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 2021

President: Mark Ott **
Vice-President: Randy White
Secretary: Gay Thistle **
Treasurer: Dave Alerich **

Immediate Past President: Richard Lewis **

Board of Directors:

Private Sector:
Gary Gilmore - Term expires 2023 **
Nancy Baker - Term expires 2023 **
John Laskowski - Term expires 2023
Dave Twining - Term expires 2021
Jim Walizer - Term expires 2022

Industry:
Michael Eckley - Term expires 2023
Dave Trimpey - Term expires 2023
Matt Sampson - Term expires 2021 **
Ken Manno - Term expires 2022
Renee Carey - Term expires 2022

Government & Academia
Dave Jackson - Term expires 2023 **
Scott Weikert - Term expires 2023
Julianne Schieffer - Term expires 2022
Rachel Reyna - Term expires 2022 **
Michael J. Powell - Term expires 2022

Additional Ex Officio (non-voting) Board Members

Gay and Harold Thistle
Linda Finley ***
(vacant) PSU Student

PFA Committee Chairs

ANNUAL MEETING COMMITTEE
Julianne Schieffer, Co-Chair
Linda Finley, Co-Chair

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

BIG TREES PROGRAM
Ken Love, Chair

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

FOREST HERITAGE COMMITTEE
Wayne Kober, Co-Chair
Peter Linehan, Co-Chair

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Susan Benedict, Co-Chair
Jim Walizer, Co-Chair

OUTREACH COMMITTEE
Matt Sampson, Chair

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Ken Manno, Chair

CONSERVATION DINNER COMMITTEE
Mark Ott, Chair

NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Marc Lewis, Chair

PFA MEMORIAL FORESTRY EDUCATION FUND COMMITTEE
Mike Powell, Chair

TREE FARM COMMITTEE
Gay and Harold Thistle, Co-Chairs

TREE FARMER OF THE YEAR
Vacant

PFA OFFICE & CONTACT INFO
Caleb Wright
300 N Second Street, Suite 1002
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-234-2500 or 800-835-8065

** 2018-2019 PFA Executive Committee Members
***2018-2019 Ex Officio Executive Committee Members