Bright Wood Blog
A Thank You to the Stovall Family for 66 Years
[January 30, 2026] Thank you to the Stovall family for owning, leading, and growing Bright Wood.
Because of your business savvy and rock-solid commitment, we have had the security of working for a market leader—one that respected its suppliers, cared for its employees, and delivered for its customers.
When we see a trainload of Bright Wood products rolling by, we whoop to our kids in the backseat, “We made that!”—and feel genuinely proud of the work we do and the products we ship.
You have now entrusted Bright Wood to Andersen Corporation, a new owner that values our people, our craftsmanship, and our products.
As Andersen takes the reins, we will carry forward the legacy you built. Our focus will remain on quality, safety, on-time delivery, and exceeding customer expectations—just as it always has.
Thank you to the Stovall family for 66 remarkable years, and thank you to Andersen. The future of Bright Wood is bright.
Happy 42nd Anniversary to Todd Johnson
[December 16, 2025] Happy anniversary to Redmond Grinding’s Todd Johnson, who is celebrating 42 years with Bright Wood today. It will be his last anniversary, as he is retiring on December 31, 2025.
Todd is a third-generation millworker who started grading in Madras Plant 3 in 1983. “Back then, Plant 3 was a tiny building with two chop saws and one single-rip saw. Six people worked there,” Todd said.
Todd was there for the startup of Madras Plant 4 and Plant 8, joined Plant 14 after it was running, and returned to Plant 3 following an expansion. He did everything from pulling lumber off a lineal chain to cutting, being a production lead, driving a forklift, and operating a moulder.
Todd transferred to the Redmond site in 2000 as a moulder operator and was later drafted to run Bright Wood’s first vinyl wrap line.
Todd has been grinding for the last ten years and said it is his favorite job. “I like the challenge of building heads, so they work on the machines.”
Funnily enough, Todd had to put in a lot of effort to get his foot in Bright Wood’s door in 1983. “Back then, there weren’t that many openings,” Todd said. “I had to wear Dallas [Stovall, who was the Personnel Manager at the time] down by calling once or twice a week and dropping by the office. It took about a month.”
Thank goodness he didn’t give up. Todd’s work ethic, willingness to learn, and dedication to quality were what Bright Wood needed over the last 42 years. We wish Todd nothing but the best for his retirement. You earned it.
![Dallas Stovall [center] gives Mike Glover and Grant Carruthers of Westco Lagan Limited a tour of Madras Plant 11 in 2004 to show them how Bright Wood uses their radiata pine lumber from New Zealand.](https://www.brightwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/WL_tour_2004.jpg "Dallas Stovall [center] gives Mike Glover and Grant Carruthers of Westco Lagan Limited a tour of Madras Plant 11 in 2004 to show them how Bright Wood uses their radiata pine lumber from New Zealand.")
Andersen Corporation Announces Acquisition of Bright Wood
BAYPORT, Minn., December 10, 2025 - Andersen Corporation (Andersen), manufacturer of America's most trusted brand of window and doors*, has announced it will acquire Bright Wood Corporation (Bright Wood), the largest independent manufacturer of window and patio door components and engineered dimensional lumber in the U.S. The Bright Wood business will continue to operate under local leadership.
For more than 60 years, the family-owned company has been a critical supplier to the window and door industry, enabling growth and innovation. Under its new management, Bright Wood will continue to deliver the same industry-leading products and innovative solutions to its valued customers and the company looks forward to unlocking new opportunities to strengthen its longstanding customer relationships and growing together.
“Andersen is grateful to the founding Stovall family for their generations of leadership and transformative contributions to the industry,” said Chris Galvin, chairman and chief executive officer, Andersen Corporation. “Our investment in Bright Wood aims to ensure the company remains a valued supply partner to the fenestration industry for years to come.”
