For Bright Wood People

News

Bright Wood founder Carl Peterson in 1972

60-Year-Old Tuition-Assistance Program Still Helping Bright Wood Families Today

[May 19, 2023] Bright Wood’s Children’s Educational Tuition Assistance Program (CETAP) provides financial assistance for post-high school education ranging from college to trade school for employees’ dependent children.

The company has distributed over $1 million in CETAP funds since the early 1960s when founder Carl Peterson established the program. Twelve Bright Wood associates are using the tuition-assistance benefit this school year.

Years and hours of service determine an employee’s eligibility. Benefit amounts depend on the balance in the trust and the number of associates taking advantage of CETAP. This year’s participants received $1,000 per term or $1,500 per semester in tuition assistance.

Contact Bright Wood’s Personnel Department at 541-475-7799 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to learn more and apply.

Memorial Service for Allen James Pemble Jr.

(AKA Allen Brogdon)

February 9, 2004 – April 21, 2023

[May 10, 2023] Bright Wood people joined the parents of Allen James Pemble Jr to honor his memory at the site where the 19-year-old died in Madras on April 21, 2023. Allen moved here from Washington to work on Plant 7’s swing shift for 17 months.

Please attend the memorial service on Saturday, May 13, at 11 a.m. in the Living Hope Church in Madras to show your support for Allen’s family. Mother’s Day is going to hit this family hard.

Financial Experts Coming to The Madras Site

[May 5, 2023] Bright Wood is bringing in the experts in May to help associates get the most out of our paychecks. Advisors from Baird Financial Services will offer five group sessions at the Madras site focused on 401(k) basics and how to set up your account to best serve your needs. Individuals can also schedule a free 20-minute appointment with a certified financial planner.

Learn How to Maximize Your 401(k)
All five group sessions will occur in the Madras Education Center upstairs in the main office. Choose the date, time, and language that works best for you.

English:

Monday, May 8 at 3 p.m.
Tuesday, May 9 at 8 a.m.
Friday, May 26 at 9 a.m.

Spanish:

Friday, May 26 at 10 a.m.
Friday, May 26 at noon

Free Personalized Financial Planning
Baird’s certified financial planners will also be available to meet one-on-one with individuals. You must schedule a 20-minute slot in advance with Angie Lopez in the Personnel Department by calling 541-475-7799. Space is limited.

Individual consultations are available:

Monday, May 8, between noon and 3 p.m.
Tuesday, May 9, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Need an Alternative Work Schedule?
Consider the Weekend Shift

[March 23, 2023] Several Madras plants have added --or soon will – weekend shifts that start on Friday and end on Sunday. These are 12-hour shifts, so you work 36 hours in three days and then have four days off. Weekenders qualify for full-time Bright Wood benefits.

Rainbow over a rail car loaded with Bright Wood's engineered dimension lumber

Bright Wood Contributes $2 Million to the 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan

[March 9, 2023] Bright Wood CEO/President Dallas Stovall announced the company is contributing an additional $2 million to the 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan. Plan participants will see the new funds in their Empower accounts before June 30, 2023.

Only Plan participants employed by Bright Wood on December 31, 2022, are eligible.

Bright Wood will distribute the monies in two ways:

Profit Sharing: All Plan participants will receive a share of the funds. Each individual’s percentage of the overall payroll determines their allotment.

401(k) Match: Associates who deferred a portion of their pay into the Plan in 2022 (and 94 percent did) will also receive an additional contribution matching a percentage of their savings. Every Plan member’s share is calculated using the same ratio.

Bright Wood will have distributed nearly $6 million in profit sharing, 401(k) matching, and bonuses in 2022. “Last year was the best in company history,” Dallas said. “These retirement plan contributions and bonuses wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of every Bright Wood person. Thank you so much for your contributions.”

Eye Safety Starts Before You Get Out of Your Car

By Jim Sanders, Safety Manager

[March 9, 2023] Bright Wood has suffered 17 recordable incidents in the last three years involving an object in someone’s eye. In other words, five to six people suffer eye injuries annually.

History shows the majority of our eye injuries occur outside. If everyone wore their eye protection as soon as they arrived at work (before leaving their vehicles) and continued wearing it until they returned to their cars after work, we’d all be a lot safer. This is in fact, Bright Wood policy.

