Exhibit 10.55

CONFIDENTIAL

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into this 10th day of December, 2003, by and between BOISE CASCADE OFFICE PRODUCTS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Boise
Office Solutions"), and RYAN VERO (the "Executive").

R E C I T A L S:

WHEREAS,
Boise Cascade Corporation ("Parent") and OfficeMax, Inc. ("OfficeMax"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 13, 2003 (the "Merger"), whereby
Parent acquired OfficeMax and is integrating its operations with Boise Office Solutions, Parent's office products distribution business ("Combined Enterprise"); and

WHEREAS,
Executive and OfficeMax entered into an Amended and Restated Severance Agreement, dated April 9, 2002, regarding the Executive's employment with OfficeMax ("Prior
Agreement"); and

WHEREAS,
Executive and OfficeMax entered into an Executive Severance Agreement, dated June 24, 2003, wherein certain provisions of the Prior Agreement were amended and modified
("Executive Severance Agreement"); and

WHEREAS,
for the purposes of this Agreement, Boise Office Solutions acknowledges that there has been a "Change in Control" as that term is defined in the Executive Severance Agreement;
and

WHEREAS,
Boise Office Solutions desires Executive to provide services to the Combined Enterprise, and Executive desires to provide such services to the Combined Enterprise, on the terms
specified herein; and

WHEREAS,
Boise Office Solutions and Executive acknowledge that there will be some period of time before OfficeMax and Boise Office Solutions will be integrated and combined, and,
therefore, references to employment with the Combined Enterprise shall be deemed to include Executive's employment with OfficeMax after the Closing Date (as defined below), such that reference to the
Combined Enterprise shall mean OfficeMax as applicable at the relevant period in time; and

WHEREAS,
Boise Office Solutions and Executive mutually desire to agree upon the terms of Executive's employment with the Combined Enterprise and, in addition thereto, agree to certain
benefits of employment.

NOW,
THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

1.Term of Agreement.Upon the Effective Date (as defined below), this Agreement amends and supersedes, by
deleting them in their entirety, the Prior Agreement and the Executive Severance Agreement, which shall be completely null and void. This Agreement shall be effective upon the Closing Date (as that
term is defined in the Agreement and Plan of Merger) of the Merger ("Effective Date") and shall continue in effect for a period of 36 months following the Effective Date ("Term"), at which time
this Agreement shall expire by its terms and have no further force or effect;provided, however,that any confidentiality, nonsolicitation, and/or
noncompete obligations binding on the Executive, including those set forth inSection 8, shall continue to be binding on him in accordance with
their terms. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated herein, this Agreement shall terminate prior to the date set forth above without any further acts by either party upon
(a) termination of the Executive's employment for Cause or Disability (each as respectively defined inSection 5); (b) termination
of the Executive's employment due to Executive's death or by the Executive for other than Good Reason (as defined inSection 5); or
(c) completion by Boise Office Solutions of all of its obligations if benefits shall become payable hereunder;provided, however,that any
confidentiality, nonsolicitation, and/or noncompete obligations binding on the Executive, including those set forth inSection 8,shall continue
to be binding on him in accordance with their terms.

2.Title and Duties.Executive shall be the "Executive Vice President, Merchandising," with responsibility for
all merchandising for the Combined Enterprise or any of its present or future subsidiaries or affiliates as Boise Office Solutions may direct. The Executive shall perform such duties, compatible with
the Executive's position, as the CEO or his designee may reasonably require.

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3.Compensation.



Period of
Employment

Lump-Sum Cash
Payment12 months

$
130,00024 months

$
130,00036 months

$
390,000


Payment of the Retention Incentive shall be due only if Executive remains employed with the Combined Enterprise throughout the relevant 12, 24, or 36-month period.
Payment will be made within 15 days of such partial Retention Incentive becoming due.



