Product Showcase

Celebrating Our Customers at the Great Lakes Logging Expo

The first Monday in September marks Labor Day, a time to honor the contributions of American workers to the nation’s strength and prosperity. For many, it also signals the end of summer, the return to school, cooler mornings, and the first hints of fall in the trees.

For those of us in the Great Lakes timber industry, it also means - it’s the week of the Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo.

This year’s Expo brought us back to Escanaba, Michigan, and gave us the perfect opportunity to celebrate some major milestones for Ponsse: 2025 marks 55 years since our founding, and 30 years of operations in the United States. While we kicked things off with a memorable anniversary party on June 14 in Rhinelander, we knew not everyone could make a mid-summer trip to Rhinelander. So, we decided to bring something special to our Customer Appreciation Party at the Expo—and special it was!

A Night to Remember

Ponsse USA proudly sponsors a number of incredible athletes, including professional boxing brothers Joey and Mickel Spencer of Linden, MI. These two not only have remarkable talent in the ring—they’re also some of the kindest people you’ll meet. Since they’ve only fought on the same card twice before, we couldn’t resist reuniting them for a one-of-a-kind evening: two professional boxing matches, live from the Miracle of Life Pavilion in Escanaba.

The night began with a mouthwatering BBQ spread catered by Shane Larson’s BBQ of Escanaba and a full selection of cold beverages, served up by some excellent guest bartenders.

As the lights dimmed and the fighters entered the ring, the excitement was electric—even our round card-carrying Ponsse dog seemed to feel it, tail wagging more than usual.

The first bout featured Mickel Spencer vs. Romel Tsanimp, with Mickel securing a win by TKO in the third round. The crowd was on their feet, and the energy continued to build for the main event: Joey Spencer vs. Chris Howard.

This match was a true display of athleticism and heart. While Joey maintained control throughout, Chris Howard showed incredible grit and determination. After eight hard-fought rounds, Joey was declared the winner by unanimous decision. With both brothers victorious, we couldn’t have been prouder.

Music, Memories, and More

Following the matches, the Jerry Schmitt Band took the stage and kept the celebration going well into the night. Guests packed the dance floor, and athletes Joey, Mickel, and fellow Ponsse-sponsored Olympian Nick Baumgartner stayed to chat, take photos, and connect with attendees.

The evening was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and welcome new ones. At Ponsse, we truly believe we have the best customers in the business, and we are always grateful for the chance to show our appreciation.

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who made this event possible—your hard work and support mean the world to us. It takes a team to pull off something this special, and we’re proud to have the best.

Now the only question is—how do we top this next year in Green Bay?