After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia in 1993, Derek worked as District Manager for James M. Vardaman & Co., Inc. in Lumberton, North Carolina until starting Dougherty & Dougherty Forestry Services, Inc. in September 1995.

Derek also serves as manager of Progressive Realty Services, LLC, specializing in the sale of rural land, and co-manager of Progressive Forest Properties Group, LLC, managing pooled monies invested in timberland properties. Derek is a member of Society of American Foresters and the Forest Landowners Association. Derek serves on the Executive Committee of the Forest Landowners Association. Derek is an accomplished writer and speaker on forest management in the southeastern United States.

Derek is a registered forester in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi and Real Estate broker in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Dr. Hardin has been active in the Forest Landowners Association since 1990, having been a member of the Board of Directors, a regional vice president, President of the Research Foundation, and, most recently, President. Dr. Hardin owns timberland in Georgia and West Virginia. He served on active duty in the U.S. Navy, and received several degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, including a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Computer Science.

Carrol W. Cochran received his BS in Forestry from Louisiana Tech in 1962. He then served a six-month term on active duty in the U.S. Army, before beginning work for a consulting forester in Shreveport, Louisiana. Mr. Cochran went on to hold a variety of other positions, including a long stint with Willamette Industries, Inc., until he formed Cochran Forestry Consulting in 2002. He holds many volunteer positions, including Chairman of the Louisiana Society of American Foresters, North Louisiana Group, Society of American Foresters, as well as Secretary/Treasurer with the Louisiana Tech Forestry Alumni Association. In addition, Mr. Cochran has received an award for Distinguished Service to Forestry for Louisiana.

Kirk is a graduate of Yale University, with a bachelor's degree in Geography and a master's in Natural Resources Management and Conservation. Following jobs with the U.S. Forest Service, the Baltimore County Planning Commission, and a three-year tour of duty as a naval intelligence officer, he joined the Organization of American States in 1960. Kirk is currently the manager of 6,500 acres of pine forest and wetlands on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He is the Immediate Past President of the Maryland Forests Association, Past President of the Forest Landowners Association, and is currently active on the Executive Committees of both organizations. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Network of Private Forest Landowners and the Forest Landowners Tax Council. In 2004 he received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies for his lifetime achievements.

J. Blake Sullivan holds a Masters of Forestry from Duke University and a Bachelors of Business Administration from Columbus State University. His leadership experience includes a presidency with the Georgia Forestry Association, board chairmanship of the Georgia Forestry Foundation, and executive committee membership for the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports. He was honored in 2002 with the Forest Landowners Association's Forest Landowner of the Year Award and in 2004 with the Wise Owl Award from the Georgia Forestry Association. Since 1986, he has served as the President and owner of Sullivan Forestry Consultants, Inc., a multi-disciplinary forestry consulting firm that provides forest management and real estate brokerage services for a diverse group of clients.

Scott Jones is an SAF certified forester, as well as a Georgia registered forester. He spent five years in land management and procurement with a paper company in North Florida and has worked on Government Affairs issues dealing with forestry for the Georgia Forestry Association and the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association.