4.Location of Employment.The position and function shall be based in Itasca, Illinois. Relocation benefits
according to Boise Office Solutions' policy will be provided. Also, an additional allowance of up to $2,500 will be provided to cover the moving expense of some personal items that may be excluded by
policy, such reimbursement dependent upon submitting receipts in accordance with Boise Office Solutions' policy for expense reimbursement. You will be allowed up to six months of temporary living
expenses (those expenses as defined by Boise Office Solutions' policy) and up to three house hunting trips for you and your spouse (those expenses also as defined by Boise Office Solutions' policy).
The date on which Executive will be expected to relocate to Itasca, Illinois shall be determined by Chris Milliken and Executive. All other costs of relocation will be in accordance with Boise Office
Solutions' relocation policy, a copy of which has previously been provided to you. Those costs and expenses not specifically provided for in this Section 4shall be for the account of Executive and
be Executive's sole responsibility.

5.Termination of Employment.The Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided under Section 6upon the
Executive's "Qualifying Termination" (as defined herein) during the 24-month period following the Effective Date
(the "Protection Period"). For purposes hereof, a "Qualifying Termination" shall mean (i) a termination of Executive's employment by Boise Office Solutions for any reason other than for Cause
or Disability or due to the Executive's death, or (ii) the Executive's termination of employment for "Good Reason" (as defined in this Section 5).



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6.Compensation Upon Termination.



To
be eligible to receive benefits under thisSection 6(d), the Executive shall be required to execute and deliver a valid,
binding, and irrevocable general release in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (which Boise Office Solutions shall deliver to the Executive promptly after the date of his
Qualifying Termination). The payments provided for in thisSection 6(d)shall be made not later than the date the release described above becomes
binding and irrevocable under applicable law;provided, however,that, if the amounts of such payments cannot be finally determined on or before such
day, Boise Office Solutions shall pay to the Executive on such day an estimate, as determined in good faith by Boise Office Solutions, of the minimum amount of such payments to which the Executive is
clearly entitled, and shall pay the remainder of such payments (together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), as soon

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as
the amount thereof can be determined, but in no event later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the Date of Termination. If the amount finally determined to be due to the Executive is
less than the estimated payment previously paid to Executive, the Executive shall repay to Boise Office Solutions, within five (5) business days following the time that the amount of the
reduction of the payment due is finally determined, the portion of the payment attributable to the reduction (together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code).
When payments are made under this Section, Boise Office Solutions shall provide Executive with a written statement setting forth the manner in which such payments were calculated and the basis for
such calculations, including, without limitation, any opinions or other advice Boise Office Solutions has received from outside counsel, auditors, or consultants (and any such written opinions or
advice shall be attached to the statement).



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7.Excise Taxes.The following provisions shall apply to any excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the
Code (or its successor) (the "Excise Tax") as a result of payments due underSection 6(d):



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8.Confidentiality, Nonsolicitation and Covenant Not to Compete.For the purposes of this Section 8, the term "Boise"
shall include Boise Cascade Corporation (which shall include Boise Office Solutions) and the Combined Enterprise
(which shall include OfficeMax), as well as their affiliates and subsidiaries.



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9.Successors; Binding Agreement.



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If, to the Executive:

Ryan Vero
Last home address shown
on Boise recordsIf, to Boise Office Solutions:

Boise Cascade Office
Products Corporation Attention:CEO
150 Pierce Road
Itasca, IL 60143-1594With copy to:

Boise Cascade Corporation Attention:General Counsel
1111 West Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 50
Boise, ID 83728


or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt.

