_________________________________________________________________________________________ Neiman
Enterprises
Sonja Merryman and Jim Neiman
“ We learned a lot about how to ensure we make the highest quality products from one of our remanufacturing plants that wasn ’ t successful and subsequently shut down ,” he adds . Jim calls this experience his five-million-dollar master ’ s degree . Sonja Merryman , Jim ’ s daughter and Head of Community Relations gives more details on how they turned this challenge into a learning experience : “ Our former remanufacturing business provided valuable insights that helped us improve our sawmill operations . Seeing firsthand what a reman plant values , we made strategic changes to meet those needs and stand out in the industry . The experience emphasized the importance of education and quality , guiding improvements across our entire organization .”
Working in the timber industry , forest health is of great importance . Sonja sheds light on the company ’ s approach : “ On our end , as a fourth-generation company , it ’ s
all about the sustainability and the health of the forest . It ’ s directly linked to the health of the industry and our organization . That ’ s one of the biggest blessings about our family company ; we know that the forest must be healthy for us to thrive and vice versa .”
“ The sustainability of our company is a top priority ,” Jim emphasizes . “ When I took over , I made a promise to my dad that I would carry it forward for at least two more generations – to my grandchildren . In the wood products industry , the connection to family is deeply rooted , much like in agricultural communities . When you ’ ve been part of a place – often a small town – since the 1930s , and generations of families depend on you , a unique community and culture naturally develop . While trees are a renewable resource , they can take a century to grow , which makes the family aspect even more vital . It allows us to be long-term stewards of the forest , ensuring its health and productivity for generations to come .”
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