Top Row:
Peter Butzelaar, Gerry Van Leeuwen, Russell Taylor
Bottom Row:
Jane Guo (China Office), Chari Gimenez, Barb MacDonald
Russell E. TAYLOR President
Russ Taylor 's twenty-five year background in the forest industry encompasses forestry, manufacturing, marketing and consulting positions. Mr. Taylor has been responsible for various mill management activities, such as log purchasing, custom cutting, value-added remanufacturing and new product development. He also has valuable woods experience gained through his position as Operations Forester for Northwood Pulp Limited. As well, Mr. Taylor has gained expertise in marketing lumber and specialty products throughout North America and overseas, holding positions in sales, marketing and remanufacturing.
Russ Taylor brings his production, marketing and woods expertise to bear in such areas as strategic and business planning, product and market development, and global marketing research. His particular talents lie in market and strategy development for commodity and specialty wood products, forecasting supply, demand and prices, and strategic planning.
Gerry VAN LEEUWEN Vice President
Mr. Van Leeuwen has more than ten years of senior managerial and operational experience with a major coastal B.C. forest company. With twenty-seven years experience in the B.C. coastal wood products industry, Mr. Van Leeuwen has gained in-depth knowledge and experience in all aspects of the forestry and sawmill business. His business and managerial experience includes log and chip trading, sawmill management, mill efficiency improvement, global wood product markets, new product development, grade and value recovery, margin enhancement, value-adding processes, and team building related to lumber manufacturing. He has also been directly responsible for the marketing and sales of all grades and qualities of lumber and remanufactured products into the Pacific Rim, Europe, and North America.
Mr. Van Leeuwen has also traveled extensively to visit many industrial manufacturers throughout North America that produce cut stock, doors, windows, mouldings and millwork products. As well, Gerry has made dozens of marketing trips to Japan and Europe to meet with key industry customers. Gerry has developed excellent strategic insight into key industry operating issues and can provide analysis and recommendations for operational and marketing elements for investment purposes, plant renovations/ upgrades, new construction, and the due diligence process.
Peter BUTZELAAR Senior Consultant
Peter Butzelaar is a graduate forester and has obtained valuable experience in production management both in the sawmilling and value-added remanufacturing industry. He is a graduate of Simon Fraser’s MBA program where he concentrated in marketing and strategic planning.
He has been involved in forest products consulting since 1991, where his initial work featured assignments for the Council of Forest Industries, the BC Coast Kiln Drying Association, and Imperial Lumber (all done while attending SFU). Professional work has included projects with Sandwell Inc. and, currently, with Taylor & Associates.
The focus of Mr. Butzelaar’s research is in market share analysis, product positioning vis-à-vis competitors, new product development, benchmarking, strategic planning, and due diligence for investment and business opportunities. To date, the industry segments where he has been concentrating his efforts include:
The global and U.S. moulding and millwork industry,
The North American residential siding, trim and decking market,
Value-added opportunities for structural and non structural panels, and
Value-added opportunities for engineered wood including LVL, I-beams, laminated lumber, finger-joint lumber, MSR lumber and edge-glued panels.
Mr. Butzelaar has proved himself to be highly enterprising at applying leading edge business and analytical skills to meet the diverse needs of corporate clients, government, and individuals.
Chari Gimenez
Research Manager
After obtaining her BA in 1994, Chari Gimenez went on to work in the field of research for various sectors of the Federal Government including Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND).
In 1997, Chari joined the WOOD Markets team and is currently responsible for forest products research and data collection and analysis. Her focus is on gathering North American and offshore industry statistics which are used for our multi-client studies such as “WOOD Markets” monthly newsletter and report, as well as the company’s consulting projects.
Barb MacDonald
Business Manager
Barb has worked as an Administrator in the consulting industry for over 20 years, with the majority of her experience coming from the pulp and paper sector. She has a background in Human Resources, Accounting, Facility and Administrative Management.
In her current role as Business Manager of International Wood Markets Group Inc., she oversees all these areas in addition to assisting in marketing and promotions.
Jane Guo
China Office
Based in our office in Beijing, Ms. Jane Guo graduated from China Beijing Forestry University in 1999, majoring in wood science and technology. Jane has two years of work experience in wood products manufacturing and five-years of experience in international consulting work. As a previous manager for a Chinese-based consulting firm, Jane became well connected with hundreds of quality Chinese suppliers and had the opportunity to work closely with a number of international firms, providing them with marketing, translation and research related services. Ms. Guo has gained a strong background in the Chinese wood products industry and is current with trends and issues in international wood products trade. As a project organizer and highly accomplished translator, Ms Guo has visited hundreds of wood processing plants together with Russ Taylor, Gerry Van Leeuwen, and Mike Jahraus, during the last four years. The focus of Ms. Guo’s work for IWMG is providing high quality consulting services to international companies interested in connecting with buyers, sourcing suppliers, exploring opportunities, and/or investing in China.
Russ Taylor 's twenty-five year background in the forest industry encompasses forestry, manufacturing, marketing and consulting positions. Mr. Taylor has been responsible for various mill management activities, such as log purchasing, custom cutting, value-added remanufacturing and new product development. He also has valuable woods experience gained through his position as Operations Forester for Northwood Pulp Limited. As well, Mr. Taylor has gained expertise in marketing lumber and specialty products throughout North America and overseas, holding positions in sales, marketing and remanufacturing. 
Mr. Van Leeuwen has more than ten years of senior managerial and operational experience with a major coastal B.C. forest company. With twenty-seven years experience in the B.C. coastal wood products industry, Mr. Van Leeuwen has gained in-depth knowledge and experience in all aspects of the forestry and sawmill business. His business and managerial experience includes log and chip trading, sawmill management, mill efficiency improvement, global wood product markets, new product development, grade and value recovery, margin enhancement, value-adding processes, and team building related to lumber manufacturing. He has also been directly responsible for the marketing and sales of all grades and qualities of lumber and remanufactured products into the Pacific Rim, Europe, and North America. 
Peter Butzelaar is a graduate forester and has obtained valuable experience in production management both in the sawmilling and value-added remanufacturing industry. He is a graduate of Simon Fraser’s MBA program where he concentrated in marketing and strategic planning. 
After obtaining her BA in 1994, Chari Gimenez went on to work in the field of research for various sectors of the Federal Government including Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND). 
Barb has worked as an Administrator in the consulting industry for over 20 years, with the majority of her experience coming from the pulp and paper sector. She has a background in Human Resources, Accounting, Facility and Administrative Management. 
Based in our office in Beijing, Ms. Jane Guo graduated from China Beijing Forestry University in 1999, majoring in wood science and technology. Jane has two years of work experience in wood products manufacturing and five-years of experience in international consulting work. As a previous manager for a Chinese-based consulting firm, Jane became well connected with hundreds of quality Chinese suppliers and had the opportunity to work closely with a number of international firms, providing them with marketing, translation and research related services. Ms. Guo has gained a strong background in the Chinese wood products industry and is current with trends and issues in international wood products trade. As a project organizer and highly accomplished translator, Ms Guo has visited hundreds of wood processing plants together with Russ Taylor, Gerry Van Leeuwen, and Mike Jahraus, during the last four years. The focus of Ms. Guo’s work for IWMG is providing high quality consulting services to international companies interested in connecting with buyers, sourcing suppliers, exploring opportunities, and/or investing in China.