FLORENCE, Wis. – The 18th Annual Sustainable Forestry Conference was held Wednesday, April 19th at the Keyes Peak Ski Lodge, 4960 Hwy 101, Florence, WI. This year’s conference had a variety of interesting topics with a diverse group in attendance including logging businesses, forestry, land management, economic development and other related resources and associations.
Morning speakers covered Markets Update, Logging Survey results, Carbon Credits and Forest Ecosystem Habitat Management. There was also a panel that covered Overcoming Obstacles to Forest Management which included Permitting: stream crossings, temporary bridges, culverts; Threatened & Endangered Species. The afternoon speakers covered Adaptive Management Studies, a number of topics from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) team and MI/WI Legislative Updates from Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association (GLTPA).
Thanks to our sponsors Nicolet Bank, Lumberjack, Sagola Hardwoods, Billerud, Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands, Florence Hardwoods, Florence Utilities, Michigan Registered Forester, Green Bay Innovation Group, Grow North, Minerick Logging, Florence County Forestry & Parks, Langlade County, Oneida County and GLTPA.
Featured Speakers
Marty Ochs
Business Executive and Owner driven to succeed in the paper and printing industries, with a performance record of leadership in business, innovation, technology, team building, and community involvement. Demonstrated ability to analyze critical business issues and requirements, implement sales and marketing strategies, identify new opportunities, and develop innovative technical solutions that enhance competitiveness, increase revenue, and provide a return on investment.
Robert Smail
Bob Smail is a socio-economic research scientist for the Division of Forestry in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. His work often combines social, ecological, geological, and meteorological data to address resource management questions. His past research includes a range of topics such as agricultural water budgets, municipal water demand, and groundwater level variation. His current research topics include urban forest evapotranspiration, historical forest cover change, and measures of natural forest regeneration. He holds a B.A. in history from Carroll University, a M.S. in environmental management from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, and a Ph.D. in environment and resources from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He lives in Watertown with his dog, cat, daughters, spouse, bikes, and fly rods.
Alex Haas
Alex Haas is the Environmental Credits Manager at U.S. Venture, Inc., a Wisconsin-based distributor of transportation products and provider of sustainability solutions. Alex manages U.S. Venture’s renewable energy carbon credit portfolio and is a forest carbon project developer. He has a passion for making markets, and prior to being one of the most active carbon futures traders globally he traded Gulf Coast gasoline and equities. Alex’s educational background includes a finance degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completion of the Chartered Financial Analyst program. Alex resides in Appleton, WI with his wife and two children. In his free time, he is a Packer fan, Iditarod “Mush Madness” commissioner, fantasy football commissioner, and spends time with family at Legend Lake.
Tom Carlson
Tom is the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Biologist for Forest and Florence counties. Tom received his B.S. degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Minnesota Crookston. He has worked in the wildlife field since 2006 and spent time with the Missouri Department of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy, and the Wisconsin DNR since 2008. Throughout his career, he has managed a wide range of habitats including forests, barrens, prairies, and wetlands. He specializes in managing young forest habitat on public and private lands and working with those managers and landowners to implement practices to reach their goals and improve habitat for a variety of species.
Nolan Kriegel
I grew up in Burnett County, located in rural northern Wisconsin and attended Macalester Col- lege in St. Paul, Minnesota. Despite enjoying my time playing college football, taking classes and my brief city experience, I decided my BA in Biology would best serve me back in northern Wisconsin. I joined the DNR in 2014 as a part-time Forester assisting the Forest Hydrologist. In March 2022, I became a permanent employee of the DNR as the only Forest Hydrologist within the Division of Forestry. I enjoy the statewide responsibility of the position and working in many different landscapes, with a variety of people on the intersection of water and forestry concerns. I have an array of pastimes, most of them revolve around the outdoors. I find bow hunting and hiking with my wife Sarah particularly enjoyable. Our vacations often revolve around planning hiking trips in National Parks – specifically Glacier National Park and tend to morph into adventures of mountaineering, rock climbing, and backpacking.
