Guest Speaker – Tom Partin, Executive Director, American Forest Resource Council

Friday February 8th 9:00 am Guest Speaker Tom Partin, Executive Director of the American Forest Resource Council.
The theme for the discussion will be “The Challenges for Rural Communities.”

Tom Partin has 40 years of experience in various Forestry and Forest Industry positions. As President, Mr. Partin is responsible for the preparation of a strategic and operating plan that reflects the needs and preferences of the membership. He is also in charge of reviewing AFRC’s staffing and work assignments of the fifteen employees of the organization. As President, Mr. Partin must also have a thorough knowledge and understanding of his members needs, and to ensure full sharing of important and needed information. Mr. Partin is also responsible for overseeing the AFRC budget.

Mr. Partin worked for 25 years in the timber industry in positions that included forester, logging manager, resident plant manager, regional manager overseeing multiple facilities, and vice-president. He has also had experience in setting up an operation in Europe and helping to source raw materials for that business.

In Mr. Partin’s role as industry vice-president, he also been very involved in various positions in the communities he lived in. He has served as county planning commission chairman, parks and recreation district chairman, and one term as mayor.

As President of AFRC, Mr. Partin has also chaired the Forest Industry Association Council and the National Council of Forestry Association Executives.