2025 IMPACT REPORT
FROM THE CEO
Chris Isaacson President & CEO
“ We are constantly monitoring legislative and regulatory actions at the state and local level.”
While 2024 was a challenging year for our industry, 2025 was even more so. Announcements of temporary curtailments of production to permanent shutdowns rippled across the state and region having a significant impact on the entire wood supply chain.
Although there is little that we can do in the short term to influence market conditions, there are things that we can do to promote the use of forest products and improve markets over the long term…in fact, we are already actively engaged in this effort.
For more than 50 years, we have partnered with the Auburn University (AU) College of Architecture, Design and Construction to provide students with instruction and firsthand learning experience in sustainable forestry and forest products manufacturing to encourage them to design and build with wood.
In 2017 we received a USFS Wood Innovation Grant to form the Alabama Wood Innovation team to educate building professionals about mass timber and evaluate barriers to mass timber construction. And for the last 5 years, we have worked with the Alabama Legislature to secure research funding for AU to study mass timber construction and forest-based biomaterials.
We are constantly monitoring legislative and regulatory actions at the state and local level that might affect the use of forest products in construction, intervening where needed. And we continue to work closely with the Alabama Department of Commerce to provide information required by companies considering building or expanding forest
products manufacturing in the state.
In the following pages you will see a snapshot of the programs, activities, and accomplishments of AFA and our affiliated organizations. Some are focused on addressing immediate needs and challenges of our members while others are focused on ensuring that we maintain a favorable operating environment for landowners, loggers, and forest products manufacturers over the long term.
Our advocacy efforts resulted in several big wins: legislation that minimizes the delays from roadside weight enforcement and streamlined the appeals process, saving loggers time and lost production; funding for replacement of rural weightposted bridges, eliminating costly detours and reducing transportation cost; funding for CLT and mass timber research.
During 2025, we continued to promote mass timber construction to increase lumber demand and forestry careers to ensure a reliable long-term supply of workers for forestry and forest products companies.
As we move into 2026, we want to express our sincere gratitude for your generous support and pledge that we will continue to work tirelessly to address those challenges facing Alabama’s forestry community.
Organizational Overview
Alabama Forestry Association serves as the administrative partner for related organizations, each having different goals, but unified by a shared vision of growing Alabama’s forests and forest industry.
Alabama Forestry Association (AFA)
Monitoring and influencing local, state, and federal government policy and actions impacting Alabama’s forest community since 1949.
ForestPAC
Developing financial resources necessary to recruit, support, and elect conservative, pro-business leaders at local and state levels since 1995.
FedPAC
Developing financial resources to support and elect Alabama candidates to federal office since 2008.
Alabama SFI-SIC
Promoting sustainable forestry in Alabama and serving as the State Implementation Committee for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative since 2002.
Alabama Forestry Foundation (AFF)
Providing forestry education, protecting property rights, promoting forest resource conservation, and growing forest products markets since 1978.
Alabama Tree Farm Committee
Managing the nation’s first, and second-largest, Tree Farm program, working with family forest owners to provide education, and supporting wise stewardship of Alabama’s forest resources since 1941.
AFF Education Committee
Promoting environmental education into classrooms to enable students to think critically about complex environmental issues.
PROJECT LEARNING TREE® ALABAMA
Alabama Loggers Council (ALC)
Representing and promoting Alabama’s logging community and addressing wood supply chain challenges since 1992.
ForestryWorks®
Focused on workforce development for the forest industry since 2017 by engaging students, promoting forestry careers, and providing training for workers to enter the forest workforce.
Affiliated Organizations
ForestFund
Providing workers compensation coverage to forestry and forest-related employers through the Alabama Forest Products Industry Workmen’s Compensation SelfInsurers Fund since 1970.
Alabama Forestry Association Health & Welfare Plan Trust
Providing access to affordable health, dental, and vision insurance to forest industry employers since 2019.
