The Penn State Alumni AssociationWhat’s been happening: Since 1999 I have been managing a family business founded by my wife's father, who was a graduate of University of Georgia School of Forestry. Our business is called Thompson Hardwoods, Inc., and is located in a rural community in southeastern Georgia about 110 miles west of Savannah, GA. We employ over 100 and have been purchasers of southern hardwood and cypress timber products and manufacturers of various lumber, timber, woodchip, landscape ground cover and biomass products since 1968. Like many businesses we are challenged by the global economic downturn. Our customers are dependent on our domestic as well as international demand for wood products for housing and furniture. We are optimistic about the future; if we can weather the tough times we will continue to experience in 2009 and 2010. |