- Info
Who should come to this meeting?
Public and private decision makers advocating for forestry including interested individuals from:
- Forestry agency personnel (state and federal)
- State economic development agencies
- Forestry associations and other forestry advocates
- Private sector including forest industry and more
Questions?
Email: Leslie Boby, lboby@sref.info
Summit objectives
Connect forestry economic contribution analysts, economic development specialists, &
advocates to learn from each other. Improve the understanding, usage & communication of
forestry economic contribution data to promote forestry & the forest products industry.
Learn more about
- the current economic contributions of the forestry sector within your state & the financial
contribution of each forestry-related business sector
- maximizing the meaning of the economic contributions & communicating broader impacts
- a new standardized protocol for analyzing forestry economic contribution data
- forest economic development & work being completed in other states
- creating effective and personalized messages about forestry economic impact
Interactive Meeting Format
Summit will include a mix of presentations from plenary talks to ‘lightning’ presentations
discussion time at tables and small group discussions. Agenda is in development and ideas
for topics to cover and/or speakers are welcome!
Submit your abstract for a lightning presentation and/or propose a topic for small group discussions here
Who should come to this meeting?
Public and private decision makers advocating for forestry including interested individuals from:
- Forestry agency personnel (state and federal)
- State economic development agencies
- Forestry associations and other forestry advocates
- Private sector including forest industry and more
Questions?
Email: Leslie Boby, lboby@sref.info
Registration
Registration cost for this event is:
- $160 until January 31, 2020
- $240 after January 31, 2020
Registration is limited due to space considerations.
Please alert us if registration has filled up and you are still interested, as we may be able to add some additional spots. Contact us here.
Register Now
Lodging
Homewood Suites by Hilton
French Quarter
317 N. Rampart
New Orleans, LA 70112
Room rate is $161.00 per night (Rate extended through Friday, February 14, 2020)
Valet parking at the hotel is: $40.00 per night
Discount Code: Southern Forest Econ
Follow this link to book your hotel room in the block
Book Your Room Here
About New Orleans
Meeting Format
This meeting will provide many opportunities for attendees to interact and engage with each other and the presentations. There will be a mix of plenary speakers and
lightning presentations as well as small group discussion time. In addition, notes will be taken during the small group discussions and the meeting organizers will synthesis this
information into a report to share insights, ideas and identify next steps.
Lightning Presentations
Lightning presentations will include 6 minutes of presentation time and 3 minutes for questions. Those who are selected to present will also be invited to share a two-page summary
of the talk that will be included in the summit folders. Possible topic areas are suggested below, however, all presentation ideas are welcome. Attendees come from different types
of agencies and different states, so lightning presentations could include sharing about how your organization works or your organization’s approaches to contribution analysis,
economic development, communication and more. Presentations can also include innovative ideas or other considerations.
Possible topic ares for lightning presentations:
- Novel uses for forestry economic data in Extension and research
- Forestry economic contribution analyses- organizational perspectives
- Economic Development- organizational perspectives
- Economic Development- innovations
- Forestry Communication- organizational perspectives
- Forestry Communication- innovations
- Forestry Advocacy
- Other
Deadline for lightning presentation submissions is December 1, 2019
Small Group Discussion Topics
The summit includes small group discussion times structured in various ways to promote different types of engagement. If you would like to propose or lead a small group discussion
for a particular topic, click on the link below. The meeting organizers will do their best to accommodate all requests.
Submit your abstract for a lightning presentation and/or propose a topic for small group discussions here
Agenda
Print or Download Summit Agenda
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Kenneth J. Muehlenfeld
Director
AIDT Forest Products Development Center
Mr. Muehlenfeld has thirty years of combined forest industry-based economic development experience with Auburn University and the
Alabama Dept. of Commerce, providing site selection, technical information, and analytical services to existing and prospective
industry, while serving as a project manager for the State of Alabama. Twenty-two years as a part-time international forest products
and bioenergy consultant, specializing in timber and fiber resource analysis, site selection, solid wood products operations analysis
and asset evaluation, forest products market studies, new business feasibility studies, and evaluation of biomass resources for energy
projects. Sixteen years of previous industrial work experience in the forest industry including progressive responsibilities in
timberland management, wood procurement, manufacturing management, capital project management, construction management, new business
start-up, and corporate planning.
Mr. Muehlenfeld holds a B.S. in Forestry, University of Missouri, and a M.S. in Industrial Management, Georgia Institute of Technology.
He is a member of the Economic Developers Association of Alabama, the Alabama Forestry Association, the Forest Products Society, and is
a registered forester in the State of Alabama.
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Dr. Jenny Thorvaldson
Chief Economist and Director of Data Development
IMPLAN
Jenny received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Colorado State University in 2002 and a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Economics
from Colorado State University in 2010. Jenny joined IMPLAN in 2010 and currently serves as Chief Economist and Director of
Data Development. She works on U.S. data development, new data product development, analysis support, and documentation,
as well as overseeing the team that develops international data.
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Kate Gatto
Vice President of Communications
National Alliance of Forest Owners
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Ashley Rowe
Director of Workforce Development
Forest Workforce Training Institute
Ashley Rowe, a current resident of Eclectic, AL, is the Director of Workforce Development for Forest Workforce Training Institute (FWTI) - a non-profit
formed in 2018 to further develop and expand a comprehensive workforce development initiative initially created by the Alabama Forestry Association.
Now a regional effort, FWTI helps state affiliates like the Alabama Forestry Association develop a pipeline of qualified workers for their logging
and wood product manufacturing industries. With the help of its marketing campaign (called “Forestry Works”) FWTI educates students, parents, and
teachers about careers and job opportunities in the forest industry, and provides interested individuals with resources and training to help them
along their career path. Ashley has worked in workforce development for the forest industry since 2017, and is passionate about resolving workforce
issues for Alabama’s forest industry and helping students in rural communities find gainful employment close to home.
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Dr. Eric McConnell
Assistant Professor of Forestry
Louisiana Tech University
Eric McConnell is an Assistant Professor in the School of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry at
Louisiana Tech University, where he studies and economics and business management of forest
operations and industry. He received his BS in Forest Management from Louisiana Tech
University and Masters and PhD degrees from Mississippi State University in Forest Products
and Forest Resources respectively.
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Paul Trianosky
Chief Conservation Officer
Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc.
Paul leads SFI’s conservation programs. He is the principal liaison with conservation organizations and leads collaborative efforts to conserve
forested landscapes. Paul also guides the development of standards and programs to ensure the attainment of conservation objectives. He works
to build partnerships, grow the network of conservation organizations involved in the SFI Program, guide relevant research, and ensure the relevance
of SFI’s work in promoting sustainable supply chains and responsible sourcing. Paul oversees SFI’s Conservation Impact Project. He brings over 30
years of experience in forestry, non-profit management, forest certification, collaborative partnerships, and landscape-scale conservation. Before
joining SFI in 2013, Paul served in various leadership roles, including positions with the American Forest Foundation and The Nature Conservancy.
Paul has a Bachelor of Science in forest resource management from Virginia Tech and a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University.
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