The Center for Appalachian Innovation at Marietta College will host its first symposium beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, focusing on the future of Appalachian Ohio’s timber industry and the region’s economic opportunity.
Launched in November 2025, the Center for Appalachian Innovation connects 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 ’03, MCM’05, assistant professor of communication and symposium coordinator. One of the Center’s three pillars is convening leaders from business and government for focused symposia that explore innovative solutions and highlight growth opportunities across the region.
The one-day symposium will be held 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 will include regional industry leaders and economic development professionals, including Jack Haessly, owner of Haessly Hardwood Lumber Company in Reno, and Jesse Roush of the Southeast Ohio Port Authority. State and regional policymakers are also expected to participate in the discussions.
Jeitler explained that Appalachian Ohio is home to one of the most productive and underleveraged hardwood forest resources in the eastern United States.
“Traditional logging and sawmilling have shaped the region for generations, yet rapid changes in markets, policy and technology signal a new opportunity,” Jeitler said. “It is a chance to shift from commodity extraction toward value-added manufacturing, innovation and regional resilience.”
According to Jeitler, as markets consolidate and new opportunities emerge, including engineered wood products, pellets, biomass energy, animal bedding and advanced carbon and bioproduct applications, the next decade will determine whether Ohio captures that value locally or explores it elsewhere.
The symposium will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, economic development professionals, higher education partners and community stakeholders positioned to shape the future of Appalachian Ohio’s forest and wood economy. Sessions will focus on the state of the timber economy, identifying emerging markets, development strategies and strengthening public-private partnerships, ensuring that job growth and innovation occur within the region.
“Stakeholders at the symposium will examine how emerging industries, including engineered wood products, biomass, and advanced bioproducts may shift Appalachia’s timber economy from extraction toward value-added manufacturing, innovation, and regional resilience,” Jeitler added.
Students will also play an active role in the event, serving as volunteers and contributing to Center-supported research initiatives focused on systemic regional challenges. Through faculty- and student-led projects, internships and community partnerships across Appalachian Ohio, students are contributing to research that informs local decision-making and economic development efforts.
“As articulated in our current strategic vision, we believe there is ‘More History to Make’ at Marietta College. The inaugural symposium of the Center for Appalachian Innovation is exactly that: a moment when our longstanding commitment to leadership, scholarship and service converges with the future of our region. This gathering reflects who we have always been and who we are: a college that honors its history by investing in what comes next for our students and for our region,” said Marietta College Provost Suzanne Walker. “This symposium reinforces not only our commitment to academic excellence and experiential learning, but also our belief in the talent, resilience and future of Appalachia. This gathering brings together scholars, students, policymakers and industry partners to turn ideas into solutions for regional challenges. We are proud to serve as a convener for this inaugural symposium and look forward to hosting many to come.”
The Center for Appalachian Innovation’s mission is to support Ohio’s 32 Appalachian counties through research, opportunities for engagement and outreach, establishing Marietta College as a partner in innovation and a driver of economic growth.
Interdisciplinary by design, the Center combines faculty and student research, policy-focused projects and applied partnerships with businesses, nonprofits and government agencies to identify solutions to systemic regional challenges.
The event is free and open to the public, with limited walk-in spots available. To learn more about the Center for Appalachian Innovation and the Feb. 26 symposium, “Future of Appalachian Ohio’s Timber Industry,” visit marietta.edu/center-appalachian-innovation.