Eric Gee

It’s not surprising alumnus Eric Gee is almost giddy when he talks about two things: wood and Auburn University.

Gee is the executive director of the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA), so it’s quite literally his job to promote wood, “the most sustainable building material product in the world,” as he labels it.

And with his role on the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) Advisory Council and his support of CFWE’s Forest Products Development Center, his loyalty and commitment to Auburn are apparent.

Passion for the industry

For 27 years, Gee has touted the use of wood and seems to still marvel in its simplicity.

“It takes sunlight, water and nutrients to create something that grows out of the earth naturally,” said Gee. “And then you can use it for buildings, paper, pencils and so much more.”

A trusted third-party source of information on the use of wood since 1915, SFPA publishes information about wood characteristics and uses for builders and end users.

“Southern Pine is the Swiss Army Knife of wood because it does everything well,” said Gee. “It can be used for moulding, millwork and construction lumber and performs exceptionally well outdoors when pressure treated.”

Prior to joining SFPA, Gee worked as a consulting forester providing land management solutions, which can include replanting, selling timber or selling land. He confirms the South has “a healthy, abundant resource of trees,” and SFPA finds and supports markets that utilize this resource .

“I am able to share this passion with people around the world to promote American softwoods in regions where they do not have trees or are afraid to harvest trees,” said Gee.

Gee (left) speaking with a wood importer at the Dubai Wood Show.

Driving industry innovation

An important part of Gee’s work is coordinating the Forest Products EXPO, which has been going strong for 75 years and will be held in Nashville in 2025.

It all started with the Andersson Log Debarker in 1950, which revolutionized the way the industry manufactured wood. The technology highlighted at the Forest Products EXPO includes digital and electronic optimizing systems as well as the traditional iron and steel machinery used in the lumber manufacturing process.

“Today’s sawmills are utilizing technologies that find ways to make safer working conditions within the sawmill, optimizing the log resource, and increasing lumber production. Automatic grading systems are a game-changing innovation for sawmills to maximize the value of every log,” said Gee.

The EXPO now covers 55,000 square feet of exhibit space with products from across the industry, from log handling, sawing and grading to packaging and scanning.

Pathway to forestry

Gee thinks his career in forestry makes sense in retrospect.

“Looking at my life, how I grew up and what I did as a kid, it now makes sense,” said Gee, who was a Boy Scout and Eagle Scout who enjoyed hiking, camping and paddle sports. “Plus, I spent summers with my grandfather who was a woodworker, so I was around wood all my life.”

Gee arrived at Auburn as an engineering major, but joined CFWE in his second year.

“I got into CFWE, and I just thrived,” said Gee. “Looking back, I can see now it was a natural major and career choice for me.”

Gee (second from right) meets with clients at the 2024 Philippine International Wood Show.

Investing in Auburn

Gee credits his continued involvement in Auburn to the fact that the university originally invested in him. Therefore, he supports Auburn by sharing his industry experience and insight on the CFWE Advisory Council and working with Brian Via and the Forest Products Development Center (FPDC).

Gee is thankful to be on the council, and Janaki R.R. Alavalapati, the Emmett F. Thompson Dean of CFWE,  is thankful for his leadership.

“We are very appreciative of Eric’s engagement with the college as one of our proud alumni,” said Alavalapati. “He represents an important sector of the nation’s economy within his leadership roles on the CFWE Advisory Council and with SFPA.”

Gee also works closely with Via in various ways, for example, sharing industry trends to support FDPC’s curriculum development and providing collateral information and in-kind funding support for FDPC’s grant writing.

“Eric collaborates with the FDPC by engaging us at the Forest Products EXPO, serving on the advisory council, imparting advice on emerging southeastern industry trends and marketing our program when it provides value for his members,” said Via.

Gee will also participate in the CFWE-led Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Conference in October, presented in partnership with Auburn’s Mass Timber Collaborative, a multidisciplinary initiative of the CFWE, College of Architecture, Design and Construction and the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

“SFPA has watched the mass timber and CLT discussion develop over the past 10 years,” said Gee. “It’s nice to see these products become mainstream and witness the collaboration of the colleges.”

Gee continues to be amazed how forests and trees easily adapt to their circumstances and environment, which pushes him “to drive people’s perceptions and attitudes about using wood.”

He also promises to continue his partnership with his alma mater — to support CFWE in its mission to create a sustainable future for society’s well-being.

(Written by Amy Burtch)