Learn More

Image by Andreas Breitling from Pixabay

New Program Helps Plan Members Save Money on Generic Medications

[February 23, 2023] Bright Wood’s Health and Wellness Plan (BWHWP) members now have access to Price Edge, a new cost-saving program from Optum Rx. The tool automatically kicks in whenever Plan participants use their BWHWP card while filling prescriptions for generic medications at participating pharmacies.

There are typically two price options for every prescription you fill: the with-insurance rate and the without-insurance one. According to Optum Rx, their price is lower 90 percent of the time because they can negotiate better fees with the drug companies due to their market share. Sometimes, however, it is cheaper not to use the Plan.

The Cost Edge tool benefits BWHWP members by:

Automatically giving you the lowest out-of-pocket cost for generic medications.
Ensuring that generic drug purchases count towards your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, regardless of whether or not you use your insurance.
Tracking all your prescriptions in one system that can trigger alarms when two drugs should not be taken at the same time.
Lowering the cost of some over-the-counter (OTC) medications if you have a prescription. However, OTC items not covered by the Plan will not count toward your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.

Visit OptumRx.com or download their app to learn more about the Cost Edge tool, find in-network pharmacies, and research drug prices. You can also call Optum Rx at 1-855-505-8107 if you have questions.

Save Up to $2,198 on Closing Costs When You Buy a Home

[October 25, 2022] Oregon Bright Wood employees and their family members can now take advantage of the Preferred Mortgage Savings Plan offered by CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM). The plan helps people prepare to buy a home and reduces their expenses.

Plan participants can save up to $2,198 on closing costs when they buy a new home or refinance an existing loan. CCM waives the processing, underwriting, appraisal, credit report, and flood certificate fees.

“Everybody deserves to own a home,” said Keely Matteo of CCM and a Madras native. “Even if you think you can’t do it, we can help you build a plan to get you there.”

“Education is a big piece of CCM’s Preferred Mortgage Saving Plan,” Keely said. “I want people to feel comfortable by knowing how the loan program works and that they can afford homeownership in the long term.”

“The class covers what we look at to approve you for a mortgage,” Keely said. “We show you how to do a budget. We’ll teach you what things to expect when you own a home, such as repairs and expenses that might come along.”

Learn More

Save Money on Your Next Pair of Prescription Safety Glasses

[August 22, 2022] Oregon Bright Wood associates with optional Eye-Med vision coverage are now eligible to purchase prescription safety glasses from Walmart’s Vision Centers in Redmond and Bend at a substantial discount.

Bright Wood will pay for the prescription lenses for your new safety glasses while you are only responsible for purchasing the frames, which run from $9 up to $29.

To participate, you need to present the Walmart Vision Center with:

A voucher that is only available from Bright Wood's Personnel Department
A valid vision prescription

Call Bright Wood’s Personnel Department at 541-475-7799 with questions.

Email

Check Your Bright Wood Email

Use this link to login to your Bright Wood webmail: http://outlook.office.com

Understand Your Benefits

Summary Plan Descriptions

Links to Benefits Providers' Websites

Aflac | www.aflac.com
Aflac’s supplemental insurance can help you pay out-of-pocket expenses that are not covered by Bright Wood’s Health and Wellness Plan. You can opt into accident, critical illness, cancer, and/or dental coverage to protect your family when the unexpected happens.

Call Aflac agent Arlene Zanella Gannon at 541-388-8483 to sign up with the Bright Wood group rate and payroll deductions.

Employee Assistance Program | www.worklifehealth/Standard6
Bright Wood's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can help you cope with depression, grief, relationships, addictions, and stress. The EAP can also support you in setting new goals and improving your life.

Call 1 (877) 851-1631 24-hours a day, seven days a week when you need free, confidential help from a credentialed provider. The program includes up to six face-to-face assessment and counseling sessions per issue. The EAP also offers financial and legal services along with identity theft and fraud resolution assistance.

Empower Retirement | www.empower-retirement.com/participant
Empower Retirement is the administrator and bookkeeper for the Bright Wood 401 (k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan.

Use their web site, mobile app, or call (800) 338-4015 to set up and manage your account. You can change your payroll deductions, designate beneficiaries, check your account balances, and much more. Plan for retirement using their online tools.

EyeMed Vision Care | www.eyemedvisioncare.com
EyeMed Vision Care is an optional vision benefit Bright Wood people can add during Open Enrollment (March 15 to April 15). Buying coverage and using in-network providers may save you and your family money on eye exams, glasses, contact lenses, laser vision correction, non-prescription sunglasses, and other vision-related products and services.

