About Us

We believe William Penn would be proud of the forest stewardship efforts the Pennsylvania Forestry Association has made on behalf of Penn’s beloved New World Colony. In 1681, Penn admonished the colonists to leave one acre of trees for every five acres cleared. We have done better than that. Approximately three of five acres in the Commonwealth are forests—forests that provide resources benefiting not only all Pennsylvanians but people beyond the borders of our state, the coastlines of our country.

Our forests influence and touch our lives every day. What would the quality of our water or air be without forests? Where would our wildlife live? Where else would we go for refuge and inspiration? What other natural resource offers us food, paper, and furniture prized the world over for the quality of its wood? With science-based forest management, our forest—Penn’s Woods—will remain and thrive, renewing with each generation to serve humanity in countless ways.

There is much concern today about environmental degradation and forest depletion. Since 1886, The Pennsylvania Forestry Association has been working to promote forest stewardship to ensure the sustainability of all forest resources. Among our members are forest landowners, forest industries, resources professionals, loggers, private citizens, environmental groups, and businesses who care about Pennsylvania’s forest resources. Working together we can ensure the sustainability of our forests and the vital resources they provide. Our stewardship efforts today will assure future generations a strong, healthy working Penn’s Woods.

Read the story of the Founding of The Pennsylvania Forestry Association.

We present the following awards for excellence in forestry.

We present the following scholarships to further the aim of education in forestry.

Mission

Promote forest stewardship to ensure forest sustainability to benefit all Pennsylvanians, now and into the future.

Vision

To be a leading proponent of sustainable forestry in Pennsylvania and provide a network for the exchange of ideas and information.

Executive Officers

President: Richard Lewis ***
Vice-President: Mark Ott ***
Secretary: Gay Thistle ***
Treasurer: Dave Alerich ***

Immediate Past President: Gene F. Odato ***

Board of Directors:

Private Sector:
Dave Twining - Term expires 2018
Jim Walizer - Term expires 2019
Randy White - Term expires 2020
Nancy Baker - Term expires 2020 ***
George Kirik - Term expires 2020
John Laskowski - Term expires 2020

Industry:
Marc Lewis - Term expires 2018
Darell V. Reibson - Term expires 2018
Matt Sampson - Term expires 2019 ***
Renee Carey - Term expires 2019
Martin C. Melville - Term expires 2019
Dave Trimpey - Term expires 2020
Michael Eckley - Term expires 2020

Government & Academia
Andrew Duncan - Term expires 2018
Cecile Stelter - Term expires 2018
Julianne Schieffer - Term expires 2019
Michael J. Powell - Term expires 2019
Rachel Reyna - Term expires 2019 ***
Dave Jackson - Term expires 2020 ***
Scott Weikert - Term expires 2020

Additional Ex Officio (non-voting) Board Members

John & Maureen Burnham
Linda Finley
Josh Hersl

PFA Committee Chairs

ANNUAL MEETING COMMITTEE
Cecile Stelter   Co-Chair
Linda Finley   Co-Chair

AWARDS COMMITTEE
Robb Piper  Co-Chair
Jim Finley  Co-Chair

BIG TREES PROGRAM
vacant

BY-LAWS COMMITTEE
Roy Siefert  Chair

COMMUNICATION/EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Linda Finley  Co-Chair
Nancy Baker  Co-Chair

FINANCE/INVESTMENTS COMMITTEE
Roy Siefert  Co-Chair
David Alerich  Co-Chair

FOREST LANDOWNER ASSN. REP.
COMMITTEE
Linda Finley  Chair

FORESTRY INDUSTRY (HDC)
Vacant

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Susan Benedict  Chair

OUTREACH COMMITTEE
Matt Sampson  Chair

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Richard Lewis  Acting Chair

CONSERVATION DINNER COMMITTEE
Mark Ott  Chair

PENN STATE AG COUNCIL & NOMINATING
COMMITTEE
Marc Lewis  Chair

PFA MEMORIAL FORESTRY EDUCATION FUND COMMITTEE
Terry Hoffman  Chair
14 Killdeer Lane
Downingtown, PA 19335-1892
610-458-0480

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Josh Hersl

TREE FARM COMMITTEE
John and Maureen Burnham  Co-Chairs

TREE FARMER OF THE YEAR
Arlyn & Marial Perkey
504 Brian Place
Morgantown, WV 26505
304-599-4944

PFA OFFICE & CONTACT INFO
Caleb Wright
116 Pine Street, Fifth Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-234-2500 or 800-835-8065

*** Denotes Executive Team Member