FMIC SPOTLIGHT - Women in Forestry continued from page 26 She says, “the main role of the CFO is to protect assets, develop sound business practices, mitigate risks, and ensure the Company is strong and viable for the future of the Company’s policyholders.” During her time at Forestry Mutual, she has worked hard to create and implement strong policies and procedures to drive the Company forward.
VIRGINIA LOGGERS ASSOCIATION
Although she has worked in several industries, serving the wood products industry has been an eye-opening experience. She has never experienced the inherent risks of this industry. Amy says that “the hazardous nature of the industry has given me a newly found respect for the wood products employees that we insure and the paper products that they produce.” It is important to her to create a strong company that can exist well into the future to continue serving this industry. She states that Forestry Mutual is dedicated to its policyholders’ safety in many ways but mostly through the unique aspect of its loss control program. Amy says, “We here are in it for the policyholders, we truly care about the losses that are out there. We are one of the few companies that have our own loss control team that goes out in the field every day, working to make people safer out there. It’s not just a slogan on paper, we care and are out there making people safer.” In all of our interviews, we discovered a subtle but no-nonsense approach to the business of forestry. Gwen, Candace, and Amy make sure that their families, family businesses, and FMIC financial operations operate efficiently and effectively, and we thank them.
VLA - continued from page 10
VLA publishes five newsletters each year and uses social media such as the website (www.valoggers.org), Facebook, Twitter, and email distribution. VLA attends most SHARP Logger training and brings attention to the industry and business challenges and opportunities.
We work with Virginia Tech and great organizations to provide training at no charge. For instance, we schedule special safety workshops around Virginia, bringing attention to safety, best management practices, and current industry issues.
VLA enjoys the benefits of having a General Counsel onboard representing association business. In addition, Setliff Law also provides counsel and legal services to individual VLA members at discounted rates. Setliff Law is a widely respected law firm with attorneys covering many areas of business, especially transportation. We enjoy a family-type annual conference at great places every year (except 2020 due to COVID19). Great speakers and incredible networking opportunities are closely associated with this fun family atmosphere. VLA has an active board with
VLA Board & Members with Representative Abigail Spanberger (CD7), VA Secretary of AG & Forestry Bettina Ring, & VA State Forester Rob Farrell January 25, 2021 (From Right to Left Kirk Richardson, Judd Smith, Carmen Smith, C. K. Greene, Secretary Bettina Ring, Frank Myers, Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, Vance Wright, State Forester Rob Farrell, Thomas Evelyn, Binky Tapscott, Brandon Widener, Buck Morris, Ricky Allen, Donnie Reaves, Joel Matteson, & Ron Jenkins.
members invested in the industry covering all the Commonwealth of Virginia. A handful of logging business owners started VLA on a shoe-string budget and plenty of faith that logging businesses needed their own representation in Virginia’s General Assembly and the national level. They knew that loggers had special legislative and regulatory issues facing them that forest landowners and mills did not regularly deal with.
The VLA board remains strong and represents individual business owners covering the Commonwealth of Virginia. Many current board members helped create the board in 2002 and stay active today. Membership has grown thanks to the relationship with Forestry Mutual Insurance and the active leadership of the VLA Board of Directors.
VLA business is administered by an Executive Director and his wife, who volunteers for many duties such as VLA’s magazine assistant editor, VLA Facebook, and annual meeting activities. FMIC SUMMER 2021
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