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Our People
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Mike Snow
Executive Director
Michael S. Snow has been the Executive Director of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) since 1999, where he oversees the Council's promotional programs around the globe, and manages AHEC's overseas offices in Europe, Mexico, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and China. Previously, he served as AHEC's Program Manager for Europe, China and Japan.
Mr. Snow holds a Master's Degree in International Economics from the George Washington University, and a BA in Developmental Economics from the University of Wisconsin. Before joining AHEC, Michael served as a Consultant on international education outreach programs for the National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Associates, and spent several years in Seville, Spain teaching economics courses in English and Spanish for the University of Wisconsin.
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David Venables
European Director
David Venables, has a specialised background in hardwood, with a BSc in Timber Technology and more than 20 years experience in the international marketing of hardwood products. He is responsible for their promotional and marketing programmes in Europe, the Middle East and India. David is an acknowledged expert on wood markets and the uses and applications of hardwood species and products. He has developed a number of technical publications for the AHEC, including the “Guide to American Hardwoods”. He is an experienced speaker, frequently making presentations on American hardwoods and other wood related topics, to trade, manufacturing and architectural audiences worldwide.
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Roderick Wiles
Emerging Markets Director
For the past eleven years, Roderick has travelled and researched the hardwood markets of North America, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, India and Australasia. He is a recognised authority on the trends and issues concerning the trade and consumption of wood products across these regions and beyond and an acknowledged expert on the uses and market applications of hardwood species and products. He has worked both directly for and as a consultant to AHEC since 1999.
He is responsible for directing AHEC's promotional campaigns and market development programmes in the Middle East/North Africa, India and Australasia.
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Rupert Oliver
Consultant to AHEC for Sustainability Issues
Rupert Oliver is an internationally recognised independent authority with 20 years experience on environmental issues related to the timber trade and forest management. He has travelled widely, studying forestry practices and market development in North America, Europe, the Far East, and Africa. He is regularly consulted by international and national agencies in the international forest products sector and is a regular speaker at international conventions. He is a strong believer in the contribution that forestry and timber can make to sustainable development. He holds a Masters degree in Forest Business Administration. He is Director of Forest Industries Intelligence Limited.
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Bob Sabistina
Consultant to AHEC for Lumber Grading
Bob has been working in the hardwood industry for over 30 years, 12 of which he served as the National Hardwood Lumber Association’s Chief Inspector, and is extremely well known by the US hardwood sector. He also has experience from working for a number of private firms within the hardwood trade over recent years, but this year sees him rejoin the NHLA as their ‘International Grading Consultant’. He continues to travel extensively with AHEC, providing grading seminars all over the world, teaching the NHLA grading rules. Bob also submits a regular ‘Grading Q & A’ article for distribution by AHEC.
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Lucy Peacock
Programme Manager
Lucy Peacock has been working for AHEC for the last 10 years and is responsible for co-ordinating the promotional events in Europe, Middle East and India as well as running the Public Relations programme with the European Director, which plays an important part of AHEC’s marketing strategy. Lucy is also the Personal Assistant to the European Director, David Venables.
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Mary Breading
Finance and Office Administrator
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Belinda Cobden-Ramsay
Programme Coordinator
Belinda joined AHEC in November 2008. She works closely with the rest of the team in projects and events in Europe, Middle East and India. She is responsible for the website development.
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Philippa Brough
Programme Coordinator
Philippa joined AHEC in March 2009 and works very closely with the Programme Manager coordinating and handling logistics for all events and activities in Europe, Middle East and India. She also helps with general administrative duties for the office.