Southern Resources Alliance (SRA)
Multi-state, cross-industry organization promoting and facilitating environmental regulatory reform since 2015.
Alabama Forests
Forever Foundation
Providing financial support to increase awareness of forestry benefits through education and outreach programs since 1999.
Alabama Forestry Council
Providing a forum for networking and information sharing for leaders in Alabama’s forest community since 1941.
Government Affairs
Responsible
Staff: Tom Saunders, AFA General Counsel / Director of Governmental Affairs
FOCUS
Protect and improve the business, regulatory and legal environment for landowners and forest business owners to ensure profitable and sustainable operations.
OUR STRATEGY
The Alabama Forestry Association, along with the Alabama Forestry Foundation, works with state and national partners on issues that impact forestland ownership and management by conducting the following activities:
• Conduct research and develop forest policy that promotes healthy forests and robust markets.
• Providing forest policy education for legal professionals and elected leaders.
• Monitor judicial and regulatory activity to identify opportunities that strengthen private property rights.
• Take legal action when needed to defend private property rights.
2025 Legislator of the Year SENATOR JACK WILLIAMS
“The Legislator of the Year award is without a doubt one of the most meaningful honors I’ve ever received. As a timber owner, I know how important the timber industry is to our state, the jobs it creates, and the families it supports. In the Senate, I’ve worked to stand up for our foresters and producers who were hit hard by unnecessary regulations that drove up costs. I’ll keep fighting to cut the ridiculous red tape and get government out of the way so Alabama’s timber industry can keep growing strong.” -Senator Jack Williams
Sen. Jack Williams accepting the Legislator of the Year Award from Sen. Steve Livingston at the AFA Annual Meeting
Political Affairs
Responsible Staff: Tom Saunders, AFA General Counsel / Director of Governmental Affairs
FOCUS
Elect and support conservative, pro-business leaders who understand the environmental and economic impact of forestry and the forest products industry on the lives and well-being of Alabama’s citizens.
RESULTS
Chairman’s
2025 Responsible Staff: Tom Saunders, AFA General Counsel / Director of Governmental Affairs with Anna Morgan Skipper, Former Director of External Affairs
FOCUS
To provide opportunities to build relationships between AFA members and Public Officials in order to promote knowledge of the forest industry.
250
15 Sponsors
11
1,320
32
Responsible Staff:
Stephanie Fuller Johnson, FWTI – Director of Promotions & Economic Development with Anna Morgan Skipper, Former Director of External Affairs
EVENT SUMMARY
Alabama Woods to Goods Week was a week-long promotional event to celebrate forestry’s professionals, products and industry. Celebrations included mill tours, log site visits, school readings, book donations and other educational events to highlight the industry’s environmental, community and economic impact.
18 19 402 471 VOLUNTEERS STUDENTS REACHED TOTAL EVENT REACH
PLANNED EVENTS
“Getting the younger generation in the field is a crucial part in the future of our industry because they are the future. The kids absolutely love coming out to my job during Woods to Goods Week. Their attitudes completely change from the time of arrival to the time they leave. When I see students out in public that have been to a Forestry Field Day in the past, they always ask, “when can I come back”. If we have changed one student's attitude about the industry that makes it all worth it.”
-Grant Tidwell, Owner of Generations Timber
Industry/Market Promotion
FOCUS COUNTY OUTREACH
Increase awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of forestry; improve markets for renewable, sustainable forest products.
Creation and distribution of county level impact sheets for each county
Engaging local public officials/community leaders in public meetings
FIND FORESTRY'S IMPACT ON YOUR COUNTY SCAN
Networking Opportunities
“Attending the AFA Annual Meeting every year is more than business. It's about connecting with other like-minded people who depend on Alabama's forests. It's about getting to know new people and making stronger connections with the ones you already know. Later, when you see someone at the store, you spend 30 minutes catching up! Relationships are the reason we attend the AFA Annual Meeting.”