11.Miscellaneous.By accepting, and as a condition to accepting, benefits payable under Sections 6(d), 6(e), or 6(f), the
Executive agrees to waive, and will be deemed to have waived, for the Term any right or entitlement to severance or
termination benefits related to the Executive's termination of employment under any other severance or termination plan, policy, program, or arrangement, including, without limitation, the Prior
Agreement and the Executive Severance Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the waiver described in the preceding sentence shall apply only during the Term and only to severance or termination
benefits payable to the Executive under any such plan, policy, program, or arrangement (including the Prior Agreement and the Executive Severance Agreement). In addition, by executing this Agreement,
the Executive hereby amends and supersedes the Prior Agreement and the Executive Severance Agreement by deleting them in their entirety. That is, after the execution of this Agreement, the Prior
Agreement and the Executive Severance Agreement are void and have no further force or effect. In no event shall the Executive be entitled to duplicative payments or benefits under this Agreement and
any other severance or termination plan, policy, program, or arrangement of Boise Office Solutions, its Parent, or their subsidiaries or affiliates. No provision of this Agreement may be modified,
waived, or discharged, unless such waiver, modification, or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically designated by Boise Cascade
Corporation's Board of Directors. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereof, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed
by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreement or representations, oral or otherwise,
express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement. The validity, interpretation, construction, and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state of Ohio (regardless of the law which may be applicable under principles of conflicts of law).

12.Validity.The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or the enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

13.Counterparts.This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

14.Arbitration.Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled
exclusively by arbitration in Cleveland, Ohio, in accordance with the rules of (but not necessarily appointed by) the American Arbitration Association then in effect, except as provided herein.
Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction, provided, however, that the Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the Executive's right to be
paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement. No such arbitration proceedings shall be commenced or conducted
until at least 60 days after the parties in good faith shall have attempted to resolve such dispute by mutual agreement; and the parties hereby agree to endeavor in good faith to resolve any

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dispute
by mutual agreement. If mutual agreement cannot be attained, any disputing party, by written notice to the other ("Arbitration Notice") may commence arbitration proceedings. Such arbitration
shall be conducted before a panel of three arbitrators, one appointed by each party within 30 days after the date of the Arbitration Notice, and one chosen within 60 days after the date
of the Arbitration Notice by the town arbitrators appointed by the disputing parties. Any Cleveland, Ohio, court of competent jurisdiction shall appoint any arbitrator that has not been appointed
within such time periods. Judgment may include costs and attorneys' fees and may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

15.No Guaranty of Employment.Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as
giving the Executive a right to be retained as an employee of the Combined Enterprise. Boise Office Solutions and/or the Combined Enterprise shall be entitled to terminate the Executive's employment
at any time, subject to providing the benefits herein specified in accordance with the terms hereof. The Executive is free to resign from employment at any time, and Boise Office Solutions and/or the
Combined Enterprise is free, subject to the terms of this Agreement, to terminate the Executive's employment at any time and for any reason.

16.Waiver.Executive acknowledges and confirms his previous waiver of any rights he may have had to benefits
payable underSection 6(e)of OfficeMax, Inc.'s Annual Incentive Plan.

17.Acknowledgement that the Terms of Employment do not Constitute "Good Reason."By executing this Agreement,
Executive acknowledges and agrees that the terms and conditions of employment, or any other term or condition provided in this Agreement, do not constitute "Good Reason" as that term is defined in
Executive Severance Agreement and that no condition of "Good Reason" has occurred.

18.Confidentiality.Executive agrees that the terms of this Agreement are strictly confidential and that he may
not disclose the existence of this Agreement, its term, or the amounts to be paid hereunder, to other individuals or entities. This prohibition does not preclude disclosure to Executive's financial,
tax, or legal advisors, or spouse provided that Executive first advises and cautions any of the above individuals that the existence and terms of this Agreement are confidential and are not to be
disclosed, and further that Executive obtains agreement from such individuals that they will abide by this confidentiality provision.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Boise Office Solutions and the Executive have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

|                      |  | BOISE CASCADE OFFICE
PRODUCTS CORPORATION
|--------------------- |  | -----------------------------------------
|/s/RYAN VERORyan Vero |  | By                                       
|                      |  | Its                                      

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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE

THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE ("Release") is made and entered into by and
between                        ("Executive") and BOISE CASCADE OFFICE PRODUCTS
CORPORATION [or other Participating Employer] ("Employer") in connection with Executive's separation of employment with Employer,
effective                        ("Separation Date").

