Boise lumber company announces retirement of CEO

After six years in the position, the CEO of a major lumber supplier based in Boise is stepping down.

On March 2, 2026, Nate Jorgensen, CEO of Boise Cascade Company, is retiring from his role of leader of business. Jeff Strom, the current chief operating officer, will take the helm.

Boise Cascade, though legally formed in 2004, began life in 1957 with the merger of the Boise Payette Lumber Company in Boise and the Cascade Lumber Company of Yakima, Washington. The company has sold several different products over the years from lumber to copy paper.

Today, the publicly traded Fortune 1000 company has $6.7 billion in annual sales and employs more than 7,500 people at 60-plus locations.

Jorgensen’s tenure has been part of that growth in his time with Boise Cascade.

“It has been a privilege to lead this company and its exceptional people,” he said. “Together, we’ve grown our business, strengthened our relationships, and positioned our company for long-term success. I have great confidence in Jeff and know he will continue to build on this strong foundation.”

Tom Carlile, chair of the company’s board, stated the retirement is part of Boise Cascade’s “deliberate and long-term succession planning process,” which will the operations stable and the momentum of the company’s growth moving forward.

“Nate has led with steadfast integrity and remarkable vision for the last six years, guiding the company through a global pandemic and tremendous growth,” Carlile said. “The positive impact of his leadership will extend far beyond his tenure as CEO.”

Upon retirement, Jorgensen will continue to serve as a director on Boise Cascade’s board. Strom will move into his role as CEO, and the position of COO will not be backfilled, according to the company.

Having worked in the industry for more than 34 years, Strom joined the company in 2006, holding many key positions during the nearly 20 years he’s been with Boise Cascade. He expressed excitement for the new role and called it an honor to be selected to lead the company.

“Our company’s strength lies in our people and our shared commitment to excellence in everything we do,” Strom said. “I’m excited to build on our momentum and continue to create value for our customers, suppliers, investors, associates and the communities where we live and work.”

Carlile stated that the company’s board has confidence in its selection of Strom.

“As chief operating officer, Jeff has successfully driven to further leverage our integrated model, and he has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and customer focus across the company,” he said. “In addition to his strong leadership and experience, Jeff embodies our company’s core values of safety, integrity, respect and the pursuit of excellence. The board is confident that Jeff will continue to build on our strong foundation and lead Boise Cascade into a bright future.”