More than 3,000 professionals from across the forest, manufacturing, design, development and construction industries converged in Portland, Ore., in August for a shared experience that not only advanced collective goals but also reinforced the sense of belonging and purpose that drives the mass timber movement, according to Shelby Cherry.

"Our community thrives on collaboration, and while digital tools and social media keep us connected throughout the year, nothing replaces the energy and serendipity of face-to-face interaction," says Cherry, show director for the International Mass Timber Conference (IMTC), which is owned by independent show organizer Trifecta Collective LLC. "Bringing everyone together in person for this year’s event allowed us to strengthen relationships, spark new partnerships and engage in deeper, more candid conversations."

The 2025 iteration of the IMTC—held at the Oregon Convention Center (OCC)—was the largest yet, featuring more than 220 exhibitors and 48,000 net square feet of sold trade show space, along with participants from 30 countries. Following a pre-conference day that involved mass timber building tours around Portland and southern Washington, a mass timber bootcamp and two opening roundtables, the primary conference days featured opening keynotes, 20 conference sessions across two days and the popular Women in Timber Power Hour.

Cherry says having mass timber structures and more complex booth builds than previous years was a challenge but also a great problem to have.

"That much active building taking place over the short move in/move out windows did present logistical challenges we had to overcome that are unique to IMTC," she says. "But crossing over 3,000 attendees this year was a huge moment for our team, and seeing the finished show floor was also a standout moment. This show has gone from a very small event to now a full facility rental at the OCC. It was very gratifying to walk onto the show floor and see the crowded halls, the large booths and so much mass timber all come together in a big way."

Women in Timber is always a personal highlight of IMTC for Cherry.

"This was our third year to hold this event, and we had over 500 registrations," she says. "Seeing all of these women come together and find community, connection and inspiration—along with the men who came to champion them—is a really cool moment."

The success of IMTC is, of course, partially measured through valuable metrics such as net square footage sold, attendance, re-bookings and post-show surveys, but there’s also a less tangible measurement, according to Cherry.

"Success to us is the stories that come out of the event—the testimonials, the inspiring moments of connection and the people we see each year that make the event feel like a reunion," she says. "It’s the overwhelming social posts we see of our audience creating memories and the shared experience of being present at the event together, all for a common purpose."

ELEVATING THE ATTENDEE EXPERIENCE

The OCC has introduced several exciting enhancements designed to elevate the attendee experience and streamline event operations, according to Cindy Wallace, CMP, CMM, PMP, executive director of the Oregon Convention Center + Expo.

"Following a comprehensive six-month renovation, our Orbit Marketplace has reopened with a completely reimagined dining experience," Wallace says. "Guests will appreciate the expanded food offerings, including house-made pastries, gourmet sandwiches and grab-andgo options that keep attendees energized throughout events. The integration of Mashgin’s AI-powered self-checkout technology enhances service flexibility while upholding our commitment to personalized guest interactions."

The OCC enhanced security and operations by relocating the public safety department to a centralized location to create a more efficient and visible security presence, and the "Bold Reuse" program represents a significant step forward in sustainable event management.

"This closed-loop reusable container system reduces waste while maintaining high food service standards—a feature that resonates strongly with environmentally conscious attendees and organizational sustainability goals," Wallace says.

Finally, through a partnership with LocketGo, the OCC now offers mobile-reservable lockers at three strategic locations throughout the venue.

Cherry says the Oregon Convention Center was a natural location for the IMTC because Portland is the epicenter of mass timber.

"We honestly couldn’t imagine it taking place anywhere else," she says. "We are lucky to enjoy such a strong partnership with OCC and their team consistently goes over and above. From a planning perspective leading into the show, the OCC’s team is proactive, communicative and fun, which translates into a very smooth, seamless experience for our audience onsite."