–Angela Holland, Weyerhaeuser
Responsible Staff:
Liz Chambers, AFA – Senior Director of Administration
FOCUS
Build and maintain vibrant networks throughout the forestry community to support members and member operations. Provide timely information and updates on issues impacting forestry operations.
September 7-9
2025 ANNUAL MEETING
For multiple generations, AFA members look forward to attending the AFA Annual Meeting as it provides the perfect venue to reconnect with colleagues while meeting new friends and building relationships to enhance their future endeavors.
Our time together offers many opportunities to network through conference sessions, Beach Bash party and activities, Sunburn Classic golf tournament, outdoor ecological adventure, various receptions and much more.
Information Opportunities
Responsible Staff: Liz Chambers, AFA
Senior Director of Administration
Jacquie Wilson, AFA - Director of Member Services & Advertising, Alabama Forests Editor
FOCUS
Provide timely, reliable and relevant information to AFA members and forestry stakeholders on issues impacting the forest industry.
16,950
15,292
ALABAMA
Alabama Forests Magazine is a full-color quarterly publication with broad coverage of our industry members and activities.
Your ad is mailed directly to Alabama's forestry professionals who rely on our publications for in-depth examination of industry pioneers and trends, engineering, technology, litigation, and legislation on state and federal levels.
AFA’s Annual Membership Directory is a full-color annual publication that lists each member and company by type and indexed in the back. Each advertiser is indexed as well.
Your ad will directly reach your target audience as Alabama's forestry professionals and landowners reference this guide all year long.
AFA Newsroom is AFA’s online newsletter for members and affiliated organizations. Published weekly, AFA Newsroom provides timely information on market and industry trends, meetings and events, and educational opportunities.
Your logo on this web page is a direct link to your website so members can access your products and services immediately.
The Alabama Forestry Association is one of the largest state forestry associations in the country with more than 1,800 member companies and organizations representing more than 30,000 employees and 4,000 individual landowners.
Membership includes forest products manufacturers, institutional landowners, loggers, wood dealers, forestry consultants, and other companies involved in forestry. AFA is dedicated to protecting and improving the business, regulatory and legal environment for landowners and forest business owners to ensure the sustainable growth of Alabama’s forests and forest industry.
$36
Insurance Programs
“Through the years, we have dealt with several insurance companies. Not one of them has ever refunded any of our premium payments. Having the opportunity to get money back is one of the many reasons we stay with ForestFund.”
– Winson Bryant - President Foothills Timber Company
Responsible Staff: Joseph Ammons, Forest Fund Administrator
Liz Chambers, AFA - Senior Director of Administration
FOCUS
Identify and develop risk management solutions associated with landownership, forest management activities, and forest operations for AFA members.
AFA Hunting Club Liability -
Provide competitively-priced commercial general liability coverage to landowners and hunting clubs.
• Offer lowest rates available for clubs with 2,500 acres or less
• Membership optional
• 367 Policies
AFA Prescribed Burn Liability -
Provide commercial general liability coverage to private landowners who conduct prescribed burns on their personal property.
• $1,000,000 Liability coverage with premiums starting at $250
ForestFund -
Provide workers’ compensation coverage for employees of forestry and forest-related business operations.
• AFA membership required
• 371 Members
• $7.5 Million return of premium to members
• 341 Members (92% of participants) receiving dividends
AFA Timberland Owner Liability -
Provide commercial general liability coverage to landowners for risks associated with owning and managing land.
• Competitive pricing
• 87 Policies
AFA Health and Welfare Plan -
Provide access to affordable health, dental and vision insurance for employees of forestry and forest-related business operations.
