For the second year in a row, FSC had a strong presence at the International Mass Timber Conference, held March 25–27 in Portland, Oregon. With over 3,100 attendees from 29 countries, more than 220 exhibitors, and 100+ speakers, the event continues to be the leading global gathering focused on mass timber construction—drawing professionals from across forestry, manufacturing, design, development, and construction sectors.
This year, FSC's participation reflected our growing continental collaboration. FSC hosted a bustling booth with team members Chloe Nelms, Jonathan Reese, and Alex Thoman from FSC US as well as Jeff Welch from FSC Canada participated, helping to highlight the cross-border alignment in promoting responsible forest management and sustainable building practices.
“It was surprising to see the diversity in how wood fiber is being used,” said Alex. “There was a strong push for sustainability among attendees, and conversations were very positive. One start-up told me they were conducting LCAs but recognized the need for legitimate certification—like FSC—to demonstrate responsible sourcing.”
Chloe noted, “I had very engaging conversations—some attendees were just beginning to explore FSC, while others were interested in Forest Management certification. I also connected with several of our Chain of Custody certificate holders. Personally, I learned a lot about traceability and cross-laminated timber, and how FSC plays a growing role in this space.”
Jeff Welch added a Canadian perspective to the conversations, sharing how FSC-certified forests and supply chains across Canada are contributing to low-carbon, climate-resilient construction. His participation helped emphasize the shared goals and complementary strengths of FSC US and FSC Canada in advancing the use of certified wood in mass timber and green building markets across North America.
Architects at the event showed particular interest in FSC US’s AIA-approved continuing education course on green building, with many requesting lunch & learn sessions for their firms—now being scheduled.
Summing up the experience, Jonathan Reese, Built Environment Strategic Partnerships Manager, shared, “The real win is being out in the open market with mass timber practitioners from all backgrounds. Whether they’re already using FSC or just curious about its value, it’s clear that FSC certification is increasingly seen as a business advantage and a tool for credible sustainability.”
Photo: FSC staff at the International Mass Timber conference. Left to right: Alex Thoman, Pacific Northwest Regional Manager , FSC US; Jonathan Reese, Built Environment Strategic Partnership Manager, FSC US; Chloe Nelms, Administrative Assistant, FSC US; Jeff Welch, Market Development Manager, FSC Canada