{"podcast":{"title":"The Woodpreneur Podcast","slug":"the-woodpreneur-podcast-1118875","podcast_index_feed_id":1118875,"rss_url":"https://feed.podbean.com/stevekex/feed.xml","website_url":"https://stevekex.podbean.com","image_url":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/22451032/the-woodpreneur-podcast-1.jpg","author":"Acres of Timber","episode_count":100,"summary":"We cover the business and marketing side of the woodworking, sawmill, tree service, furniture making, Urban Wood, and woodworking industry. If you're a woodworker, sawmill owner, or any other entrepreneur and/or business owner in the wood industry, you need to check out this podcast. Each week, we interview business owners, large-scale companies, entrepreneurs, makers, and designers while also offering marketing and business advice that will help you grow your business and increase your profits. Tune in every week! www.builldergrowth.io www.woodpreneurlife.com Join our free and private Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/woodpreneurlife","last_synced_at":"2026-07-24T06:18:02.705416+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-woodpreneur-podcast-1118875"},"episode":{"title":"John Bartlett, Maryland Logs 2 Lumber","slug":"john-bartlett-maryland-logs-2-lumber","published_at":"2026-02-19T15:00:25+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-woodpreneur-podcast-1118875/john-bartlett-maryland-logs-2-lumber","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-woodpreneur-podcast-1118875","url":"https://stevekex.podbean.com/e/john-bartlett-maryland-logs-2-lumber/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/msqt7oxon2xipwcw/49c705fa-48d2-4df7-bd6e-f4b23b11c655_c05377b8-8507-408b-9c62-23ec5286a5e6.mp3","summary":"A 36-year career in law enforcement might seem like an unlikely path to running a successful sawmill operation, but for some, retirement is just the beginning of a new chapter. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with John Bartlett from Maryland Logs 2 Lumber to explore his remarkable transition from law enforcement to becoming a skilled sawmill operator over the past 24 years. John shares the unique aspects of his business model, where he doesn't sell wood but instead mills logs owned by customers, focusing on building strong relationships with three main clients who trust him with their valuable timber. You'll hear about the high-value projects and unique logs John has worked with, the importance of quarter sawing techniques for producing premium lumber, and how he's invested in Wood-Mizer equipment over the years to improve his operation. John discusses the challenges of navigating business regulations and taxes, the significant impact COVID-19 had on operational costs (particularly diesel prices), and how he's adapted his business model to include deposits for new customers to protect against market volatility. This conversation emphasizes the critical role of customer service in the sawmilling business, the value of industry connections and expertise from mentors like Marty Parsons, and the personal stories and relationships that make this work meaningful. John also shares insights on market changes, innovative sawmilling techniques, and how building trust with clients has been the foundation of his long-term success. Whether you're considering starting a sawmill business, interested in custom milling and wood processing, or looking for lessons on adapting to industry changes while maintaining quality and customer relationship…","meta_description":"A 36-year career in law enforcement might seem like an unlikely path to running a successful sawmill operation, but for some, retirement is just the begin…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1895,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-woodpreneur-podcast-1118875/episodes/john-bartlett-maryland-logs-2-lumber/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-woodpreneur-podcast-1118875/john-bartlett-maryland-logs-2-lumber.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}