NIWA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Wolfram Wollenheit RPF
Woodlot Licence W1641, Echo Lake
(250) 337-5588
wolfram@econ.ca

Wolfram is a partner with his wife, Sibylle Walkemeyer, in TrueWood Forests; managing Woodlot Licence W1641 west of Campbell River. He is also partner with his wife and two professional foresters in Econ Consulting, a forestry consulting firm in Black Creek. Wolfram currently serves as a Director on the Executive of the Federation of BC Woodlot Associations.

Secretary/Treasurer: Shari Griessel
Woodlot Licence W0085, Union Bay
kevcotimber@shaw.ca

Shari owns and manages W/L 0085 in Union Bay with husband, Howie Griessel.  We have managed the woodlot for twenty years and we ran our own small scale logging company for nine years prior to that. Howie was a past president of NIWA for many years. Shari has also volunteered over the years as secretary/treasurer for NIWA and also volunteered at the Forest Resource Centre for a time. Although she no longer tree plants (old back) she still gets out in the field and does regen surveys, coning & cone removal, and some timber cruising with Howie. Shari has taken courses such as the Streamkeepers and Forestry From The Ground Up etc. Her interests also include horses, kayaking, yoga, mountain biking, and hiking.

Past President/Director: Nigel Ross RPF
Woodlot Licence W1898 Quadra Island & W2044 Gold River
(250) 286-4699
nigelross@shaw.ca

Nigel is in partnership with his two brothers on their two woodlots. He handles the forestry management on the woodlots as well as his father's woodlot in Campbell River. His forest consulting business is Westfor Resources Ltd.  Nigel represents NIWA on the District Forest Mgmt. Team and the Campbell River Future of Forestry Task Force committees. He also participates in the NIWA administration of the government silviculture funding currently called LBI.

Director: Jerry Benner RPF
Woodlot Licence W1897, Quadra Island
(250) 287-1173
jerry@bennerforestry.ca

Jerry is an RPF and has served continuously on the Board since 2000 including sitting as the President for 6 years. His passion is operating the family run woodlot and a forest consulting company named Benner Forestry Ltd. which also focuses on the woodlot forestry for the Cape Mudge Band. Other professional activities include forest research and teaching the Wildlife Danger Tree Assessor’s course. Biking, kayaking, horseback riding and travelling with his wife Jill are key recreational activities. Jerry is involved in the NIWA administration of the government silviculture funding currently called LBI and also the NIWA web site.

Director: Harold Macy
Woodlot Licence W1677, Merville
hqcreek@telus.net

Harold is one of the founding fathers of NIWA and served many years as the President. Harold submits articles regularly to the Almanac (a quarterly publication by the FBCWA) and also our own NIWA newsletter. Three of his sons have followed him into the forestry sector. He and his wife Judy also operate a small vegetable farm and greenhouse.

Director:  Mike Larock RPF
Woodlot Licence W1466 Courtenay and W2045 Gold River
(250) 338-8653
mlarock@shaw.ca

Mike Larock RPF, is a partner in Huock Forests that operate a forest consulting business and two woodlots. Mike is currently representing the NIWA and Huock Forests as president of the Woodlot Product Development Council. He has worked in the forest industry for 30 years and has been a silviculture forester for over 20 years. Mike and Carol Larock are members of the Plateau Road Residents Association and they have raised four children in the Comox Valley. Mike is currently the Director of Professional Practice and Forest Stewardship with the Association of BC Forest Professionals.

Director: Coleen MacLean-Marlow RPF
Woodlot Licence W1611 Quadra Island
cmarlow@gicable.com

Originally from the east coast, Coleen moved to BC in 1989 - with a five year plan to return east. Now 22 years later she resides on Quadra Island, where they have lived for 15 years raising their family and co-managing W1611. A consulting forester for most of her career, she has represented the FBCWA as an E-Business representative since 2008. Currently Coleen is the Inventory Forester for Western Forest Products Inc, Corporate Timberlands in Campbell River.