With headquarters in Madras, Oregon, Bright Wood has more than 1,000 employees across 28 processing plants and five locations in the U.S. Under this new ownership, Bright Wood will be led by well-known window and door industry leader, Pat Meyer, who will serve as Bright Wood’s acting CEO, supported by several tenured members of the Bright Wood leadership team. Andersen will participate in board-level and executive-level governance but will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the business. This management structure is designed to sustain Bright Wood’s position as a trusted source of wood and wood components to all current and future customers.
“It has been our honor and privilege to own and operate Bright Wood Corporation for the past 65 years. We are grateful to the dedicated members of our team and business partners who enabled our success and the trust of our valued customers who inspired our innovation and made us the industry leader,” said Kevin and Dallas Stovall, owners, Bright Wood Corporation. “Andersen shares our values of integrity, quality and shared success and we look forward to watching Bright Wood continue to thrive under its new leadership.”
*2024 Andersen brand surveys of U.S. contractors, builders, architects & homeowners
ABOUT ANDERSEN
Founded in 1903 on the philosophy of working "all together" to deliver on its promise to its customers, Andersen Corporation has built a century-long legacy of trust by delivering high-performance, reliable, and design-forward windows and doors. Empowering more than 13,000 employees every day to imagine what's possible and do what's right, Andersen is the largest window and door manufacturer in North America and America's #1 trusted window and door brand among builders, contractors, architects, and homeowners. *
Headquartered in Bayport, Minn., privately held Andersen Corporation and its subsidiaries manufacture and market window and door products under the Andersen®, Renewal by Andersen®, EMCO®, and MQ® brands. Andersen operates manufacturing sites across North America and Europe. Committed to sustainability, Andersen has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award. For more information about the company, its initiatives, and products, visit us at andersenwindows.com.
Follow Andersen Corporation on LinkedIn for more company news.
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Media Contact:
Eliza Chlebeck
Eliza.Chlebeck@andersencorp.com
Unloading a 32,672-Pound CNC Moulder
[November 12, 2025] Monday was move-in day for a new Kentwood CNC moulder and grinder going into Madras Plant 5. Those lucky enough to watch were reminded why Bright Wood’s Fabrication and Design teams are the GOAT.
The first challenge was getting a 34.8’ long by 7.5’ wide by 6.9’ high, 32,672-pound moulder-skid-cabinet unit out of the trailer. The team only had 4” of empty space between the unit and the trailer walls. Keeping the moulder centered and balanced was critical during extraction.
Harnessing enough horsepower to move something that heavy took planning. Bright Wood’s largest Hyster 210 could not pull a 28,000 lbs. load by itself during trials, so the team combined its pulling power with a rented extended boom forklift. Both rigs had to squeeze into the loading dock’s limited open space between two machine centers.
Once out of the trailer, the team hauled the behemoth 280 feet through the busy moulding plant to its new home. Then they repeated the procedure with the “smaller” grinder.
It never gets old watching Steve Ankrum, John Carson, Paul Cook, and Mike Dobkins work their magic. When Support Services has the new equipment running, it will be Madras Plant 5’s turn.
Pat on the Back for Quality Lab’s Kevin Jones
[October 20, 2025] “I’d like to give Kevin Jones, Bright Wood’s Quality Lab Technician, a big shoutout,” Nicole Morales, Quality Technician, said. “He’s the one who holds down the fort in the lab, always going above and beyond to keep everything running smoothly. Kevin has incredible organizational skills, and he ensures that no detail slips through the cracks.”
Accomplishing all this is no small feat. Kevin tests fingerjointed, laminated, and vinyl-wrapped products from the Madras, Redmond, and Prineville sites in his lab. “On average, I can be testing anywhere from 150 to 350 samples each week, depending on production’s output,” Kevin said.
“The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) durability tests are designed to simulate door and window parts in the field, standing up to the environment over years of service,” Scott Schierling, Quality Manager, explained. “The vacuum pressure and boil tests use water to put the adhesive bonds under harsher conditions than one would expect to see in real-world conditions.”
