About Us

Growing up in the Piedmont of Virginia, I’ve always had a passion for the outdoors. Whether it was camping at Sherando Lake, hiking various trails in Shenandoah National Park with Boy Scout Troop 37 out of Crozet, or simply exploring the woods behind our house in Charlottesville, I was always outside and that was where I was happy. 

Towards the end of high school, I began seriously considering the direction of my higher education and eventual career. Through a friend, I learned about forestry and that one of the best forestry colleges in the nation was right down the road in Blacksburg (go Hokies!). It checked all the boxes: I could work outside and wander around in the woods. 

My senior year at Virginia Tech, I accepted a summer internship with a small consulting forestry firm in eastern Virginia. This internship turned into a permanent position and the first nine years of my forestry career. While in eastern Virginia, I learned a tremendous amount about implementing practical forest management on the ground for private landowners. Also, developing the personal, networking and negotiating skills to be a successful consulting forester. I found success in eastern Virginia, rising to senior forester and eventually partner as the firm doubled in size over the nine years I worked there.  

While my time in eastern Virginia was formative, fun and productive, I have always had a sense of adventure that eventually led to being recruited and applying for a forestry position with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in southern Oregon, about as different a world as one can find in the forestry profession without leaving the continental US. While transitioning from private consulting to working for the federal government has its challenges and drawbacks, overall working for the BLM was great. I was a rookie again and every day was a new learning experience. 

The plan was to stay in Oregon and work for the BLM indefinitely. This all changed with the birth of our first child in February of 2024. A whole new world of things to learn and challenges to overcome. It didn’t take long for us to realize that growing our family 3000 miles away from the rest of our family was far from ideal and our priorities shifted. 

So that brings us to where we are today, another move and another adventure building our own consulting forestry business in western Virginia. My goal with Wilson Forest Management is to use the skills I have acquired over twelve years working as a forester in both private and public employ to provide high quality, landowner focused consulting forestry services to private landowners across western and central Virginia. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss your property and work together to better achieve the goals and objectives you have for your forestland.