In the middle of a very tough week for the U.S. economy, it’s nice to read about a success story, especially one in the timber industry. Teevin Bros., a timber shipping company in Rainier, Wash., is doing gangbusters business, according to the Longview Daily News.

One of the biggest reasons for success is owner Shawn Teevin, according to his employees.

This year, the Rainier-based business added 30 acres and 30 additional workers to its log yard operation. It now employs 100 workers. The company is shipping 250 to 300 log truck loads of timber a day to California, Hawaii, Japan and China and is on a pace to export 280 million board feet by the end of this year.

Teevin’s employees credit him for turning what was once a small business into a regional juggernaut.

“Shawn is not afraid to grow his business,” said Cheryl Konop, operational resources manager at the site. “He just doesn’t sit back and say ‘no’ because there’s some risk. He’s willing to take the risks, but he always makes sure his ducks are in a row.”

Another nice piece of news is environmental advisers for President Obama just visited Eastern Oregon to learn more about how government agencies, environmental groups and timber companies are working together there, according to the East Oregonian.

Over the last five years, collaborative groups in Grant and Harney counties have worked with Malheur National Forest officials to craft a series of forest projects to thin overstocked stands, restore wildlife habitat produce timber for the mills. Complementing this work, an alliance of local, state and federal partners worked to site the new biomass fuel plant in John Day, a project completed with some $5 million in stimulus funding…

…Teresa Raaf, (Malheur National Forest) supervisor, said the tour provides an opportunity to showcase the “forward thinking” demonstrated by the two collaborative groups that work with the forest.

“That forward thinking is an first class example of what communities can accomplish by working together to solve complex resource and economic issues,” she said. “It also has the potential to bring about policy changes that could assist the Forest in expediting other forest restoration activities.”

Great to see collaboration, rather than conflict, get some attention from federal officials.