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SFI GOVERNANCE & SOUND DECISION-MAKING
SFI Inc. is governed by the 18-member SFI Board of Directors. Governance of SFI is structured purposefully to ensure equal voting power to environmental, social, and economic sectors.
SFI Board members include executive-level representatives of conservation organizations, academic institutions, educators, public officials, Black Americans, as well as those representing worker rights, Indigenous Peoples, forest owners, managers, and the forest products sector. This diversity reflects a variety of interests in the forestry community in support of a world that values and benefits from sustainably managed forests.
The SFI Board sets SFI’s strategic direction and is responsible for overseeing SFI’s work in standards, conservation, community, and education. The Board is composed of leaders that represent environmental, social, and economic interests. The SFI Board approves the SFI Standards following a multi-layered, robust, and transparent process of standards development, technical review, and consultation involving 1000s of points of input.
With this intentional mix of voices our governance is inclusive, diverse, transparent, and accountable.
SFI EXTERNAL REVIEW PANEL
EDUCATION OPERATING COMMITTEE
SFI STAFF
SFI INC. BYLAWS
SFI TRANSPARENCY POLICY
SOCIAL SECTOR
Board members representing the social sector, which includes community or social interest groups like universities, labor, family forest owners or government agencies:
SAM COOK
Executive Director of Forest Assets
North Carolina State University
North Carolina
READ BIO HERE
SAM COOK
Executive Director of Forest Assets
North Carolina State University
Sam oversees more than $150 million in foundation assets to meet all the needs of the college and to provide funding support for an environmentally and economically sustainable natural resource sector. With a forestry career spanning more than four decades, Sam is deeply committed to ensuring that our forests are managed in a way that not only meets the needs of the present but also preserves these vital resources for future generations. Sam was president of the Society of American Foresters in 2023 and vice president in 2022. He served on the SFI Resources Committee, the SFI-MANRRS Journeys of Black Professionals in Green Careers Advisory Committee, and is featured in
Black Faces in Green Spaces: The Journeys of Black Professional
in Green Careers
JESSICA IRELAND
Director of Education Programs
North Carolina Forestry Association
North Carolina
READ BIO HERE
JESSICA IRELAND
Director of Education Programs
North Carolina Forestry Association
Jessica leads the educational programs for the North Carolina Forestry Association (NCFA), including the Sustainable Forestry Teachers Experience, the high school forestry course and Certified Forest Worker Credential, the scholarship program, and the development of educational materials. Jessica has served on the SFI Education Operating Committee (EOC) for 4 years, beginning in 2021 as the Project Learning Tree (PLT) State Coordinator Representative and from 2022-current as a partner member.
Jessica received a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications and English from the University of Florida and a Master of Forest Resources and Conservation, with a focus in environmental education, also from the University of Florida. She has over 17 years’ experience coordinating environmental education and extension programs. Before joining the NCFA, Ireland worked with and coordinated natural resource education and extension, including USDA woody biomass and southern pine climate change grants, the Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute (NFLI), and Florida Project Learning Tree. Ireland is a Florida NRLI Fellow and a North Carolina Certified Environmental Educator.
LENNARD JOE
Chief Executive Officer
BC First Nations Forestry Council
British Columbia
READ BIO HERE
LENNARD JOE
Chief Executive Officer
BC First Nations Forestry Council
Lennard Joe is a registered professional forester with more than 30 years of natural resources and business experience. His traditional name Suxwsxwwels means Grizzly Man. In 2012, Lenny joined SFI’s Resources Committee, which directly oversees the work of the SFI Standards Review Task Groups. In 2018, he was elected to the SFI Board of Directors, where he brings his perspective to the decision-making table. Lenny was instrumental in providing opportunities for Indigenous representation throughout the SFI standards revision process, and successfully enshrining Respect for Indigenous Rights and Traditional Knowledge as a standalone Objective in SFI’s Forest Management Standard. He has consistently shared his perspective, and allowed opportunities for other Indigenous voices to be heard regarding how SFI can better align with and service the interests and priorities of Indigenous communities. He is actively involved in developing new businesses and resource sector opportunities within his territory as well as throughout Canada and the world. Lennard Joe is from the Nlaka’pamux Nation and a member of the Shackan Indian Band.
