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2026 GLLCA Spring
Conference
By Mary Wait
The
Great Lakes Log Crafters
Association (GLLCA) will
host its 2026 Spring
Conference on April
24-25, bringing together
log builders, suppliers,
and industry
professionals for two
days of education,
demonstrations, and
networking.
This year's conference
will be held at the
Northern Waters Resort
and Conference center
located in Watersmeet
MI. Friday's program
begins with an opening
presentation from John
Boyes of Nicola Log
Works. Attendees will
then enjoy a Stihl
chainsaw demonstration
led by Danny Deetz of
Stihl, followed by Jesse
Woods of Lake Country
Log and Cedar, who will
present "Wood Treating
with Boodge," sharing
advancements and updates
in techniques for
protecting and
maintaining log
structures.
Afternoon sessions will
focus on technical and
industry issues. Joe
Miller of Fire Tower
Engineering will discuss
important engineering
topics related to log
construction, while Greg
Baas will address
current trends and
challenges in building
technology, including
issues commonly
encountered during log
home inspections. The
day concludes with a
Tool Talk and Round
Table Discussion
featuring the Milwaukee
Tool trailer with live
demonstrations of the
newest Milwaukee
tools.Supper and the
always-popular GLLCA
Auction will round out
the day's events.
Saturday will begin with
the GLLCA Annual General
Meeting, led by
President Nate Heim.
Educational sessions
will include Nate
Demers, who will present
"Leveraging Business
Tools and Scaling
Experience," focusing on
strategies for growing a
successful building
business. Cameron Wait,
Matt Delgado, and Ben
Dorn will share
highlights and insights
from the Mass Timber
Conference, discussing
developments in timber
construction.
After lunch, Perry
Camodeca Sr. and Perry
Camodeca Jr. of Midwest
Certified Insurance
Agency will discuss
ever- changing insurance
issues and trends
affecting log builders.
Nate Heim will also
present "Maximizing Your
Knowledge and Craft into
Passive Income - Log
AirBNB Construction,"
exploring opportunities
for builders to expand
into short-term rental
projects. The conference
will conclude with a
presentation by Joe
Hovel on land
conservation, exploring
the economic,
environmental, social,
and intrinsic benefits
of conserving forest
land. His session will
be followed by an
optional field trip to
Wildcat Falls Community
Forest, located about 8
miles northwest of the
conference venue.
Participants will take a
short but vigorous hike
of less than a mile to
the falls-an area known
for its unique natural
beauty and significance.
While the presentation
will discuss the broader
benefits of
conservation, the field
trip will offer
attendees a chance to
experience the intrinsic
value of this special
landscape firsthand.
The 2026 GLLCA Spring
Conference continues to
provide a valuable
opportunity for members
to learn from industry
experts, share ideas,
and strengthen
connections within the
log building community.
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