• 106 Companies participating
• 1,108 Total lives covered
• 10% Average savings vs. similar plans
• 50% Average return
• $151 Million in dividends returned since 1990
Checks totaling $7.5 million were mailed recently to ForestFund participants, the Workers’ Compensation Fund for Alabama Forestry Association members.
alaforestry.org/insurance
JOSEPH AMMONS President / Fund Administrator
KELLY DANIEL Vice President - Underwriting
MIKE MOORE Vice President - Finance
ALABAMA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION TEAM
CHRIS
ISAACSON President
PETERS Director of Community Affairs / PLM & SFI
LIZ CHAMBERS Senior Director of Administration
PICKERING Accounting Assistant
HERB STEVENSON Executive Director; Alabama Loggers Council
ADAM EASLEY Controller
SAUNDERS General Counsel
JACQUIE WILSON Director of Member Services & Advertising, Alabama Forests Editor
TOM
ASHLEY
LEIGH
Responsible Staff:
Chris Erwin, AFF – Executive Vice President
Whit Carroll, AFF – Director of Education/ Conservation Biologist
Jaquie Parker, AFF – Education Coordinator
Ashley Smith, AFF – Director of Engagement
FOCUS
Educate students, teachers, and professionals on forests, forest management, and forest products.
Project Learning Tree (PLT)
300 TEACHERS TRAINED
114,600 STUDENTS IMPACTED
Alabama Project Learning Tree 2025 Educator of the Year Amanda Spurling
STUDENTS IMPACTED
7,392
# OF SCHOOLS COMMITTED TO AFF'S SCHOOLYARD FOREST PROGRAM
15
Teachers Conservation Workshop (TCW)
47 TEACHERS TRAINED
17,954 STUDENTS IMPACTED
Auburn University Architect Tour
83
STUDENTS, FACULTY, & STAFF ENGAGED IN CLASSROOM AND FIELD TOURS
Samford University Architect Tour
35
STUDENTS, FACULTY, & STAFF ENGAGED IN CLASSROOM AND FIELD TOURS
PROJECT LEARNING TREE ALABAMA
“The Learn & Burn event was a great success and so well done. All the staff are so professional and well-trained. The experience you all have and the knowledge shared is priceless and so greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and attention to our woodlands.”
–Jock Hernig
Conservation
ALABAMA FORESTRY FOUNDATION TEAM
BENCE CARTER Conservation Biologist
CHRIS ERWIN Executive Vice President
WHIT CARROLL Director of Education/ Conservation Biologist
CHRIS ISAACSON President
FOCUS
Promote and conserve the rich diversity of natural resources from Alabama’s healthy and abundant forests.
CONSERVATION IMPACT
OUTREACH
75 Educational Events
1,998 Landowners Educated
3,134 Total Event Participants
161 Technical Assistance Visits
ACREAGE EFFECTED
4,258 Acres Planted
5,288 Acres Burned
509 Acres Under Improved Management
184 Acres of Invasives Treated
TYLER SIBLEY Conservation Biologist
HUNTER MONCRIEF Conservation Forester
JAQUIE PARKER Education Coordinator
ASHLEY SMITH Director of Engagement
BRAD NAIL Conservation Forester
Forest Stewardship and Certification
Leigh Peters, AFA – Director of Community Affairs / SFI-SIC State Coordinator
FOCUS Responsible Staff: Chris Erwin, AFF – Executive Vice President
Promote wise stewardship of Alabama’s natural resources and provide education opportunities to forest landowners to help them protect and improve their forests.
Program Participation Volunteerism
3,829 Tree Farms
4,169 Tree Farmers
1,947,744 Total Acreage
136 New Tree Farms with 40,092 New Acres
188 Reinspections with 72,292 Acres
* 22% of Alabama Forest are 3rd Party Certified
Doug Link Leadership Award
Tree Farm is a volunteer program that relies on foresters and landowners to support sustainably managed forests in the state.
