Georgia Forestry Association Welcomes Jake Matthews as Vice President of Government Affairs

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 regulations, and advancing healthy markets for forest products.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jake to the GFA team. His knowledge, experience and relationships will serve our Association well as we seek to continue growing our impact at the state and federal level,” GFA President & CEO Andres Villegas said.

Matthews is a native of Barnesville, Georgia, with deep roots in the Natural Resources sector. He joined 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.

“I am excited to be joining the GFA team and to continue building upon the already proven effectiveness of this great organization,” Matthews said. “The chance to serve in this role is a privilege, and I look forward to ensuring the continued success of our members and our position as the number one forestry state in the nation.”

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.

You can reach him at jake@gfagrow.org and on LinkedIn here.