Guest Speaker
Dana Lee Cole, Executive Director
Hardwood Federation
Session: “Hardwood Federation Action in DC”
We are pleased to welcome Dana Lee Cole, Executive Director of the Washington, D.C.–based Hardwood Federation, as a featured speaker at WoodTech Connect 2026.
Dana leads the nation’s most influential hardwood advocacy organization, representing 29 local, regional, and national trade associations that support hardwood businesses in every state. Under her leadership, the Federation serves as the unified voice of the U.S. hardwood industry, championing policies on Capitol Hill that protect, strengthen, and advance the sector. From federal legislation to regulatory issues, the Federation’s work directly shapes the operating environment for manufacturers, distributors, and wood component producers across the country.
Before joining the Federation in 2012, Dana built a distinguished career in public policy and industry leadership. A Michigan native, she spent 13 years in state government, working across natural resources, economic development, and other key issue areas. She later served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Corporate Board Secretary at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), where she spent eight years supporting one of the nation’s most influential business organizations.
At WoodTech Connect, Dana will share timely insights into the Federation’s current priorities, emerging challenges, and the advocacy efforts underway in Washington, D.C. Her session, “Hardwood Federation Action in DC,” will give attendees a clear, insider’s view of the issues shaping the future of the hardwood industry — and why staying engaged matters now more than ever.
