Board of Forestry announces new Oregon State Forester

Pictured:  Tom Imeson (Oregon Board of Forestry Chair), Peter Daugherty (new Oregon State Forester), Doug Decker (retiring Oregon State Forester)

Contact:
Ken Armstrong, Salem, ken.w.armstrong@oregon.gov, 503-945-7420

SALEM – The Oregon Board of Forestry today unanimously selected Peter Daugherty as the next State Forester, concluding a process that began in early May when current State Forester Doug Decker announced plans to retire in October at the end of the current fire season. The Board announced the selection following an executive session to discuss the final two candidates, which also included ODF Forest Grove District Forester Mike Cafferata.

“The Board is excited to announce Peter Daugherty as the Oregon’s new State Forester,” said Board Chair Tom Imeson. “Peter brings a wealth of experience, energy and credibility to this critical position.”

Daugherty currently serves as ODF’s Chief of the Private Forests Division. He takes over as the 13^th State Forester since the agency’s creation in 1911.

“I’m looking forward to the privilege of working with the outstanding personnel of this agency, as well as with the dedicated stakeholders and all Oregonians who care about our forest resources,” said Daugherty. “There are many opportunities, as well as challenges facing us as we hold ourselves to a high standard of forest stewardship, and I am committed to our continuous improvement.”

The selection process included interviews with the Board, a public stakeholders group and an internal employee group, as well as meetings with the Governor. The Board sought public input on the recruitment plan and desired attributes in late June.

The Board of Forestry consists of seven citizens nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. Responsibilities include appointing the State Forester, setting management direction for state-owned forests, adopting rules governing timber harvest and other practices on private forestland, and promoting sustainable management of Oregon’s 30 million-acre forestland base. More information on the Board is available at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/AboutBOF.aspx

Familiar Faces in New Roles for ODF in Central Oregon

Rob Pentzer, Assistant District Forester
Central Oregon District

[John Day, Ore.]  Rob Pentzer has been selected as the Assistant District Forester for ODF’s Central Oregon District (COD).  Pentzer has been part of COD since 2012, serving as the John Day Unit Forester during some very challenging fire seasons.  Rob is a graduate of the University of Idaho, with a B.S. in Forest Ecosystem Management.  He has extensive knowledge of forestry and wildland fire from his time with ODF, and his prior experience with Idaho Department of Lands.

Rob will continue to work from the John Day office as the Assistant District Forester.  His desire to remain part of the community allows for an opportunity for COD to add capacity at a higher level in this part of the District.  Rob has been a valuable leader as the John Day Unit Forester; his leadership skills and the relationships Rob has built with landowners and cooperators will serve him well in his new role.  Rob started in his new position in May. 



John Day Unit Forester Ryan Miller

Ryan Miller was selected to fill the John Day Unit Forester position vacated by Pentzer.  Ryan has been the Stewardship Forester in John Day for the last two years, working with private landowners to administer the Forest Practices Act and landowner assistance programs.  He started with ODF as a seasonal firefighter in Dallas in 1998, accepting a permanent position in ODF’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Unit in 2000 after completing his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Geography from Western Oregon University.  Ryan has worked in the State Forests and Private Forests Divisions, in addition to his GIS positions and his recent work as the John Day Stewardship Forester.  His diverse background in the agency and strong communication skills provide a strong base for Ryan as the John Day Unit Forester.

Ryan, his wife Elisha and their son Henry have made John Day their home.

For more information on ODF’s Central Oregon District visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

Tree seedling auction benefits Grant County Food Bank



Mason Springs Fire (part of Canyon Creek Complex),

photographed the evening of August 13, 2015

Oregon Department of Forestry’s John Day Unit is raising money for the Grant County Food Bank by auctioning off two tree planting packages. Each auction package includes 500 mixed conifer seedlings (ponderosa pine and western larch) donated by the Malheur National Forest and planting by ODF’s John Day Unit staff. The auction is also intended to help local residents affected by fire. The one requirement for bidding is that the trees be planted on lands burned by the Canyon Creek Complex.