In
consideration of the mutual promises and releases contained herein and other good and valuable consideration as set forth herein, it is hereby agreed as follows:

1.     In
full and final settlement of any claims and demands for relief which may be asserted by Executive against Employer, its parent, predecessors, successors and assigns,
and the employees, current and former directors, officers, agents, attorneys, and representatives of same, Employer will pay Executive a lump sum equal
to                        , subject to applicable tax
and withholdings, which amount equals the cash severance benefits payable under the Employment Agreement
dated                        , 2003, by and between Executive and Employer (the "Employment
Agreement"). Executive agrees that such payment constitutes the exclusive payments due to Executive from Employer, except as specifically provided in Section 2 below. Executive shall receive
such payment as soon as practicable after this Release becomes irrevocable.

2.     Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, Executive and Employer agree and acknowledge that Executive is not waiving his rights to:



3.     Executive
hereby expressly agrees and acknowledges that any and all claims and demands for relief, of whatever nature or kind, including attorneys' fees, costs, and
expenses, which Executive ever had or now has against Employer, its predecessors, successors, current and former employees, directors, officers, assigns, agents, attorneys and representatives, or
affiliates, which arose out of or relate in any way to Executive's employment with or separation from employment with Employer and/or its predecessors, shall be forever waived, released, or
discharged, including, but not limited to, (i) any claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 201,et seq.; the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 1001,et seq.; the Family and Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 2601, et seq.; the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 621,et seq.; Title VII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. Sections 1981 and 1981a; the American with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 12100,et seq.;
[add references to applicable state or local laws]; and any federal, state, or local laws prohibiting employment discrimination; (ii) claims relating to harassment,
breach of contract or wrongful discharge, or breach of express or implied covenants; and (iii) claims arising from any legal restrictions on Employer's right to terminate its employees.

4.     Executive
represents and agrees that he has not relied on any statements by Employer regarding his rights under the various federal and state laws prohibiting
discrimination in the workplace and that he is hereby advised, cautioned, warned, recommended, encouraged, and provided the opportunity to discuss all aspects of the Release with counsel of his own
choosing, and that he has carefully read the Release, and that he is voluntarily and of his own free will and without any duress of any kind or nature entering into the Release.

5.     Executive
acknowledges the receipt and sufficiency of the consideration adequate to support this Release in general, and in particular, the Executive's releases of rights
set forth in paragraphs 2 and 3 hereto, since the Executive is receiving benefits under paragraph 1 that the Executive would otherwise not have been entitled to receive.

6.     Executive
and Employer further expressly agree and understand that the Severance Agreement and Release constitute the complete and entire agreement of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof, and

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that
any other promises, inducements, representations, warranties, or agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof have been superseded hereby and are not intended to survive the Release,
provided that any confidentiality, nonsolicitation and/or noncompete obligations binding on Executive shall continue to be binding on him in accordance with their terms. No amendment or modification
of the Release shall be effective unless set forth in writing and signed by both the Executive and a duly authorized officer of Employer.

7.     Executive
and Employer agree that all matters relative to the construction and interpretation of this Release shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the
laws of the state of Ohio.

[8.    Executive
represents and agrees that he has been provided a period of 21 days to consider the terms of this Release and has been advised that, once
executed, this Release may be revoked by Executive within seven days of execution.]

[Alternative
paragraph (8), as appropriate:

8.     Executive
represents and agrees that he has been provided a period of 45 days to consider the terms of this Release and has been advised that, once executed, this
Release may be revoked by Executive within seven days of execution.]

9.     Employer
is obligated to make the payments described in Section 1 above only providing the following conditions are met:



10.   Executive
agrees not to disclose the terms of this Release to any person, except under the circumstances described in this Release.

11.   This
Release shall not become effective or enforceable until the eighth day after delivery of an executed copy by the Executive to the Employer, at which point it shall
be effective and enforceable.

|WITNESS |  | Name of Executive
|------- |  | -----------------
|Date    |  |                  
|        |  |                  
|Date    |  |                  
|        |  |                  

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