BANGOR — The Northeastern Loggers’ Association (NELA) recently honored Steve Hanington and Hanington Brothers, Inc. of Macwahoc Plantation, Maine as the recipient of its 2014 Logging Operator Award. NELA President Colleen Goodridge presented the award at the Annual Loggers’ Banquet in Bangor, Maine in a ceremony attended by over 250 members of the Northeast’s forest products industry.
During the awards presentation, President Goodridge told the audience “Steve Hanington and Hanington Brothers, Inc. is the very model of a modern and successful logging operation. Hanington’s operations range hundreds of miles in every direction from their home base. Besides softwood and hardwood operations, they also do chipping. In addition, Hanington Brothers provides timber cruising and forest management services for smaller or private woodlot owners.
“As we all know, the recent recession and the sharp contraction of the housing market had a dramatic impact on forestry. Many forest landowners terminated long-term contacts because they had no market demand to sustain all the contractors they had operating.
“This recession spared no one, including the Hanington Brothers. Steve knew that downsizing was looming, but he had the vision to hunker down and weather the storm. Equipment was maintained, replacement purchases were deferred, and although cuts were made, Steve managed to pick up enough contract work to sustain operations and keep together his support and management teams. When Steve recognized the signs of a turnaround, he kicked recovery efforts into full gear. He acquired the assets and the entire workforce of a retiring competitor – and suddenly he had the capacity to take on some very large contracts. With over forty people working for Hanington Brothers, the company quickly resumed their re-investment cycle, purchasing a full spectrum of new forestry equipment, including a chipper, chip vans, loaders, five tractor trucks, and a service vehicle. There’s also been a trickle down effect from Hanington’s recovery, as they’ve engaged subcontractors in order to better meet contract demands – and this has allowed the subcontractors to enjoy a recovery of their own.”
President Goodridge concluded, “But the Hanington Brothers story isn’t simply one of a company that survived an economic downturn. This is a company that embodies the very ideals of “professionalism” as theywork with their employees, their subcontractors, their customers, and their peers. Steve Hanington and Hanington Brothers, Inc. is a widely admired logging contractor, and they represent our industry well.”
The Northeastern Loggers’ Association, headquartered in Old Forge, NY, is a trade group representing nearly 2,000 members of the Northeast’s logging, sawmilling, and paper industry. The Loggers’ Banquet is held each year immediately prior to the Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Exposition.