To make it all work, Kevin runs multiple tests simultaneously. His lab contains two vacuum pressure tanks, three boilers, one Modulus of Rupture (MOR) machine, six ovens, and a curing room.
“We appreciate Kevin’s dedication and hard work!” Nicole said.
Kevin Stovall Is Bright Wood's New President
Longtime Leader Dallas Stovall Retires
[August 28, 2025] It is with mixed feelings that Bright Wood Corporation announces the retirement of Dallas Stovall as President. Dallas has stepped down after 30+ years of dedicated leadership, leaving a legacy of innovation and excellence that has shaped Bright Wood Corporation into the premier provider of wood-based components for the fenestration industry.
Kevin Stovall, the company’s long-term Chairman and Vice President of Material Procurement, has succeeded Dallas as President. Kevin’s knowledge of the world’s timber resources, thorough understanding of company operations, and commitment to Bright Wood’s values will create a seamless transition for employees and customers alike.
“I look forward to maintaining the many personal relationships I’ve enjoyed during my years as President,” said Dallas. “But I also look forward to fewer responsibilities and more time to enjoy my family and leisure activities. I’m proud of the company our family built, and I feel good about the business and the legacy I am leaving behind in making this decision.”
Dallas will stay on with Bright Wood as Chairman of the Board and one of the leaders of an internal group responsible for spearheading initiatives to improve earnings.
In assuming the role of President, Kevin Stovall stated that, “under my leadership, Bright Wood will remain committed to providing the highest-quality wood-based components to our customers. Dallas’s retirement marks a new chapter in the company’s history, but it’s all part of the same story of product innovation, operational excellence, and outstanding customer service. I look forward to continuing that legacy together with our great team of employees.”
Richard Whittenburg Turns in His Forklift Keys for a New Life on the Coast
[July 29, 2025] Happy retirement to longtime Madras Plant 12 fingerjoint driver Richard Whittenburg.
“Richard gave 100% all day, every day,” Paul Quinn, Madras Fingerjoint Value Stream Manager, said. “He has surpassed earning the right to retire.”
“I always appreciated his consistent performance and no-quit attitude,” Paul continued. “His depth of knowledge about Bright Wood, not just fingerjoint, was invaluable. He knew who to contact and where to go.”
Richard brought his work ethic with him to Bright Wood; He built his knowledge bank over 34 years on the job.
Richard began as a fingerjoint feeder at Madras Plant 6 on November 16, 1990. Later, he was working on the first fingerjoint line in the newly built Madras Plant 12, when his supervisor asked him to try driving a forklift. Richard wasn’t keen on the idea, but he stepped up because he knew the plant needed a driver.
It was a job he grew to love. “I enjoyed driving,” Richard said. “I was always busy, and there was always something to do.”
Aside from 7 years spent loading trucks for the Shipping department and a brief period when he left the company, Richard worked most of his 34 years in Plant 12. “I’ve had more ups than downs at Bright Wood,” Richard said. “I love the people and working for the Stovalls. They treat you fair.”
Bad news for everyone hoping to say goodbye. He clocked out at 3 p.m. on Monday, July 28, and left for his new life on the southern Oregon coast, where his two sons, Aaron and Eric, reside (both of whom are former Bright Wood employees). Our thanks and best wishes go with Richard.
Madras Electrician Shuts Down Late-Night Shenanigans
[June 30, 2025] Tip of the hat to graveyard electrician Terance Robinson for keeping a watchful eye on Bright Wood property and doing the right thing when he saw something suspicious.
On Friday afternoon, Personnel’s Ervey Dominguez asked everyone to be on the lookout for a van that had been spotted several times on company property late at night, shortly before items were discovered missing.
When Terance spotted a vehicle matching that description on Saturday night, he immediately notified the right people and monitored the situation from a safe distance until help arrived.
“Thanks to Terance for his dedication and vigilance,” Ervey said. “His watchful eye and quick response were critical in addressing this situation, and his efforts significantly contributed to Bright Wood’s safety and security.”
