Welcoming a growing Guild staff for more positive impact!

Compiled from several Guild staffers…

The Guild continues to find aligned partners and funding to launch meaningful initiatives across the landscape. Recent hires, and more on the way in in the Eastern U.S. and Southwest region, are a testament to the relevancy of our shared vision. The Guild organization and our members fulfill a trusted role for landscape-scale movement toward ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestry as the standard. We are thrilled to regularly bring new energy and perspectives onto our staff roster, providing administrative support, program development, and key collaboration skills to empower practical skills-building and partnerships across boundaries!

his month, we welcome two of our newest staffers. Christian Nelson is our Lake States Region Coordinator and Judi Beal is our Business Coordinator in the Southwest headquarters office.

Christian has been professional forester in the Lake States for over 25 years working with state agencies and Native American tribes. He has a passion for science-based, ecologically focused, and pragmatic forestry practices. With a belief that people have a place in the environment and therefore have a responsibility to be good stewards Christian is proud to be part of an organization that promotes good, sustainable, science-based land management, research to fill knowledge gaps, and targeted outreach to help promote good stewardship. He has a B.S. in Wildlife Management from Saint Cloud State University, completed the coursework for an M.S. in forest management at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, gone through the National Advanced Silviculture Program, and holds certificates in GIS and computer programming. Outside of work, Christian is a disc golfer, mountain biker, canoe camper, hunter, amateur musician, and routinely slays (pretend) monsters in a game group.

From Lake States Director, Mike Lynch: We are very excited to have Christian join the Guild staff. Christian brings a wealth of experience and perspective to our region. His primary, initial focus will be on the Forestry for Minnesota Birds program, blending silviculture with songbird habitat enhancement. Christian seems like the perfect person to do that. He will also support other regional and national projects and help enhance the Guild member experience through regional events. Please join us in welcoming Christian to the Guild.

Judi brings a diverse background of skills and experience in the environmental and healthcare worlds to her role as Business Coordinator for the Guild. While pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies at UNC-Asheville she worked in the Grassroots Field Office of The National Parks and Conservation Association holding positions from administration to advocacy and outreach. After a summer volunteering with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in southeast Utah, she was hired as a Backcountry Ranger and then transitioned into the office to implement the first Fee Demo Program for the BLM. After several years with the BLM she moved back to Asheville, North Carolina to be closer to family and to work as manager of Group Education Programs with the North Carolina Outward Bound School. Her love of learning led her to pursue a degree in the healthcare industry where her career has been focused (for the past 10 years). Joining the Guild has brought her back to her environmental roots. Judi lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her husband and enjoys anything in the outdoors, listening to music, and most recently playing KLASK.

From Business Manager, Fallon Grafe: We are excited and privileged to work with Judi. Her background in the healthcare and environmental sectors gives her a unique perspective, making her an excellent advocate for Guild employees. Her enthusiasm for learning the ins and outs of Guild operations is motivating and she will help us grow in the best way. Welcome Judi!