Columbia Forest Products has announced the appointment of Conrad Matthiessen as OEM sales manager for its California-based rice straw MDF operation in partnership with CalPlant I, according to Columbia Director of MDF Sales Steve Chavez.
“The breadth of knowledge Conrad brings to this new enterprise of Columbia enhances our technical sales expertise,” Chavez says. “Our partnership with CalPlant I takes our sustainable panel offering to a new level of sophistication.”
Matthiessen has been appointed OEM sales manager for MDF and will head up sales efforts for Columbia’s OEM customer base, which includes furniture, fixtures and components.
Matthiessen joins the company with more than 25 years of experience in the wood products business with a sales background in the composite panel industry, most recently at GW Industries, brokering MDF sales for New Zealand producers Dongwha and Daiken. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Matthiessen is based in West Linn, Ore.
Matthiessen reports to Chavez and Ed Woods, Columbia vice president of corporate strategy.