Nicholas Allen logs new business skills working behind the scenes in lumber trading
By Megan Nash
Nicholas Allen (B.S. ’25) didn’t expect to take on so many different roles during his internship at Richmond International Forest Products (RIFP), but he embraced the opportunity to learn from every angle.
Allen, a senior majoring in business administration at the VCU School of Business, spent three months rotating through the Credit, Admin, Traffic and Trading departments at the Richmond-based company, which specializes in the global trading and distribution of forest products like lumber, panels and other building materials. His time at RIFP gave him exposure to both the operational and strategic aspects of the business, from logistics to market analysis.
“I picked my major in order to keep my options open and to have skills that are applicable in a wide variety of settings and industries,” Allen said. His internship provided exactly that, offering insight into an industry he hadn’t previously considered.
His time in construction made adapting to the business side second nature. “My experience as a general contractor and classroom knowledge on business operations presented me with a great opportunity to advance myself in a field with a ton of upside,” he said. “It also made me aware of how small the barriers are to propel yourself in a sales type role or in running a business of your own.”
Much of his time was spent in the Traffic department, handling logistics for moving lumber from mills to customers.
“We coordinate with freight brokers to have trucks pick up material from mills to deliver it to the customer in a timely manner,” he explained. He also learned how to manage “hot loads”—orders that hadn’t shipped within three days. “When we call out on these loads, we usually have to offer more than the going rate since brokers know we’re in a tight spot,” Allen said.
In addition to logistics, Allen participated in daily market meetings and delivered a market analysis on Western Red Cedar. “Every intern was assigned a different commodity to research and present on,” he said. His 15-minute presentation covered pricing, market trends and the potential for trading cedar wood at RIFP. “It went very well, and the company is considering trading it in the future,” he added.
This hands-on experience introduced Allen to the importance of relationship building and negotiation within the business world. “I learned a lot about networking, negotiating and analyzing opportunities in different market circumstances,” he said.
Allen discovered the internship opportunity through the VCU School of Business’ Business Internship & Career Fair. He plans to continue applying what he learned in his final year at the School of Business and will return to RIFP in the winter with the intention of pursuing a full-time trader position after graduating next spring.
“The best feeling was finding a spot where I was able to contribute to the success of traders and getting recognition for booking a truck to get something delivered in the nick of time,” Allen said.
The Business Internship & Career Fair returns to the School of Business on Sept. 17 and 18. Each day will feature a unique group of employers, giving students a variety of industries to explore.
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