HealthEquity | www.myhealthequity.com
HealthEquity is Bright Wood's Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) administrator. Visit their website to track your account balances, request reimbursement, and upload receipts for both Health Care and Dependent Care FSAs. You can also call them 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, with questions at (866) 960-8055.

Wondering if an expense qualifies for reimbursement from your FSA account? Find answers here:

Internal Revenue Service's Publication 502 explains which medical and dental expenses are covered and which are not.
Internal Revenue Service's Publication 503 explains which child and dependent care expenses are covered and which are not.

Kronos UKG Ready | https://secure4.saashr.com/ta/6022796.login?rnd=FUQ
Want to see your paycheck stub or timesheet? Go to Kronos UKG Ready to access information about your pay, hours worked, time off, benefits electives, training, etc. You can also update your contact and direct deposit details.

First-Time Visitors: Your username is your Bright Wood employee identification number and your password is the last four digits of your social security number. If you have questions, call the Personnel Department at 541-475-7799.

MDLive | www.MDLIVE.com
Use your computer or phone to consult with a licensed doctor or therapist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Both medical and therapy appointments are free. Visit the website or call 1 (888) 725-3097. There is also an MDLIVE Mobile App you can install on your smartphone or tablet.

Prescription Solutions® by Optum RX | www.optumrx.com
Bright Wood associates can save money by using this mail service pharmacy for ongoing prescriptions. You can order refills online, see your prescription history, and check the status of current orders. Plus, you can locate an in-network pharmacy, research drug prices, and find ways to save money using the pharmacy plan.

rapid! PayCard® MasterCard® Debit Card | www.rapidfs.com
Bright Wood associates have the option of receiving all your take-home pay or an amount you designate on a rapid! PayCard® MasterCard® debit card. Once you've signed up for a card with Bright Wood Personnel, use this website to check your current balance, review a 60-day history of all the transactions on your card, and pay bills online.

Download the rapid! PayCard mobile app to your smartphone so you can check your balance, receive text alerts, move money between accounts, pay bills, etc.

What If My Card Is Lost or Stolen?
Call 1 (877) 380-0980 as soon as you suspect your debit card or personal identification number (PIN) has been lost or stolen. Call the same number if you notice a transaction you did not authorize in a text, online account history, or printed statement.

Also, tell your site's Personnel Office to deactivate your card. All the funds in your account will carry over onto a replacement card, so there should be a minimal time when you don't have access to your money during the workweek. There are no fees for acquiring, using, or replacing pay cards the first time.

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon | www.regence.com
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon is Bright Wood's claims administrator for the company's self-funded health care plan. Use Regence's website to find information about your medical and dental claims and view Explanation of Benefits statements.

Two tips for registering on the Regence website:

Have your member ID card on hand when registering your account.
Your password must be 10 characters in length and it cannot include the words “Regence” or “password” or your name, date of birth, email, or user name.

Members of the Bright Wood Health & Wellness Plan can take advantage of these Regence programs:

Advice24, call (800) 267-6729 to talk to a registered nurse about nonemergency health concerns 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Advice24 nurses can help you figure out what to do when you or a family member are sick or injured, treat minor medical conditions at home, and answer medical test and medication questions.

Regence BabyWise offers knowledge, support, and comfort for moms-to-be and new parents. Did you know that breast pumps are 100 percent covered by Bright Wood’s Health and Wellness Plan? Call 1 (866) 543-5765 or email casemanagement@regence.com.

Regence Preferred Providers can help you save on your out-of-pocket costs by letting you know which medical and dental providers belong to the BlueCross BlueShield network.

Regence SpecifiCare Nurse connects you to a dedicated nurse who can help you meet your specific health care needs while taking advantage of Bright Wood’s Health and Wellness Plan by:

Reminding you when you are overdue for routine health screenings, and if needed, helping you find providers and schedule appointments.
Helping you deal with chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, or heart disease. You may just want information, or you may need assistance following your doctor’s treatment plan, scheduling appointments, decoding medical jargon, and lowering your out-of-pocket costs.
Advocating and advising you when the unexpected happens – your newborn ends up in the NICU, or you must have emergency surgery. Your SpecifiCare nurse will still be there when you are home again to answer questions about your discharge instructions, schedule follow-up care, and find solutions that work for you.

Call 1 (866) 543-5765 or email casemanagement@regence.com to add a SpecifiCare nurse to your support network.