Staff

Lowrimore is a registered forester whose career spans the entire forestry supply chain. His extensive experience gives him a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing landowners, loggers, and forest product manufacturers in Georgia. He most recently served as Director and State Forester for the Georgia Forestry Commission, after being appointed by Governor Brian Kemp in January 2021. In that capacity, Lowrimore led the commission through a strategic leadership change in order to improve the performance and efficiency of the Agency in service to Georgia’s forest landowners. In addition, he advocated in support of the modernization of equipment and increased funding for personnel to support forest ranger recruitment and retention.

Since 2011, Matt has worked closely with the Georgia Forestry Association in a variety of  capacities. In his current role, Matt manages all internal and external communications efforts, which are focused on building messaging related to the sustainability of Georgia’s forests and forestry businesses, engaging the forestry community in advocacy and outreach efforts and influencing consumer understanding of forestry. Matt’s responsibilities include:

• Strategic Communications (internal and external)
• Member & Stakeholder Engagement
• Public Outreach & Education Initiatives
• Media Relations & Issues Management
• Brand Awareness
• Georgia Forestry Magazine

The Georgia Forestry Association is excited to be expanding its advocacy team with the recent addition of Mr. Jake Matthews as Vice President of Government Affairs, starting on Sept. 5, 2023. Matthews' primary role will be to protect and enhance the investments that many families and businesses have made in the dirt (timberland) and steel (mills & logging operations) that make Georgia the #1 Forestry State in the Nation. Matthews will provide strategic leadership for the Association's advocacy initiatives that align to our core principles of protecting private property rights, ensuring sensible taxes and regulation, and advancing healthy markets for forest products. Matthews is a native of Barnesville, Georgia, with deep roots in the Natural Resources sector. He joins the Association after managing state government affairs for the Georgia Farm Bureau, and prior to that, he served as a University of Georgia Ag Fellow in Washington D.C. working in Rep. Sanford Bishop’s office and as a policy intern with Governor Brian Kemp. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences where he majored in Agribusiness. Matthews and his wife Annalee live in Macon, Georgia, where they attend Ingleside Baptist Church. He enjoys hunting and fishing in his spare time, and he also serves as a volunteer with Safari Club International.

Michele has been with GFA since 2010. A native of Dooly County, her roots are in the forest and agriculture industry. She attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. She has three children, Ansley, Nate and Morgan and a son-in-law, Jay. An empty nester, Michele enjoys the time when Nate and Ansley are home and she travels frequently to Savannah to visit Morgan and Jay.  Michele is instrumental in ensuring a positive member experience by the planning and execution of all GFA events. She thrives to meet the needs of the staff. Michele’s responsibilities include:

• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• Event Planning and Execution
• Building Operations

Dillon Hendrix is a native of Ocilla, Georgia, where his family has a long history of managing their land and resources. He joined the Association after serving as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines in Camp Pendleton, California. Prior to military service, he served his alma mater, the University of Georgia, where he was a member of the Football Operations staff under Head Coach Kirby Smart. Dillon also manages a family-owned farming operation, Gen4 Agriculture, in Irwin and Tift Counties, where they grow edamame, cattle, and hay. He is a Double Dawg graduate of the University of Georgia, where he received his BA in History, and MS in Sport Management and Policy. “I am very excited and humbled to join the GFA team, a true champion of advocacy and representation for those who keep Georgia growing,” Hendrix said. “The opportunity to serve the forestry industry in my state is a privilege, and I will always work hard to grow, protect, and empower our members, ensuring our position as the number one forestry state in the nation.” Dillon and his wife Jana live in Ocilla, Georgia with their two sons, John Dillon (JD) and Parker, and their dog Sanford. They attend First Baptist Church – Tifton where Dillon serves on the security team. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, hunting, working out, and any activity where he can spend time with his family.

With 22 years of media experience, Glo’s passion and career shifted to trees when she came across Georgia’s forests. Through GFF’s partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting, Glo produced two virtual learning journeys to educate students on the timber industry. After years of research in the field, Glo decided that it was time to become a tree farmer herself. She invested in land as well as the industry that she had grown to love. Her goal as the Marketing and Communications Director is to tell the story of sustainability through the country’s leading forestry state and the growing landscape of the timber industry.

Mike joined the GFA staff in 2019 as Digital Media Specialist. In his capacity, Mike is responsible for management of the Association and Foundation brand and the development of creative and engaging marketing materials, including graphics, video, photography and more. Mike’s key areas of responsibility include:

• Videography and Photography
• Brand Management
• Graphic Design

Olivia joined the Georgia Forestry Association in 2021 as Communications and Fundraising Coordinator of the Georgia Forestry Foundation. She has two years of work under her belt working in sustainability communications. She was most recently with her hometown's government to raise awareness of local climate action and increase participation. Olivia is a native of Iowa City, IA and a graduate of Lake Forest College (near Chicago). In addition to environmental studies, she holds a degree in Spanish. Through her work, Olivia is focused on communicating and gathering support for the value of southern forests on behalf of GFF.

Amanda is a communications and PR professional with 20 years of experience focused on corporate and nonprofit sectors. In her role with the Foundation, she manages all education and outreach efforts, including digital forestry curriculum through Georgia Public Broadcasting and education programs through the Chattahoochee Nature Center, Dunwoody Nature Center and Trees Atlanta.