>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Bruce Cartmel ().

Boise Cascade's regional manager is moving on, and a Union County native is returning to take charge of local operations as the company restructures management responsibilities.

The restructuring, announced in a press release Monday, consolidates the Northeast Oregon and Northeast Washington regions into a single entity called the Inland Region.

Bruce Cartmel, currently the Northeast Oregon Region manager, is transferring to Medford as the Western Oregon Region manager within Boise's engineered wood products division.

Tom Insko, an Elgin native and graduate of Eastern Oregon University, is relocating to La Grande to take charge of the newly formed Inland Region.

Cartmel began his career with Boise Cascade in 1979 and has held numerous management positions within the company, mostly in Northeast Oregon.

Those positions include La Grande sawmill and particleboard plant manager.

Cartmel has been the Northeast Oregon regional manager the past six years.

"My wife and I have grown to love Northeast Oregon and we're truly going to miss this area and the people," he said.

"At the same time, we're excited about the move and looking forward to challenges and opportunities in Western Oregon."

Insko earned an undergraduate degree from Eastern and a master's degree in business from the College of William and Mary.

He has been with Boise since 1996. He has held management positions for the company in Elgin and Boise.

"My family and I are excited to be returning to La Grande, the place we consider home," Insko said.

The new Inland region includes the sawmill in La Grande, the particleboard plant in Island City, and the stud mill and plywood operations in Elgin.

Also included are two sawmills and a plywood plant in Kettle Falls, Wash.