Additional Resources:
Feature Article: Tip of the spear – Q&A with Lenny Joe
Guest column: The future looks bright for sustainable forestry
PHIL RIGDON
Superintendent
Yakama Nation Department of Natural Resources
Washington
READ BIO HERE
PHIL RIGDON
Superintendent
Yakama Nation Department of Natural Resources
As an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Philip has worked for his people in natural resources in the Pacific Northwest throughout his career. His perspective on natural resource management is based on a commitment to generational forestry that maintains cultural priorities and ways of life. His Indigenous approach to forestry balances historical and societal traditions while also striving to meet the community’s economic needs.  Philip’s career shows his dedication to educational pursuits. He serves on the University of Washington’s EarthLab, the advisory committee for the University of Washington School of Environment and Forest Science, and the Yale School of Environment’s Alumni Board. He also stresses the importance of our learning from elders and other tribal leaders, who hold enormous amount of traditional knowledge. Philip holds a Master of Forestry from Yale University.
HEATHER SLAYTON
Assistant Commissioner and State Forester
Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry
Tennessee
READ BIO HERE
HEATHER SLAYTON
Assistant Commissioner and State Forester
Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry
Heather oversees the state’s 14 million acres/5.7 million hectares of publicly and privately owned forested land. With 83% of forests in Tennessee owned privately, Heather is focused on helping landowners keep their forests as forests.She is also responsible for directing wildland fire prevention and suppression, reforestation, landowner assistance programs, forest health initiatives, urban forestry programs, and forest inventory. Before assuming her current role, Heather oversaw the major administrative functions of the division and provided executive leadership to the State Forest Unit, Reforestation Unit, Forest Health and Sustainability Unit, and the Forest Data and Analysis Unit. Prior to her state service, Heather worked as a consulting forester in Virginia, North Carolina, and East Tennessee. She earned a Master of Science in forestry from University of Tennessee.
BOB WALLS
Chief of Staff, Woodworkers Department
International Association of Machinists and Woodworkers
Minnesota
READ BIO HERE
BOB WALLS
Chief of Staff, Woodworkers Department
International Association of Machinists and Woodworkers
Bob Walls, Chief of Staff, Woodworkers Department of International Association of Machinists and Woodworkers (IAMAW).
In May 2015, Bob was appointed to the IAMAW Grand Lodge staff as a Special Representative for the Woodworkers Department, and, in January 2018, became a Grand Lodge Representative. Bob has been an IAM member since the Woodworkers affiliated with the IAM in 1994 and served as a shop steward and business representative in his hometown Local W33 in International Falls, MN. He was appointed District W3 Business Representative in February 2000 and has served as the district’s Assistant Directing Business Representative since 2009. Bob served on the SFI Resources Committee for close to 10 years and has served as the Forest Products Industry National Labor Management Committee Co-chair since February 2016.
Ex Officio Liaison
ELLEN SHULTZABARGER
Associate Deputy Chief
USDA Forest Service
Pennsylvania
READ BIO HERE
ELLEN SHULTZABARGER
Associate Deputy Chief
US Forest Service
Ellen Shultzabarger began in the USDA Forest Service in 2023 and currently serve as Associate Deputy Chief in the National Forest System.  She is responsible for management of Natural Resources management across 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands in 43 states and two U.S. territories. Her work includes forest and range management; vegetation ecology; plants and wildlife; and sustainability and climate.
Prior to the Forest Service, Ellen served as Pennsylvania State Forester and Director.  She was responsible for oversight of 2.2 million acres of state forestlands, all of which are certified to the SFI Forest Management Standard. During this time, Ellen served on
SFI’s Education Operating Committee
, the Project Learning Tree advisory group, from 2019 until accepting her current role on the SFI Board of Directors.
