Southern Loggin’ Times magazine Associate Editor David Abbott travels to Ivanhoe, North Carolina to spend some time with Black River Logging, Inc. Mike Squires and his son Michael work together in Black River Logging, Inc. Named for the Black River, which runs near Squires’ home, the company works primarily in coastal wetlands. Michael joined the family business right after finishing high school in 1996. Squires has a definite succession plan in place: he is clear that his son came into the business to take it over someday. “He’s not my employee,” the elder Squires asserts. “He’s my partner.” Working mostly on regeneration harvests in 25-30 year-old pine planted by International Paper, Black River Logging contracts under Resource Management Service (RMS), the private timberland investment group that now manages these tracts. Getting on board with RMS has been a boon, Squires believes.

Featured Story: “Fortunate Son”

Written By: David Abbott
Company: Black River Logging, Inc.
Location: Ivanhoe, North Carolina
SLT Issue: June 2013

Check out other featured articles in the June 2013 issue of Southern Loggin’ Times magazine.
Southern Loggin’ Times June issue spotlights Mike Squires and his son Michael as they partner up in Black River Logging, based in Ivanhoe, NC. With a succession plan in action, the team tackles wet lowlands near the coast. Secret to the Varnes brood’s 50-year success story is family ties and hard work. Also, it is just the beginning for Alabama’s William Parker.