2,424
69
Volunteer Hours Contributed in 2025 Volunteer Foresters
SFI Certification
42 SFI companies participating in the SFI Alabama State Implementation Committee
3,030,086 acres SFI certified
98% BMP compliance on harvested tracts as reported by Alabama Forestry Commission
Jeremy Lowery 2025 Tree Farm Awards
Lamar Dewberry
Responsible Staff: Herb Stevenson, ALC – Executive Director
FOCUS
Support
Loggers Council Events
Supply Chain
1,268
www.alaforestry.org/ professional-logging-
“Herbert Stevenson delivered an outstanding and insightful presentation at the Smurfit WestRock PLM class held in July of 2025. The Alabama Loggers Council continues to be a strong advocate for logging, working tirelessly to support loggers and timber companies across the state through education, training, and effective representation. Herbert’s leadership helps ensure that Alabama’s logging community remains safe, sustainable, and economically strong. The Council plays a vital role in promoting responsible logging while giving the forest industry a unified and respected voice.”
-Ben Simms Chattahoochee Timber.
Workforce Development
ALABAMA FORESTRYWORKS ® TEAM
CHRIS ISAACSON President
DAVID BENEFIELD Workforce Development Coordinator
KARA FOREMAN Workforce Development Coordinator
STEPHANIE JOHNSON Director of Promotions and Economic Development
Originally founded by the Alabama Forestry Association in 2018, the Forest Workforce Training Institute, a 501(C)(3) non-profit manages the nationally recognized ForestryWorks® workforce development initiative that is now being utilized by forestry partners in 11 states and growing. The Alabama Forestry Association is proud to manage the Alabama ForestryWorks® program.
The Mission of ForestryWorks is to create a pipeline of qualified workers to help sustain and grow the forest and forest products manufacturing industry for generations to come through long- and short-term approaches of education, career promotion, and training.
Career Education Curriculums Career Promotion
2,764
TRUCK DRIVER RECRUITMENT - An elite recruitment program connecting employers with qualified candidates for commercial truck driving positions at no cost.
512 Truck Driver Applications Submitted
127
Employers Received Applications
JOB BOARD - An exclusive job board for forest industry employers to showcase premier job opportunities at no cost.
1,967
Users Clicked “Apply” on the Alabama ForestryWorks Job Board
Training
Career Education Events
117,360
User Sessions on Home Page and State Page
792 Individuals Trained Through Continuing Education and Safety Courses
Tiny Timber Crew®
In 2025, FWTI released 4 animated videos featuring Tiny Timber Crew® characters to provide classroom resources for educators to integrate forestry components into the core curriculum. Learn more at tinytimbercrew.com
2,195 students attended Tiny Timber Crew® reading events.
OFFICERS
AFA CHAIRMAN
Phillip Smith Rayonier
AFA VICE CHAIRMAN
Joey King Jasper Lumber Company
AFA PRESIDENT/ SECRETARY
Chris Isaacson Alabama Forestry Association
AFA TREASURER
Gray Skipper Scotch Plywood Co.
AFA IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN
Jon-Micheal Clark Smurfit Westrock
FORESTPAC CHAIRMAN
Douglas Ziebach Ziebach & Webb
AFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVES
BLACK BELT DISTRICT
Matt Sams Buchanan Timber & Forestry
CAPITAL DISTRICT
Skylar Clark Heritage Timber Company
DELTA DISTRICT
Robert Cooper Cooper Timberlands
LONGLEAF DISTRICT
John Ayres Ayres Forestry
MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Clint Black KyKenKee
PIEDMONT DISTRICT
Colton George Resolute Forest Products
VALLEY DISTRICT
Eli Epps
Packaging Corporation America
VULCAN DISTRICT
David Wilkinson Manulife Forest Management
WARRIOR DISTRICT
Brett McCool Weyerhaeuser
WIREGRASS DISTRICT
Jay Kyzar Abbeville Fiber
ALC REPRESENTATIVE
Freddy Tidwell F&C Logging LLC
FOREST FUND REPRESENTATIVE
Kevin Kennedy
Kennedy Forest Products
AT-LARGE DIRECTORS
Ben Carothers International Paper
David Passauer Georgia Pacific
Ray Colvin Westervelt
Bobby Dobson Taproot Investments
Matt Ezekiel Resource Management Service
Claire Getty Thompson Appalachian Hardwood
Daniel Hall Evergreen Forest Products
Mel Koller Alabama Farm Credit
Steven Meadows Louisiana Pacific
DISTRICT MAP
Ricky Stanley T.R. Miller Mill Co.