In addition to State Forester, Ellen spent over 20 years with the PA Bureau of Forestry, holding a variety of leadership positions including Deputy Chief of Conservation Science & Ecological Resources, Chief of Forest Resources Planning, and Ecological Program Specialist.  Prior to joining the PA Bureau of Forestry, she also worked for the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR
Board members representing the environmental sector, which includes non-profit environmental or conservation organizations:
DAN LAMBE (Chair)
Chief Executive
Arbor Day Foundation
Nebraska
READ BIO HERE
DAN LAMBE
Chief Executive
Arbor Day Foundation
Dan oversees the innovative programs and partnerships through which the Arbor Day Foundation strives to educate, recognize, and empower people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Dan works with corporate and government leaders to use trees to help find positive solutions to sustainability, engagement, and marketing challenges.
Dan’s leadership is helping people understand how responsible forestry and tree-planting helps to address pollution, water quality, climate change, hunger, and poverty.
Dan joined the Arbor Day Foundation in 2005 and was named president in 2014. He has served as a member of the Vibrant Cities and Urban Forests Task Force and the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council. He currently serves on the SFI Educational Operating Committee and the Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition Steering Committee.
TERRY BAKER
CEO
Society of American Foresters
Washington, DC
READ BIO HERE
TERRY BAKER
CEO
Society of American Foresters
Terry Baker is a passionate and long-time SAF member, a seasoned leader, and a powerful advocate for forestry. His entire career has been intertwined with SAF (since 2002); in fact, Terry credits SAF with helping to develop him as a professional and he is paying it forward by mentoring students and young professionals.
Baker has a reputation for being a leader who values relationships, a leader who listens, and a leader who takes action. He has experience in building partnerships and strategic alliances to leverage outcomes and is expanding relationships with key partners and stakeholders to strengthen SAF’s voice and advance the profession as well as the members.
DR. TRACY FARRELL
CEO, IUCN-US
Director, IUCN North America Office
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Washington, DC
READ BIO HERE
DR. TRACY FARRELL
CEO, IUCN-US
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Tracy has more than 20 years of experience leading global conservation and sustainable development programs and projects. She believes it takes a village of partners to broaden how the private and public sectors work together to find the best long-term sustainability solutions.
At the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) North American program, she leads policy development and member engagement work in the US and Canada, fundraising and implementing new regional initiatives. Tracy’s role at IUCN allows her to focus on large landscape management and nature-based solutions, including incentivizing and unlocking financing for these solutions.
Her career also includes years of work designing and managing sustainable forested areas. Prior to her role at IUCN, Tracy spent 16 years working for Conservation International.
CATHERINE GRENIER
President and CEO
Nature Conservancy Canada
Ontario
READ BIO HERE
CATHERINE GRENIER
President and CEO
Nature Conservancy Canada
As head of Canada’s leading national land conservation organization, Catherine oversees partnerships with individuals, corporations, foundations, Indigenous communities, non-profit organizations, and governments at all levels to protect the country’s most important natural treasures. The Nature Conservancy Canada is a longstanding SFI partner collaborating on numerous projects including conserving aquatic ecosystems, protecting bat populations, engaging youth in forest conservation, and supporting
Project Learning Tree Canada’s
Green Jobs for youth. Catherine also serves on
SFI’s Education Operating Committee
, the PLT advisory group.
An award-winning leader, Catherine has held executive positions with some of Canada’s foremost nature conservation organizations. Prior to joining NCC, Grenier served as Vice President for national park operations with Sépaq, the Quebec government agency that manages parks and wildlife reserves. Catherine mobilized the Sépaq team to generate an increase of more than 40% in visits to the province’s parks network. She has also held senior roles with Parks Canada. Among her achievements there, she led the process to create Canada’s first national urban park, in Toronto’s Rouge Valley.
Her passion for community building and conservation was recognized in 2016 with an Award of Excellence from the Canadian Parks Council and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
CAITLYN POLLIHAN
CEO and Executive Director
International Society of Arboriculture
Georgia
READ BIO HERE
CAITLYN POLLIHAN
CEO and Executive Director
International Society of Arboriculture
Caitlyn represents over 26,000 ISA members worldwide who support professional arboriculture and urban forestry. ISA is also the credentialing body for arboriculture and urban forestry professionals and has conferred over 57,000 individual credentials. As the society enters its centennial year, ISA continues to grow, evolve, and explore new ways to represent its diverse members. Caitlyn participates in several coalitions and committees, including the Sustainable Urban Forest Coalition Steering Committee and the i-Tree Executive Committee, and she previously served on the National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule. She holds a Master of Organizational Communication from the University of Missouri‐St. Louis.
