NHLA Convention: Not a One-Hit Wonder

I love the song “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye. If you think you don’t know it, pull it up... you do. But, likely, none of us know any other songs he did. That made me start thinking of one-hit wonders. Nena with “99 Luftballons” from the 80s and Sir Mix-A-Lot with “Baby Got Back.” Sorry, that’s stuck in your head now, but there are hundreds of one-hit wonders. And I’m glad they exist because they made some great songs.

But an Association cannot afford to be a one-hit wonder.

NHLA’s annual Convention and Exhibit Showcase is absolutely a hit. It is where the hardwood industry comes together to learn, connect, and do business. It delivers insight you cannot get anywhere else and serves as a central meeting place for domestic and international markets. In 2026, we are excited to return to Cleveland with an even larger presence of foreign importers of North American hardwood, reinforcing NHLA’s role on the global stage.

Still, a great convention once a year is not enough.

For more than 128 years, the National Hardwood Lumber Association has delivered value year-round. NHLA is working every day to grow demand, strengthen the industry, and support its members.

One of the most important ways we do that is by influencing the people who decide what materials get used in the first place. NHLA is actively reaching out to architects, designers, and specifiers, especially those involved in large projects such as hotels, hospitals, and institutional buildings. The launch of our new magazine, Hardwood & Design, puts hardwood directly in front of the design community. The feedback has been clear. Designers want to use hardwood, and they want to know where to get it. NHLA connects them to our members and creates opportunities that last far beyond a single event.

Education is another cornerstone of NHLA’s year-round impact. From the Inspector Training School (ITS) to hands-on classes in saw filing, kiln operation, and moisture measurement, NHLA provides practical education that improves quality and profitability across the supply chain. Our hardwood-built headquarters allows us to host students, industry professionals, and industry summits throughout the year—helping introduce new talent to the industry and build the workforce of the future.

Today, NHLA members span 43 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, and countries around the world, including Belgium, China, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Turkey. That global reach exists because NHLA standards, education, and leadership are trusted worldwide.

The Convention matters. It always will. But NHLA is more than a mo-ment, more than a meeting, and certainly more than a one-hit wonder.

For 128 years, NHLA has been delivering value long after the applause fades. And that is why NHLA is, and will always be, the hardwood Association.

John Hester

Chief Development Officer