FORSYTH, GEORGIA — The Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) Board of Directors recently welcomed 14 new members, and several new leaders were appointed to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee and Board of Directors serves as the primary leadership body for GFA and consists of 96 representatives from various sectors of the forestry community across Georgia.
“Our leadership is keenly focused on supporting the mission of the Georgia Forestry Association to drive value to the entire forestry community and to keep Georgia the number one forestry state in the nation.” said Andres Villegas, President and CEO of the Georgia Forestry Association. “We have several new board members that are coming on that will help make our board even stronger while adding diversity in geography and perspectives on forestry and working forests in Georgia.”
Executive Committee Leadership Transition
Starting in January, Dan Roach of Rayonier in Wildlight, FL, stepped in as 2021 GFA Chairman, and 2020 Chairman Will Thompson of James-Bates-Brannan-Groover in Macon transitioned to Immediate Past Chairman. Chad Nimmer of Pierce Timber in Blackshear was also appointed to serve as 2021 Vice Chairman.
Dan Roach
2021 GFA Chairman
Dan Roach is the Public Affairs Director for Rayonier, which includes US Forest Resources (USFR). Rayonier is the second largest timber REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) in the US. USFR manages 2.4 million acres of forestland in eleven states (FL, GA, SC, AL, LA, AR, TX, OK, CA, OR and WA). Dan is currently responsible for monitoring and shaping issues internally and regulations at the local, state and federal level across the US.In addition to his involvement and leadership with GFA, he is an active member of the numerous state Forestry Associations, the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI), the National Association of Forest Owners (NAFO) and the Society of American Foresters (SAF). He has also served two terms on SAF’s National Forest Policy Committee as well as the being the chair of the Southeastern SAF’s Policy and Legislative group.
Chad Nimmer
2021 Vice Chairman
Chad Nimmer is the owner of Suwanee Forest Products, co-owner of JCL Logging, and a procurement forester for Pierce Timber Company. Chad has a passion for the outdoors and has dedicated his life to serving as a voice for Georgia’s natural resources at the local, state and national levels. He is a long-time board member of the Georgia Forestry Association and the Georgia Agribusiness Council, and he currently serves on the board for the Georgia Forestry Commission. Chad was also an eight-year member of the Georgia House of Representatives where he served as a tireless champion for Georgia’s working forests and forest product industries. Chad and his family reside on the family farm in Blackshear and attend Emmanuel Baptist Church.
New Executive Committee Members
The Executive Committee also welcomed three new members including Preston Mobley of International Forest Company in Moultrie, Chris Marsh of Rayonier Advanced Materials in Eastman, and Zachary Johnson of the Beasley Group in Hazlehurst. After serving two consecutive terms, three members rolled off the Executive Committee, including 2019 Chairman Todd Mullis of Forest Resource Consultants, Jim Stokes of Alston-Bird (retired), and Chris Moore of WestRock.
See the full list of Executive Committee Members →
Preston MobleyIFCO Seedlings |
Zachary JohnsonBeasley Group |
Chris MarshRayonier AM |
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New GFA Board Members
GFA welcomed the following individuals as new members of the Board of Directors in January.
See a full map of the GFA Board of Directors here →
Rep Debbie BucknerLandowner |
Jon Guerry Burns Jr.Georgia Exports |
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