ECONOMIC SECTOR
Board members representing the economic sector, which includes the forest, paper and wood products industry or other for-profit forest ownership or management entities:
DAVID GRAHAM (Vice-Chair)
President
Weyerhaeuser Company Limited
British Columbia
READ BIO HERE
DAVID GRAHAM
President
Weyerhaeuser Company Limited
Graham joined Weyerhaeuser in 1991 as an engineer and has held a variety of senior leadership positions in the company’s Wood Products and Timberlands organizations, including most recently as vice president of HR supporting the Timberlands and Corporate Development businesses and previously as vice president of the company’s Oriented Strand Board business. He has worked and resided in three provinces —
Alberta
British Columbia
and
Saskatchewan
— and among other key projects has helped with integration on several acquisitions and developing a framework for labor relations at Weyerhaeuser. Graham earned a bachelor’s in engineering from the
University of Alberta
BRENT KEEFER
(SECRETARY-TREASURER)
Chief Executive Officer
American Forest Management, Inc.
North Carolina
READ BIO HERE
BRENT KEEFER
Chief Executive Officer
American Forest Management, Inc.
Connecting his passion for sustainable forest management with the business of financial investments has always been a strong motivating force for Brent. He works with SFI to actively seek ways to expand the benefits associated with market-based ecosystem and climate-change services derived from well-managed privately owned forests.
American Forest Management, Inc. (AFM) is a national land management and real estate brokerage firm. AFM is the largest forestry consulting firm in the U.S. AFM offers a suite of services including land and habitat management, real estate sales, timberland inventory and sales, environmental stewardship, and technical services. AFM serves clients across the country with 48 offices and oversees more than 6.5 million acres/2.6 million hectares of land.
Prior to joining AFM, Brent served as the president of Hancock Timber Resource Group. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters.
GEORGE EMMERSON
Chairman
Sierra Pacific Industries
California
READ BIO HERE
GEORGE EMMERSON
Chairman
Sierra Pacific Industries
Sierra Pacific Industries is a third-generation, family-owned forest products company based in Anderson, California. SPI is one of the largest US lumber manufacturers. It owns and manages more than 2.4 million acres of SFI‑certified timberland in California, Oregon, and Washington. SPI also produces millwork, windows, and renewable energy. Its  manufacturing operations are certified to the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard.
George is on the board of the American Wood Council.  He also represents the Softwood Lumber Board’s US West region and is an ex-officio member of the SLB executive committee. George is the past president and CEO of SPI.
ARSEN KITCH
President & CEO
Clearwater Paper Corporation
Washington
READ BIO HERE
ARSEN KITCH
President & CEO
Clearwater Paper Corporation
Arsen Kitch is president and chief executive officer of Clearwater Paper, headquartered in Spokane, WA. With approximately 2,000 employees and seven paperboard manufacturing and sheeting facilities across the US, Clearwater Paper is a premier independent supplier of sustainable paperboard packaging products to North American converters.
Before becoming Clearwater Paper’s president and CEO in 2020, he was the senior vice president and general manager of Clearwater’s consumer products division. Mr. Kitch also served as vice president of finance and vice president of financial planning and analysis. He joined the company in 2013 as senior director of strategy and planning.
Mr. Kitch held positions at Nestlé USA, KKR Capstone, and Frito-Lay before joining Clearwater Paper.
Mr. Kitch holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of California, Berkley, and a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
PINO PUCCI
President & CEO
Tolko
British Columbia
READ BIO HERE
PINO PUCCI
President & CEO
Tolko
Pino Pucci was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2024 after serving as Chief Operating Officer. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Lakehead University before launching a career in the industry.
Pino joined Tolko in 2015 as Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Logistics, where he led the implementation and growth of the company’s customer-centric, North American distribution network. With 35 years of industry experience, his innovative approach to leadership continues to inspire and challenge his teams to be their best and deliver results.
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