MD Forests Association Board of Governors

MFA Board of Governors

Member driven organization - MFA members own the association. They hire MFA staff to steer the organization to specific locations in a legal, ethical, productive, efficient and cost-effective fashion. MFA members are the leaders and MFA staff are technicians working under member direction.
Board sovereign association - The MFA Board of Governors is the final decision and policymaking body in MFA. All other committee and task groups, including the MFA Executive Committee, report to the MFA Board of Governors.

MFA is directed by a Board of Governors and the officers of its Executive Committee. The Board members are elected by the Association's members. Any MFA member in good standing may be nominated to a position on the Board. Our Board members come from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions.

The officers of the Executive Committee [President, First Vice-President, VP for Governmental Affairs, regional vice-presidents, and secretary-treasurer] are elected by the Board of Governors. Any MFA member in good standing, who has previously served at least one year on the Board may be nominated to office.

An Executive Director serves as staff to the all-volunteer Board.

As a statewide organization, MFA operates on a four-region basis:

Central: Baltimore and Baltimore City, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard and Montgomery Counties

Eastern: Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester

Southern: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George's and St. Mary's Counties

Western: Allegany, Garrett, Frederick and Washington Counties

Board Member Profile: 19 members

7 Forest Landowners

3 Industry Foresters

3 Forest Products Industry

1 Extension Forester, U of MD

1 Professor of Forest Technology, Allegany College of MD

1 Private Consultant Forester

1 Economist

1 Executive Director, MARBIDCO

1 retired forester, USFS

Regional representation:

5 members Eastern Region

5 members Central Region

4 members Western Region

5 members Southern Region

Board Member Data:

Name / Representing/ County/ MFA Office

John Foster / Forest Landowner / Queen Anne's / President

vacancy / First VP

Kirk Rodgers / Forest Landowner / Dorchester / VP for Governmental Affairs

Tim Smith / Mill Owner - Forest Products Industry / Harford / Central VP

vacancy / Eastern VP

vacancy / Southern VP

Robert Shives / Forest Landowner / Washington / Western VP

Richard Stanfield /Mill Owner - Forest Products Industry / Baltimore County / Treasurer

Chris Holmes / Retired - Forester - US Forest Service / Anne Arundel / Immediate Past President

Joan Bearden / Forest Landowner and Loan Officer / St. Mary's

Jeff Fisher /Forester - Industry / Wicomico

Phil Gottwalls / Agriculture and Resource Based Industry Economist / Howard

Robert Hess / Forest Landowner / Somerset

Chris Holmgren / Secondary Forest industry / Montgomery

Steve Jarvis / Forester - Program Director FRA / Frederick

Donnelle Keech/ Ecologist - The Nature Conservancy / Allegany

Brian Knox / Private Consultant Forester/ Anne Arundel

Gene McCandless, Jr. / Equipment dealer / Charles

Steve McHenry /MARBIDCO / Anne Arundel

Melvin Noland / Forest Landowner / Baltimore County

Steve Resh / Forester - Professor AC of MD / Allegany

Robert Tjaden /Natural Resource Specialist - UMCES / Queen Anne's

Roster of Past MFA Board Members

MFA Staff Evolution:

1976
MFAis founded and chartered.
President Sam Dyke fills the shoes of both president and director for the fledgling organizaton.

1980
First Executive Director is hired .
Hank DeBruin (1980-1988) a retired forester with administrative experience from American Forests and Tree Farm comes to MFA's aide to provide part-time staffing to the growing organization.

1989
A time of transition
Dave Chessler and then Dee Horner each served as a part-time Executive Director for a few months

1990
Hank DeBruin returns the helm of MFA with his wife Martha serving as his assistant

1991
MFA's first full time Executive Director is hired
Susan K. Reinhard serves from 1991 to 1994

1995
MFA Executive Director position redesigned to be an administrative assistant contractual position.
Karin E. Miller is hired in January of 1995 to serve as MFA's administrative assistant to the all-volunteer leadership of MFA.

1997 to present
As programs grew and duties were added, the position of administrative assistant evolved first to Administrator and then to Executive Director.
On a contractual basis, Karin Miller continues to serve as MFA's membership and leadership as its sole staff person.

STAFF: Karin E. Miller , Executive Director / Garrett

"For a grassroots organization with a shoestring budget, MFA consistently accomplishes amazing things. It is a testimony to the dedication of our volunteers and support of our members." MFA Executive Director Karin E. Miller
You can contact MFA's Board Members and Officers by contacting the MFA office.

1976	MFAis founded and chartered. President Sam Dyke fills the shoes of both president and director for the fledgling organizaton.
1980	First Executive Director is hired . Hank DeBruin (1980-1988) a retired forester with administrative experience from American Forests and Tree Farm comes to MFA's aide to provide part-time staffing to the growing organization.
1989	A time of transition Dave Chessler and then Dee Horner each served as a part-time Executive Director for a few months
1990	Hank DeBruin returns the helm of MFA with his wife Martha serving as his assistant
1991	MFA's first full time Executive Director is hired Susan K. Reinhard serves from 1991 to 1994
1995	MFA Executive Director position redesigned to be an administrative assistant contractual position. Karin E. Miller is hired in January of 1995 to serve as MFA's administrative assistant to the all-volunteer leadership of MFA.
1997 to present	As programs grew and duties were added, the position of administrative assistant evolved first to Administrator and then to Executive Director. On a contractual basis, Karin Miller continues to serve as MFA's membership and leadership as its sole staff person.