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Harley Simmonds has worked for Pacific Wood Laminates for 44 years. Harley followed in the footsteps of his father and Harley’s sons have followed in his, consisting of three generations. Harley’s wife, Lichelle, joined the team in 1993, further enhancing the family’s legacy.

Harley is the man to talk to if you’re curious about the history of PWL. He can point out the old layout of the plant and explain how things have been reconfigured and upgraded over the years to improve overall efficiency. He recalls that in times when mills were closing left and right, Pacific Wood Laminates and South Coast Lumber always did whatever had to be done to keep running.

With a love for small communities, Harley has never really considered leaving the Brookings area. In his spare time, he enjoys adventuring upriver and exploring the hills. Harley attributes the accumulated vacation time, along with the steady and reliable income, as major benefits of working for PWL. This has been especially true during the current pandemic. Some of Harley’s fondest memories are competing with fellow coworkers while offbearing dryers.

We could not be more appreciative of the Simmonds family and their cumulative contribution to the history of SOCOMI.