How Ryan Schmidt embodies our commitment to people and progress.

A fifth-generation logger and sawmiller originally from the West Coast, Ryan’s roots in forestry run deep, and his path to senior leadership has been paved with decades of hands-on experience, hard work, and a clear-eyed commitment to people.

“I started logging with my dad when I was eight years old,” Ryan shares. “By 12, I had a night shift job on the cleanup crew at a chip-n-saw sawmill in Oregon. I’d walk over from middle school and work for four hours in the evenings. I learned how to weld change bearings and fabricate just about everything. That’s where I got my foundation.”

From the ground up.

Ryan’s journey to Canfor began long before we acquired Scotch & Gulf Lumber in the early 2010s. Prior to that, he worked for Gulf Lumber and then Scotch Gulf, spending more than 14 years immersed in mill operations. Following the acquisition, he officially became a part of the Canfor team.

From millwright, to mill manager, area manager to capital projects lead, Ryan has experienced almost every rung of the operational ladder. His leadership style reflects those early years on the floor – he's approachable, action-oriented, and deeply committed to empowering others.

“I’m not a micromanager,” he explains. “I believe in hiring great people, training them well, giving them the tools and mentorship they need to succeed, and then trusting them to do their jobs. If they fail, that’s okay, we learn from it, we move forward, and get better. That’s what leadership is all about.”

Hands-on leadership.

Though his title suggests he could spend his days in an office, Ryan prefers to be where the work happens, and the people are. Based out of Canfor Southern Pine’s Mobile, Alabama, corporate office, he splits his time between company headquarters, the Myrtle Beach office, and CSP’s numerous mill operations across the Southern US.

“I’m usually out and about at the mills, meeting with general managers and plant managers, walking the floor, talking with people and seeing how we can improve,” he says. “It’s in our mills where the collective efforts of our team truly shine. Engaging with everyone on the floor allows me to understand their needs and ideas, ensuring we work together to make the most impact.”

The visibility and engagement are at the heart of Ryan’s leadership approach. He firmly believes that operational excellence and employee well-being go hand in hand. “You can spend all the money in the world on new mills, equipment, and upgrades,” he says. “But if you don’t treat your people right – if you’re not listening to them – you're going to fall short. Our employees are the ones out there doing the hard work every day. Their ideas, their safety, their growth, it all matters.

A culture that cares.

When asked what sets Canfor apart, Ryan points to a culture that values both people and performance. “I’ve worked for private companies before this, and I never thought a workplace could feel like a family, but Canfor has that atmosphere. They care about the communities we operate in, and they care about the people who work here.”

He also highlights the company’s strong benefits, significant capital investments and infrastructure, and ongoing focus on employee experience. Above all, safety remains a central priority. “We’ve spent a fortune improving mill safety and reducing risks, and we’ll keep investing in technology to protect our employees,” he says.

Beyond the office.

Outside of work, Ryan enjoys saltwater fishing, hunting, playing golf (with a healthy dose of humor about his game), and spending time with his five-year-old grandson. “He’s all boy,” Ryan laughs. “Sundays, I usually take him for a ride through the mills near where I live in Alabama. He’s pretty interested in the work.”

Those quiet Sunday drives reflect the values that define Ryan both personally and professionally: family, legacy, and a deep connection to the land and industry he’s spent his life in.