About Us

AHC Hardwood Group has been a leader in the hardwood industry for more than 70 years, delivering high-quality wood products and innovative solutions. We pride ourselves on building strong customer relationships, adapting to industry trends, and maintaining sustainable practices. With a focus on value-added manufacturing, we continue to evolve while staying true to our core values of integrity, respect, stewardship, excellence and innovation.

Our History

Atlanta Hardwood Corporation was founded in 1952 as Howard Lumber by James W. Howard, Sr., initially serving furniture manufacturers in eastern Tennessee. By the mid-1950s, the company relocated to Atlanta and began processing Appalachian hardwoods. In 1960, the Howard family built a plant in Mableton, Georgia, which remains the corporate headquarters. Expansion continued with a second plant in Huntersville, North Carolina, and the company evolved into AHC Hardwood Group, adding drying yards, a moulding plant, and distribution centers across the Southeast. It also diversified with AHC Import Lumber, AHC Export Lumber, and AHC Logistics. After selling its distribution group in 2018, AHC reinvested in manufacturing, strengthening its position as an industry leader.

Our Purpose

Vision

Connecting people to the world’s most renewable natural resource

Mission

Leverage our strong roots and global reach to deliver top quality, value-added forest products to meet the needs of our customers.

Core Values

  • Integrity – We build trust by doing the right thing, even when it is hard.
  • Respect – We aspire to treat customers, vendors, and employees with respect and dignity.
  • Stewardship – We consider it our responsibility to protect our environment by utilizing and promoting our renewable forests.
  • Excellence – We strive to do our best the first time, every time.
  • Innovation – We will adapt by inspiring our people, leveraging technology, and improving our operational efficiencies.

Our contribution to the Forest History Society’s library and offices at Duke University included maple and white oak architectural mouldings.

Environmental Commitment

At AHC Hardwood Group, we believe in protecting our natural resources and promoting sustainable forestry. American hardwood forests regenerate more growth than is harvested each year, making wood one of the world’s most renewable resources. We actively support responsible forest management practices that promote both environmental sustainability and long-term economic benefits.

We source products from mills certified by programs such as the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). For imported hardwoods, we adhere to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Lacey Act, ensuring compliance with regulations against illegal logging.

Our dedication extends to supporting conservation organizations like The Trust for Public Land, Forest History Society, and Trees Atlanta further reinforcing our commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.