Terence made the save just 8 days after his 20th anniversary with Bright Wood. Yet another reminder of why we are grateful to have him on the team.
Redmond Fingerjoint’s Ohlde and Frost Retire
[June 3, 2025] Friday, May 30, was a bittersweet day in the Redmond Fingerjoint Plant when longtime leaders – Plant Manager Robert Ohlde and Lead Art Frost – retired.
Art started at the Redmond site in 1972, right out of high school. He was promoted to a lead in the Fingerjoint Plant in 1983. His work ethic and deep knowledge of all things fingerjoint made him a treasure. [Learn more about Art].
Robert also joined Bright Wood immediately after high school graduation in May 1984. He worked in the Madras moulding plants until leaving to attend college and trade school. Robert returned in October 1988, and this time, he stayed, working at Madras Plants 6, 9, and 12 before transferring to Redmond to manage the fingerjoint plant in May 1997.
Over the next 28 years, Robert also oversaw Redmond’s Lamination and Saw Sand and Wet Slice plants. He came full circle when he returned to the Redmond Fingerjoint Plant last year.
“It is amazing how fast time goes by,” Robert said. “I have worked with a lot of people, and many of them had my same work values and humor. I will truly miss that.”
We wish Robert and Art all the best in retirement and hope to bump into you on a riverbank sometime with our fishing poles.
For the remaining Redmond Fingerjoint team, you’ve been preparing for this day for a long time, and we know you’ve got this. Life is full of new beginnings.
New Baghouses Shrink Natural Gas Bills
[May 16, 2025] Madras Plant 7 is using significantly less natural gas to heat the building thanks to three new baghouses. A comparison of their December 2024 and December 2022 shows a 33 percent drop.
As Bright Wood’s largest consumer of electricity and natural gas, this is a big deal. Plant 7 – like all lamination plants – must never drop below 60°F.
“Imagine heating your house with all the windows open for a year,” Brad Bolton, Designer, said. “You’d see a significant savings on your heating bill the next year if you closed all the windows.”
The three new baghouses accomplished something similar for Bright Wood’s largest plant. “We were exhausting 77,000 Cfm of warm air into the atmosphere before, and now we can return the warm air into the building,” Brad said. “In the summer, we cool the plant by exhausting the warm air outside.”
Other upgrades, such as installing two high-speed doors and more efficient natural gas heaters while downsizing the blowers from 200 horsepower to 150 horsepower, also contributed to the energy savings. New electric ceiling fans push warm air down during cold weather and up on hot days.
“We have been using Strategic Energy Management to reduce our energy consumption for over 14 years,” Wendy Smith, Bright Wood’s Energy Champion, said. “What gets less attention is the positive impact energy projects have had on our work environments. For example, LED lighting enhanced visibility for graders, and high-speed doors reduced the flow of cold air into the plants during the winter. Bright Wood’s association with the Oregon Energy Trust is another way we are fulfilling our company mission to constantly improve the quality of our individual lives.”
Larry Chancellor Retiring After 45 Years
[April 30, 2025] Larry Chancellor, longtime Saw Shop Manager, is retiring after 45 years at Bright Wood. As the company grew, so did Larry’s responsibilities, and he always rose to the challenge.
When Larry started in Plant 2 on March 4, 1980, there were three plants and around 100 people. His first job was as a moulder feeder. Over the years, Larry learned to set up moulders, resaws, and tenoners. Then, Cal Dubisar took him under his wing and taught him how to grind profiles for Plants 2 and 5. “Back then, it was all done by hand, and it was an art,” Larry said.
Larry worked his way up from a profile grinderman to a saw filer to the production supervisor of the Plant 2/5 Grinding Department. He became the Saw Shop Manager in 2005 and held the position until his retirement on April 30, 2025.