CHAIRMAN
Paul Jeffreys ArborGen
VICE-CHAIRMAN
Rick Frederick Enviva
PRESIDENT / SECRETARY
Chris Isaacson Alabama Forestry Association
OFFICERS
FORESTPAC CHAIRMAN
Douglas Ziebach
Ziebach & Webb
FORESTPAC VICE CHAIRMAN
AFA President
Chris Isaacson
Alabama Forestry Association
SECRETARY/TREASURER (NON-VOTING MEMBER)
Tom Saunders
Alabama Forestry Association
AFA CHAIRMAN
Phillip Smith Rayonier
AFA VICE CHAIRMAN
Joey King
Jasper Lumber Company
AFF BOARD OF TRUSTEES FORESTPAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TREASURER
Keith Plott
AFA IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN
Jon-Micheal Clark Smurfit Westrock
Alexandra Sullivan-Bush DRAX
AFA IMMEDIATE PAST
CHAIRMAN
Jon-Micheal Clark Smurfit Westrock
AFA TREASURER
Gray Skipper Scotch Plywood Co.
AFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Ray Colvin Westervelt
AFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
John Ayres Ayres Forestry
AFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Ricky Stanley T.R. Miller Co., Inc.
ALC REPRESENTATIVE
Freddy Tidwell F&C Logging, LLC
CHAIRMAN
Freddy Tidwell F&C Logging
CAPITAL DISTRICT
Charles King
King Logging, LLC
LONGLEAF DISTRICT
Neal Snider R & N Logging, LLC
MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Jeremy Goss
Cherokee Timber Services, LLC
April Conrad The Coca-Cola Company
Grant Lovinggood Westervelt
Emily Lyons B.R. Moseley Land Company
Tedrick Ratcliff Claw Forestry
DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVES
BLACK BELT DISTRICT
Mark Nolen Nolen Land & Timber Inc.
CAPITAL DISTRICT Brian Roth Ally Energy Solutions
DELTA DISTRICT
Michael R. Delaney Delaney Development, Inc.
LONGLEAF DISTRICT
Hooper Mathews III Matthews Forest Service
MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
James W. Bennett Bennett Lumber Co.
PIEDMONT DISTRICT Dell Hill Selwood Farms
VALLEY DISTRICT
Deano C. Orr Weyerhaeuser
PIEDMONT DISTRICT
Tyler Slay Slay Forest Enterprises LLC.
VALLEY DISTRICT Bo Collins
Bobby Collins Logging Company
VULCAN DISTRICT
Kelly Crawford K&K Logging
WIREGRASS DISTRICT
Broughton Jones
Three Notch Logging
VULCAN DISTRICT
Matthew Gordon, Jr. Gordon Timberlands
WARRIOR DISTRICT
Dustin McGee McGee Lumber Co., Inc.
WIREGRASS DISTRICT
Robert M. Dixon, Jr. RM Dixon Family Partnership
AT-LARGE DIRECTORS
DeWayne Oakley Oakley Forest Products, Inc.
William W. McDonald, Jr. McDonald Group Investments
Keefe Burt KYKENKEE
J. Thomas Bradley, III Bradley Forest Products
Kevin Kennedy Kennedy Forest Products
Guice Slawson, Jr. Southeast Wood
WARRIOR DISTRICT
Josh Lewis Lewis Timber, Inc.
BLACK BELT DISTRICT
Open seat
DELTA DISTRICT Open seat
