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SWPA Executive Officers 2018 - 2020

President: Scott Gies
Gies Timber & Land Inc.

Scott first joined the SWPA after leaving the consuming side of the industry to establish a logging business in early
2007. He was elected to serve as a Board member in 2010. Scott’s harvesting operations are primarily in north-
east Florida and southeast Georgia. He is married to Sheila Gies and has a daughter, Jennifer Hale (husband Clint
Hale), granddaughters Ella and Anna, grandson Blake Hale, son Douglas and daughter in law Lindsey Gies and
granddaughter Charlee Gies and a daughter Kelli. Scott was also a Florida Logger’s Council member of the Florida
Forestry Association. When asked why he serves loggers as an SWPA Board Officer he said: “I feel that it
important for those of us in the timber harvesting profession to have a unified voice. We are the ultimate
stewards of the forest, and unless we as group make this known there is an assumption that we are not. By
serving the members of the SWPA it is my hope to help get this message out to the public at large.”
Vice President: Russel Fowler
Flint River Timber of GA, Inc.

Russell received a B.S. in Forest Resources in 1988, then started his career in the industry working for G.P. and the
former Stone Container in the Big Bend of Florida and southwest Georgia. His exposure to the industry in the early
90’s, along with its changes, led to the founding of a private wood dealership, Flint River Timber in Cairo, GA. The
buying and selling of wood developed into investment in the logging business. The support of sub-contractors and
company owned logging crews is vital to the success of a modern day timber dealership. Russell has always sup-
ported loggers and feels communication between forestry associations, the public and the industry is essential.
Involvement with the SWPA is the most important link in accomplishing this task.

Secretary-Treasurer: Jerry Gray
Gray Logging, LLC
Since that age, Jerry has “lived” in the woods. At 13, he was using a chainsaw. At 15, he was driving a cable skidder.
At 18, upon graduation, he was full-time in the woods. At age 40, he became the manager of Gray Logging, LLC. That
was nearly 16 years ago. During those 16 years, Jerry has been proud of the many achievements he and Gray Log-
ging, LLC have accomplished. Under his leadership, the company has grown from one to two logging crews. He also
co-owns Genesis Timber, LLC with his son-in-law, Matt Webb. Today, Jerry still loves the woods as he did as a little
boy. Today, combined with that love, Jerry has a passion, a knowledge, and the experience to handle various timber
needs. He is excited about the future, helping land owners with their needs and being a part of the timber industry.

Past President: John Lane
Coastal Logging Co. Inc.

John Lane’s childhood memories stem from working in the woods on his father’s logging crew. Growing up in the
industry made it easy for him to begin his own business in 1981. He and his wife Donna started Coastal Logging Co
from humble beginnings and today it has grown to a three crew operation. John’s son, Johnny, and his wife Sarah are
active in the business as well and represent the fifth generation of the Lane family in the timber industry. John serves
in the national logging association, the American Logger’s Council, as SWPA’s representative, within the Georgia For-
estry Association as well as the Glynn County Forestry Commission. John stated that he got involved because: “I felt it
was my responsibility to become more active in issues that affect loggers and the future of the logging industry.”

Executive Director: Tommy Carroll
SWPA Inc.
Tommy Carroll, Executive Director of the Southeastern Wood Producers Association (SWPA), has 37 years of ex-
perience in the timber harvesting industry. This includes 10 years with Union Camp Corporation working as crew
foreman on company timber harvesting crews and later as a wood yard manager. For the next 15 years, Carroll was
employed by Canal Wood Corporation as Harvesting Compliance Coordinator. The primary focus of this position
placed an emphasis on safety and environmental compliance programs with Canal’s timber harvesting contractors
and company facilities throughout the south eastern and mid-western United States. Carroll began work for the
SWPA in 2001 first as Education Director and became the Executive Director in 2007. Carroll served as chairman of
the Georgia Forestry Association’s Logging and Transportation Committee from 1996 to 2000 and currently sits on
Georgia’s SFI Statewide Implementation Committee and Logger Education Committee.