Texas Forestry Association, a trade organization serving the timber interests of Texas for over 100 years, has announced the selection of Robert Hughes as its new Executive Director. Hughes will fill the vacancy created by Ron Hufford’s retirement in December, 2017. The selection was made by a nine member committee and approved by the Board of Directors.
“We are very pleased to announce this appointment,” said Charley Colvin, chair of the search committee. “Rob will bring leadership experience and a deep understanding of the timber industry. He has served in executive and leadership levels while working with landowners and industry leaders to create and implement best management principles for conservation and this perspective and experience will serve him well in his new role as executive director.”
Hughes, a Texas native, has over 20 years of experience in leadership in the forestry industry, most recently as Harvesting/Silviculture Manager for Campbell Global since 2014, and has operated with the company in various management capacities including contract logging manager for the Campbell Timberland Management North Texas Tree Farm that has over 260,000 acres. Other experience includes Lead Forester at Temple-Inland’s Mixed Forest Department, Contract Supervisor and Shift Supervisor in manufacturing plants in Camden, Texas and Waycross, GA. He has worked with contractors and loggers to maintain budgets and exceed profits, maintained a professional relationship with the public as well as creating and maintaining harmonious working relationships between landowners, contractors, various levels of governments, and industries.
“I am very honored to be chosen to lead an amazing group that has been the voice of forestry for over 100 years,” Hughes said. “I look forward to continuing to serve and partner with Texas timber owners and industries in this new capacity as we face the next 100 years. I am dedicated to this sector because I believe in sustained forestry initiatives and see the great impact timber has as a family legacy and as a business in the state of Texas.”
Texas Forestry Association works to promote economic, social and political climates that advance forestry in Texas through education, political action and public relations as well as serving the broad needs of the forest resources of landowners, producers and consumers, and enhances and perpetuates the Texas forest resource.
“We are very excited to welcome Rob to the TFA family,” said Dr. Jerry Marcontell, TFA President. “Rob has a commitment to TFA’s core values and mission as well as a capacity to strategically guide the Association forward. The Board of Directors has great confidence he will develop rich and meaningful relationships with organization members and our industry and community partners.”
Hughes received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University with an emphasis in Wood Science. While attaining his formal education, Hughes worked for the United States Forest Service as a firefighter in New Waverly, Texas and Colville, Wash.
He and his wife, Tammy, have two children, Robert and Jenna. Together, they enjoy serving their community and church through various volunteer opportunities including Huntington High School Bass Club Boosters and Dixie League Baseball. Rob is also a board member of the Huntington ISD.
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Texas Forestry Association, the voice for forestry for 100 years, promotes an economic, social and political climate that will advance forestry in Texas through education, political action and public relations, as well as serving the broad needs of the forest resource of landowners, producers and consumers, and to enhance and perpetuate the Texas forest resource.