“When I was profile grinding, I was only responsible for one plant,” Larry said. “When I took over the Saw Shop, I was responsible for all tooling (moulding and saws). Believe me when I say it takes good people working together to keep up with all the tools Bright Wood has.”
Larry’s 45-year legacy extends beyond the Saw Shop and grinding rooms to the machine centers and customers who depend on the performance of Bright Wood’s tooling. We wish Larry and his wife, Wendy (who left her own mark in the Purchasing Department for over 11 years), happy trails ahead.
Also, farewell to Ellie. Technically, she is Larry’s dog, but surely, her eight-year stretch of perfect attendance behind the doggie gate in Larry’s office says otherwise.
Remembering a Picnic Classic: The Egg Toss
[March 4, 2025] With all the talk about egg shortages in the news lately, this photo from 1996 – when a dozen eggs averaged around $1.10 – caught our eye.
The egg toss was a popular and highly competitive picnic event for many years. Not surprisingly, people who handle wood blocks all day are great egg catchers.
Plant 1’s Story Is Bright Wood’s in Many Ways
If it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words, then the best way to describe Bright Wood’s first 65 years is with then-and-now photos of one of our oldest plants.
1972: Rip–Manual Cut
Unfortunately, we don’t have any images of Bright Wood’s original rip-and-cut plant (now Plant 3) from 1960. However, we do have this photo of Bright Wood’s second rip-and-cut plant – Plant 1 – shortly after it was built in 1972, thanks to the Madras Pioneer.
Plant 1, with its Tri-State six-blade ripsaw and nine cutoff saws, was cutting edge for its time. It gave Bright Wood the capacity we needed to grow. We had three plants and 50 people in 1972; today, our five sites in Oregon and Wisconsin employ 1,140.
2021: Scan–Auto Cut
Plant 1 was reborn in 2021 as an optimizing scan-and-cut plant. The operation consists of two identical lines, each with one USNR scanner feeding two automatic cut-off saws. Human hands don’t touch the wood until the sorting system delivers it to its assigned grading table or fingerjoint bin.
Fifty-two people work in Plant 1 on day, swing, and weekend shifts. AI helps today’s team get more value from each board and work safer and more efficiently. It has also created new jobs in scanning and automation that never existed before.
Much has changed in 65 years as we’ve adapted to shifting lumber supplies, worldwide competition, technological opportunities, and customer expectations. The two constants have been Bright Wood people’s drive to ship quality products and stay one step ahead of the pack.
Bright Wood Unveils the Lengths We’ll Go to for 2x4 Customers at the 2024 Traders Market
[November 21, 2024] Thanks to all Bright Wood’s customers, suppliers, and friends in the wood products and building industries who dropped by our booth at the 2024 Traders Market in Phoenix, AZ.
It gave us a chance to:
We also heard some cringe-worthy stories from former (and now return) buyers who experimented with cheaper dimension lumber from overseas and paid for it with quality and mold issues.
Congratulations to this year’s winners of Bright Wood’s custom-made David Musty golf putters:
We’re already looking forward to the 2025 Traders Market. Until then, call Bright Wood at 541-475-2234 with your engineered dimension lumber questions and needs.
Art Frost: Redmond’s Go-To Fingerjoint Expert
[October 7, 2024] Art Frost is the Redmond site’s go-to guy for all things fingerjoint. He has worked all but five of his 51 years in the fingerjoint plant.
“I started in the cut plant on May 22, 1972,” Art said. “I was barely 18 years old, and my starting wage was $2.97.” It didn’t take Art long to decide that he wanted to work in the fingerjoint plant instead, but getting in was a problem. “Nobody moved, so it took me about five years to get in there, and then only because a whole new graveyard shift started in 1979. I’ve been here ever since and had no reason to go anywhere else.”
Art was promoted to swing shift lead on a Wednesday in 1983. “I had Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to learn how to set fingerjointers,” Art said. “After that, I was on my own, and that is how I learned most of it.”