Carly Lapin
Carly Lapin is the North-central Wisconsin District Ecologist for Wis- consin DNR’s Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation based in Rhine- lander. She and her Crew manage a number of State Natural Areas across north-central Wisconsin and conduct research and conservation projects for rare species. In addition, Carly consults with WDNR staff on the management of other state properties and is provides guidance on avoiding impacts to rare and listed species across north-central Wiscon- sin.
Kayla Knoll
Kayla is an Environmental Quality Analyst with the State of Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). She provides technical and permitting assistance to the public for projects impacting wetlands, streams, inland lakes, and the Great Lakes. Kayla covers permitting and compliance for Dickinson, Iron, Gogebic, and Ontonagon Counties. Before coming to EGLE, Kayla worked with private forest landowners to help them manage their forests in a way that benefits birds and other wildlife. Kayla holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Biology from Northern Michigan University. When she’s not slinging permits, Kayla can be found outside mountain biking, cross- country skiing, or looking at birds.
Keith Kintigh
Keith Kintigh is a Conservation and Certification Specialist for Michigan DNR’s Forest Resources Division. His responsibilities include coordinating the State’s Sustainable Forest Certification Program and rare species and special area management on Michigan’s 4-million-acre state forest system. Keith is currently acting as supervisor of Michigan DNR Wildlife Division, Planning and Adaptation Section, overseeing the Division’s T/E, Invasive Species, Data Management, and Climate Adaptation Programs. Keith is a Wildlife Biologist by training, a graduate of Michigan State and New Mexico State Universities, and has spent most of his 23- year career working in Michigan state forests. He lives near Traverse City, in NW Lower Michigan.
Dr. Christel Kern
Christel Kern is a Research Forester at the U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station in Rhinelander. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Her work includes leading and developing research- management partnerships to address critical knowledge gaps in sustainable forest management. Outside of work, Christel enjoys family time and coaching the Lakeland Nordic Middle School Team.
Anne Collins
I grew up in the UP and I am a graduate of Michigan Technological University with a BS in Forestry and an MS in Forest Ecology and Management. I worked 7 years in research at MTU working with Forest Health issues. After working at MTU I became a Forestry Assistance Program Forester for 6 years, working in the Thumb of MI and the Southern UP. I have been working for the NRCS as a District Conservationist for almost 2 years now out of the Baraga Field Office.
Thomas Berndt
Natural Resources Conservation Service District Conservationist covering Dickinson, Iron and Gogebic Counties.
- 27 years of conservation work in Agriculture and Forestry
- 4 years of soil survey mapping
- 2 years western wildland firefighting
- B.S. in Soil Science with emphasis in Forestry
Michael Stinebrink
Michael Stinebrink is the District Conservationist, for USDA—Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in Rhinelander. Michael provides conservation assistance to private landowners in Florence, Forest, Oneida, and Vilas Counties. Michael manages the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which provides technical and financial assistance to forestland owners to address natural resource concerns. Common EQIP projects include erosion control on forest trails, tree and shrub planting for forest health and wildlife habitat, herbaceous plantings for wildlife habitat, pre-commercial and commercial forest stand improvement activities, and invasive species control. Financial assistance is also available, through EQIP, for the development of forest management plans. Michael also manages the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which provides technical and financial assistance to forestland owners to maintain their existing level of conservation and implement additional conservation activities. Michael has been the District Conservationist in Rhinelander for 12 years, and has been with NRCS for 21 years.
Henry Schienebeck
Henry Schienebeck was a self-employed logger/trucker for 32 years before being named Executive Director of Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association (GLTPA) in 2008. Henry’s faith and strong belief in GLTPA’s mission of “Enhancing Multiple-Use Forests for Future Generations”, guide his dedication in representing the forest products industry. He serves on a large variety of forest industry committees and boards including the Wisconsin Council on Forestry, Wisconsin County Forests Association, Trees for Tomorrow, Wisconsin Transportation Task Force, Wisconsin Over-Size Over-Weight Committee, Wisconsin Freight Advisory Committee, Sustainable Resource Institute Board of Directors and is Chair of the American Loggers Council Legislative Committee and Federal Sustainable Forestry Committee to name a few.