It is a sealed bid auction, with bids due at the John Day ODF Office by 4:30 p.m. Monday, February 29, 2016. Minimum bid for each package is $100. The two highest bidders will be contacted to coordinate the delivery and planting schedule for the seedlings. Those interested should come to the ODF office located at 415 Patterson Bridge Road in John Day to submit a bid.

One in five households in Oregon lives in hunger. Of those households, 42 percent contain someone who is disabled and unable to work, retired, or staying home to care for a child or disabled person. Overall, an average 270,000 people each month eat meals provided by Oregon Food Bank pantries - 92,000 of those are children. Every $10 donated provides 30 healthy meals.

All proceeds from the auction will go to the Grant County Food Bank, and may be tax deductible. ODF’s John Day Unit is sponsoring the auction as part of the Governor’s Food Drive. The theme this year is “Together we can solve hunger!”  Working together has helped those affected by the Canyon Creek Complex in the recovery process and in healing the community.

For more information on bidding for the seedling packages contact Rob Pentzer, John Day Unit Forester, at 541-575-1139.

Oregon Department of Forestry selects Mike Shaw as new Central Oregon District Forester

Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has selected Mike Shaw as the new District Forester for the Central Oregon District (COD).  Shaw replaces George Ponte who recently retired after more than seven years as District Forester and 26 years with the Department.  COD provides wildfire protection and administers the Forest Practices Act on approximately 2.2 million acres of private and non-federal public land throughout eleven counties in Oregon.  As District Forester, Shaw will manage 35 permanent employees and 90 seasonal firefighters in offices in Prineville, Sisters, The Dalles, John Day, and Fossil.

Shaw has been with ODF for sixteen years, starting as a Forest Practices Forester in the Toledo Unit of the West Oregon District.  He served in a similar position in Wallowa, prior to promoting to Unit Forester for the Wallowa Unit.  In December of 2014 Shaw left northeast Oregon to work as ODF’s Eastern Oregon Assistant Area Director.  Shaw’s prior experience in both Protection and Private Forests Divisions and in various locations within the agency will provide a good foundation as he assumes his leadership role in the Central Oregon District.  In addition to his experience in these positions Shaw has served on ODF’s Incident Management Team 1 as Situation Unit Leader and as Planning Section Chief.  Shaw is a graduate of Oregon State University, holding a bachelor’s degree in Forest Management.

The interview committee chose Mike Shaw from a pool of qualified candidates based on experience and answers to interview questions.  Candidates were interviewed by a panel of Central Oregon District employees and a diverse panel comprised of local stakeholders, agency cooperators, ODF administrators and Travis Medema, ODF’s Eastern Oregon Area Director.  “I am really looking forward to working with a great group of employees and furthering the mission of ODF in Central Oregon”, states Shaw.  “The past three fire seasons have been particularly challenging and I am excited for the opportunities these challenges may afford as we move into the future.”  Mike has made his home in central Oregon with his wife and children, where they are integrating into the community and exploring the area.  Shaw is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys skiing with his family during the winter.

George Ponte worked in various positions around the state prior to becoming the COD District Forester, he started his career in the Western Lane District.  Before working for ODF Ponte spent a couple fire seasons working for the Douglas Forest Protective Association (partner agency to ODF) and some time with the US Forest Service.  George held positions as Stewardship Forester, Unit Forester, and Assistant Area Director and in positions on ODF’s Incident Management Teams.  Since 1996 George and his wife Michelle, whom he met while working at Western Lane, have called central Oregon home.  Significant fire activity in central Oregon has kept Ponte busy for the last several years, this upcoming summer he is looking forward to watching thunderstorms from his deck with his wife without the worries of how many fires are starting.  However, he has assured COD employees that we will see him from time to time.