sustainability and the program began using the ratio, replacing it with trees for a better understanding.

That sustainability message caught on, and AHMI has worked with the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA), the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the Indiana Hardwood Lumber Association (IHLA), and other groups, to develop similar efforts.

Manufacturers moved from sustainability requests and soon asked for legal documentation. In 2012, Appalachian Hardwood Verified Legal was developed, with companies obtaining signed procurement forms from suppliers that proved a legal purchase.

These two voluntary programs have assisted AHMI members in completing thousands of transactions with domestic and international buyers. Documents are updated annually to remind buyers “why” to request Appalachian.

A few consuming industries continued to push for proof, and these “verified” documents did not satisfy everyone. AHMI’s Board of Trustees developed certification standards in 2016 and contracted with an audit firm to “certify” member companies that met the standards.

In a marketplace increasingly focused on verification, Certified Appalachian Legal & Sustainable (CALS) has provided a critical advantage for Appalachian producers seeking to maintain buyer trust and access international markets. CALS is accepted by hundreds of companies and the Sustainable Furnishings Council for inclusion on its Sustainability Scorecard.

AHMI has a rich history of helping establish other hardwood initiatives. It is a founding member of AHEC, the Hardwood Federation, the Real American Hardwood Coalition (RAHC), the former Hardwood Council, and the former New Oak Partnership.

AHMI represents 200 member companies in 12 states and Canada, including producers, distributors, consumers, foresters, landowners, and suppliers to the industry. To support workforce retention and long-term viability, AHMI launched several initiatives aimed at easing administrative burdens and increasing employee benefits for member companies.

NEW IN 2025 - Group Health Insurance was approved by AHMI’s Board of Directors in July 2025, in a partnership with BHPI and DeltaWealth. The primary medical insurance offering has four plans that member companies can offer employees. It includes access to plans like Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and BlueCross BlueShield.

• Appalachian Hardwood 401(k) Multiple Employer Plan: The AHMI plan allows hardwood companies to pool existing retirement accounts or start new employee retirement programs. Participants can access low-cost investments that are typically only available to large corporate plans. There is no individual company audit requirement, saving staff time and creating efficiencies. Adopting employers have plan design flexibility and can retain individual plan features such as a matching formula, vesting, and eligibility.

• AHMI Payroll Partnership: AHMI has a partnership with Lumber Payroll and Dough HCM to offer its customers unique, proprietary payroll processing technology. It is specific to the hardwood industry and provides payroll accounting, emphasizing employee access to wages.

• Employer’s Choice: Employer’s Choice is a national company that provides preventative wellness programs through the Affordable Care Act and is funded by federal tax savings. Preventive wellness programs have proven to reduce long-term health risks. The Employer’s Choice plan is available to all member company employees.

As markets continue to evolve, AHMI remains committed to partnering with industry leaders, policymakers, and educators to protect the integrity and prosperity of Appalachian hardwoods in the global economy.

AHMI has added a membership category for industry companies that want to participate in the ancillary programs. The Associate membership has a small fee.

The association staff administers the Appalachian Lumbermen’s Club and provides media services to the Penn York Lumbermen’s Club.

AHMI is headquartered in High Point, NC, and information is available at www.appalachianhardwood.org.

Follow us at #Appalachianhdwd or email info@appalachianhardwood.org.

By TOM INMAN, President of Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc.

Tom Inman, President of Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc. (AHMI), joined the company in 1994 and was named President in 2006. He serves on the Board of Directors for the American Hardwood Export Council, the Real American Hardwood Coalition, the White Oak Initiative, and the Fellowship of Christian Lumbermen. He has a degree in journalism and a previous career in radio broadcasting, newspapers, and web-based communications.