Art stayed on as the lead after Bright Wood purchased the Redmond site from Crown Pacific in 1997.
“Art is an extremely experienced fingerjoint setup person,” said Orville Wray, former Madras Plant 6 and Redmond Fingerjoint Plant Manager. “His knowledge of the fingerjoint process and products is priceless. His relentless pursuit of quality in machine setup, maintenance, and products is outstanding. Very few compare. He will dive into any issue and not give up until it’s been figured out.”
Thanks, Art. People like you are the reason customers seek out Bright Wood products. We wish you nothing but the best for retirement next spring.
Redmond Day Shift Recognized for Safety Performance
[August 1, 2024] The Redmond site hosted a barbeque on July 31 for the day shift in recognition of finishing the second quarter without a recordable injury.
Darrell Matthews of the Maintenance Department served as barbeque master, grilling hamburgers and hot dogs for the day shift crew of 100.
Redmond’s manufacturing operations include cut, fingerjoint, lamination, profile wrapping, and veneer slicing plants. Their safety performance is a testament to the team’s vigilance in preventing unsafe acts and following procedures.
“Thanks to all the crew members for the increased focus on safety and use of safe work behaviors,” Redmond Safety Manager Laci Brown said. “You care, and it shows.”
Photos courtesy of Laci Brown and Emily Anders.
Midwest Team Thanked for Getting the Job Done SAfely
[June 10, 2024] Shout out to the Menomonie, WI operations for no recordable injuries since December 2022. According to George Loudermilk, Midwest Operations Manager, the 85-person crew’s 19-month run is down to: “Making sure people are aware of the hazards in their surroundings and the equipment they work with. We encourage everyone to watch out for each other and make safety equal to throughput and quality.”
“We want people to understand that Bright Wood’s safety policies and procedures are there to protect them and provide them with a safe work environment,” George said.
The busy Menomonie operations include a custom-sized extension jamb line, a paint line, and two warehouses. Every day, the team delivers components in the exact order they will be used to a nearby customer’s window assembly line. The Freitag location ships a truckload every 1-1/2 hours, averaging 50-plus outbound loads weekly. The Walton facility ships 45 truckloads weekly.
“We rolled out the STAR program (Safety Training Awareness and Responsibility) earlier this year,” Kim Miller, Menomonie Plant Manager, said. “Participation has been good, and people have become more aware of their surroundings.”
“I have heard a lot of positive comments about the high-vis vests from people on the floor along with truck drivers and vendors,” Kim said. “Everyone is very pleased with the focus on safety.”
All Menomonie team members received a $100 safety award bonus and a water bottle as a thank you and encouragement to keep up the good work.
Madras Plant 1 Swing Is a Safety STAR
[March 29, 2024] Well done to Madras Plant 1 swing shift for working 942 days (and counting) without a recordable injury as of March 29.
“We pay attention to what we do,” Sam Cabral, Swing Supervisor, said. “We use the STOP* and STAR** cards and all the available tools.”
“We do get a lot of STAR cards, and we are always pushing for more,” Miguel Sevilla, Swing Lead, said. “People are well aware of the dangers and watch out for one another.”
“It also helps that most have been here for a while, so they know what to do,” Miguel said. “When we first started, everybody and this plant were brand new, so it was harder.”
*STOP: Safety Training Observation Program
**STAR: Safety Training – Awareness and Responsibilities
Safety Is the Fashion Statement
[March 14, 2023] Thanks to all the Bright Wood people who quickly got on board with the new Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) policy requiring all associates and visitors to wear high-visibility attire while on company property. The only exceptions are offices and breakrooms.
High-vis clothing is one more tool for preventing workplace accidents and injuries. That pop of fluorescent orange and yellow makes people stand out in busy work zones and low-light conditions.
So, when you put on your high-vis gear before you get out of your car, know that you are making a difference.
P.S. Thanks to our models Jeremy Ross and Terrie Heflin of the Redmond Saw/Sand Plant. High fashion at its best.