Forest Landowners Association Expands Government Affairs Team with Addition of Palmer Schoening as Consultant in Washington, DC
The Forest Landowners Association (FLA) is pleased to announce the addition of Palmer Schoening as a government affairs consultant based in Washington, D.C. Schoening will work in close partnership with Craig Anderson, FLA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, to advance tax policy priorities that benefit private forest landowners across the United States.
Schoening brings more than 15 years of government affairs experience through his firm, Schoening Strategies, where he has advised a range of trade associations and private businesses on effective federal advocacy. His strategic insight and long-standing relationships with key congressional tax committees, the administration, and federal agencies are expected to significantly strengthen FLA’s presence and impact in Washington, DC.
“Palmer was selected as our Washington, DC, consultant because of his strong background in advocating for family businesses, his understanding of the policy issues that matter to private forest landowners, and his proven success in achieving policy wins,” said Scott Jones, CEO of the Forest Landowners Association. “His addition comes at a pivotal time as we push forward on major legislative and regulatory priorities on behalf of our members.”The Forest Landowners Association was a founding member of the Family Business Coalition, which played a key role in securing the most favorable federal estate tax environment for family-owned businesses in more than two decades – a crucial issue for many of FLA’s members. In his new role, Schoening will work closely with Craig Anderson in holding direct meetings on Capitol Hill with lawmakers and staff, helping to advance the Disaster Reforestation Act during the current session of Congress, and working with federal agencies and the White House to enhance programs that provide disaster assistance to private landowners.
Schoening most recently participated in FLA’s 2025 National Conference in Asheville, NC, where he served on the panel discussion “Death, Taxes, and Death Taxes.” He provided valuable insights into the decades-long fight to reduce the burden of estate taxes on family-owned enterprises, including those in the timber industry.
With the addition of Palmer Schoening, FLA is positioned to take its government affairs efforts to the next level, capitalizing on opportunities to work with Congressional leadership and the White House, and ensuring that the voices of private forest landowners are heard and represented at the highest levels of policymaking.
About the Forest Landowners Association
Founded in 1941, the Forest Landowners Association represents the interests of private forest landowners across the United States. FLA works to ensure that private forest landowners can continue to own, manage, and sustainably care for their land through effective advocacy, policy development, and education.