Following a brief overview of the foundation required in a company before incentive plans can be effective, Marilyn will dive into an in-depth look at how incentive plans work, and what all needs to be considered in designing a plan to meet your specific goals.

Marilyn has an extremely strong background in the field of designing total compensation plans. As the Manager of Compensation for the Pacific Bell Directory from 1983 - 1991, she designed and managed company-wide total compensation plans affecting more than 2,700 employees. From 1991 - 1994, she served as the Vice President/Senior Compensation Consultant for the Bank of California in San Francisco, CA. From 1994-1997, she worked as a consultant with William M. Mercer, Inc. In 1998, she formed her own consulting firm, which she operates today.

10 AM - 10:30 AM Break

Sally will give detailed information about the process and status of forest certification in North America. A discussion will follow about how this growing initiative might impact our industry, and how the TFBC might best position itself to help the industry be prepared for the changes this will bring.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization that promotes responsible forest management by evaluating and accrediting certifiers. Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is one of only two neutral, third-party testing and certification organizations in the United States. Before a product may carry an FSC or SCS label, all stages of the production, distribution and sale of the product must be independently certified. Wood must be tracked from the certified forest to the finished product. Through its Chain-of-Custody Program, SCS certifies wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who handle wood from forests certified according to FSC standards.

Noon - 1 PM Lunch

Jonathan Orpin will lead a discussion about where we are and where we should go with respect to research in timber frame engineering. As an opener and to stimulate discussion, Dick Schmidt will present his perspectives on timber frame research, including a discussion of work he has directed as well as that performed by other researchers. Jonathan, along with others in the TFBC, has long been a proponent and supporter of structural engineering research for timber frames. Dick is an active member of the Guild and has been at the forefront of timber frame engineering research for many years.

2:30 PM - 3 PM Break

3 PM - 5 PM
Roundtable discussion.
Where is the timber frame industry headed, and what is our role in its future?

We will be discussing the current status of the apprenticeship program being developed by the Guild, bringing in information about what the Canadian Log Builders have done with their program, and perhaps calling in a blacksmith to tell us what the Artist Blacksmith Association of North America (ABANA) has been able to achieve with theirs. This should lead to a lively discussion about what the TFBC's role should be in the planning and implementation of this program. From there, we'll move into exploring what other areas we should be focusing on, and where our efforts can best be used to help advance this industry.