ATLANTA (July 30, 2001) - ForestExpress, the transaction and processing network for the forest products industry, announced the establishment of the nation's first-ever graduate research fellowship in the area of forest products eBusiness. ForestExpress has made a two-year commitment to the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center to fund the ForestExpress Fellowship which will address critical eBusiness issues affecting the forest products industry. The fellowship will support a student in the Forest Products Marketing Program in the School of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. The recipient of this fellowship will study eBusiness in the context of domestic and international wood products marketing, and technology applications to improve wood products business competitiveness. "ForestExpress is the first to show such a high level of commitment to research in eBusiness for the forest products industry sector," said Dr. Richard Vlosky, program coordinator who will administer the fellowship. "ForestExpress is working to understand the challenges and strategic issues that surround the forest products industry in adopting eBusiness," said Bob Renner, chief technology officer for ForestExpress. "Dr. Vlosky is a recognized industry leader in the area of eBusiness research in the forest products industry." Dr. Vlosky's program has received international exposure and recognition. Dr. Vlosky has been featured as an expert speaker at numerous events such as the Institute for the Study of Business Markets Web Consortium hosted by IBM and the Forest Industries Show and Clinic. Dr. Vlosky has also published numerous eBusiness articles in the forest products and business journals.