Matthew Gillette of Courtland will become chapter chair of the Virginia Chapter of the Association of Consulting Foresters Inc. on July 1, serving a two-year term.

ACF is a national association established in 1948 to promote the professionalism, ethics and interests of consulting foresters. Gillette has served as Vice Chair of the Virginia Chapter since 2014.

“I hope to increase public awareness of the ACF as well as invite and encourage qualified foresters to seek membership in the ACF,” Gillette said.

“Unlike many other states, the commonwealth of Virginia does not have a registration system for foresters. Members of the Virginia chapter have a unique opportunity to distinguish themselves to clients as being the most qualified forestry consultants, since we are required to adhere to a strict code of ethics and take continuing education training in order to maintain our membership.”

Gillette explained that “there are high standards to become (an ACF) member, and landowners should feel confident that by hiring any member of the ACF, they are being served by one of the best consulting foresters in the country. I hope that building landowner knowledge and confidence in the ACF will draw more foresters that are working as consultants to join us in the Virginia chapter.”

Gillette is a 2006 graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in forestry. He began working with Rock Springs Forestry Inc. immediately following graduation. He participates in all aspects of the business, from cruising timber and handling timber sales to coordinating and supervising planting, spraying and pre-commercial thinning and writing management plans.

He became a member of the Virginia Chapter of the ACF in 2012. In addition to his membership with ACF, Gillette is also a member of the Virginia Forestry Association and registered as a consulting forester with the North Carolina Board of Registration for Foresters.

He has a commercial pesticide applicator license in both Virginia and North Carolina and is a Virginia Prescribed Burn Manager. Gillette is a Technical Service Provider with the Natural Resources Conservation Services, a service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and a Certified Inspector for the American Forest Foundation’s Tree Farm Program.

For more information on current members or how to become a member of the Virginia chapter, visit the ACF website www.acf-foresters.org.