(Photo Provided) The Center for Appalachian Innovation at Marietta College.

The Center for Appalachian Innovation at Marietta College will host its first symposium at 9 a.m. Thursday, focusing on the timber industry in Appalachian Ohio and related economic issues.

The one-day symposium will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the Marietta College campus. The event will open with a keynote address by Jenna Reese, executive director of the Ohio Forestry Association. Additional speakers are expected to include Jack Haessly, owner of Haessly Hardwood Lumber Company in Reno, and Jesse Roush of the Southeast Ohio Port Authority, along with regional industry leaders, economic development professionals and policymakers.

The Center for Appalachian Innovation was launched in November 2025. According to the college, the center is intended to connect higher education with regional economic development, applied research and workforce needs across Appalachian Ohio. The center is co-led by Michelle Jeitler, academic program director, and Ann Foraker Nicely, assistant professor of communication and symposium coordinator.

Jeitler said Appalachian Ohio has extensive hardwood forest resources, and that changes in markets, policy and technology are creating new challenges and opportunities for the industry.

“Traditional logging and sawmilling have shaped the region for generations, yet rapid changes in markets, policy and technology signal a new opportunity,” Jeitler said.

She said the symposium will examine emerging markets, including engineered wood products, biomass and bioproduct applications, and discuss whether economic value generated from those industries remains in the region.

According to Jeitler, sessions will focus on the current state of the timber economy, identifying potential markets, development strategies and strengthening public-private partnerships. Organizers said participants will include industry representatives, policymakers, economic development professionals, higher education partners and community stakeholders.

Students will participate in the event as volunteers and through research projects connected to the Center for Appalachian Innovation, according to the college. The college said students are involved in faculty-led projects, internships and partnerships with community organizations related to regional economic and workforce issues.

Marietta College Provost Suzanne Walker said the symposium aligns with the college’s broader strategic goals and community partnerships.

The Center for Appalachian Innovation’s mission, according to the college, is to support Ohio’s 32 Appalachian counties through research, engagement and outreach. The center brings together faculty and student research with partnerships involving businesses, nonprofits and government agencies.

The event is free and open to the public, with limited walk-in spots available. More information about the symposium, “Future of Appalachian Ohio’s Timber Industry,” is available at marietta.edu/center-appalachian-innovation.