Board of Directors

Officers

• Brian Dangler, Chair
• Gary Allred, Vice Chair
• Hunter Jenkins, Past Chair
• Jennifer Piercy, President
• Sam Cook, Vice President
• Dana Harris, Treasurer
• Erin Delehanty, Assistant Treasurer
• Erin Elliott, Secretary

Directors

Gary Allred
Newport, Rhode Island
Term: 2027
Committee: Forest Management
Gary Allred is the experience director of acquisition and principal at Cardinal Guidance LLC. He previously served as director of acquisitions at Timberland Investment Resources LLC. As a founding partner, he developed and led the timberland acquisition effort from the firm’s formation in 2003 until 2018 and was responsible for the strategic placement of client investments in the United States and abroad. Allred has more than 40 years of experience in the forest products and timberland investment management field. He earned an MBA from the University of North Florida and bachelor’s degrees in forestry and wildlife biology from NC State University.

F. Gray Carter
Collierville, Tennessee
Term: 2025
Committee: Advancement
F. Gray Carter is the owner of The Carter Firm. Before founding the company in 2013, he spent nearly 30 years at Buckeye Technologies, leaving as vice president of purchasing and logistics. He earned bachelor’s degrees in pulp and paper technology and chemical engineering from NC State University.

Joann Cox
Todd, North Carolina
Term: 2026
Committee: Forest Management
Joann Cox is the principal of Meyer-Cox Forestry Consultants PLLC, a science-based forestry consulting firm dedicated to providing high-quality services with the highest ethical and safety standards. In 1976, she became one of the first two women to earn a bachelor’s degree in forestry from Texas A&M University. Cox was also the first female forester hired by Champion International in the Texas region. A fellow of the Society of American Foresters, she served as the organization’s president in 2013, becoming the second woman to hold the position. Cox received the Society of American Foresters Diversity Leadership Award in 2021.

Brian Dangler
Kennesaw, Georgia
Term: 2024
Committee: Forest Management
Brian Dangler is the director of The Conservation Fund’s Working Forest Fund. He previously worked for International Paper and as a field forester with Boise Cascade in Maine. As director, he oversees the fund’s sustainably managed forest operations and leads the strategy, financing and design of its portfolio of conservation-based timberland transactions across the U.S. Dangler has more than 25 years of experience in forest management, pulp and paper operations and fiber supply. He holds an MBA from Thomas College.

Rebecca Harriett
Bluemont, Virginia
Term: 2029
Committee: Advancement

Rebecca Harriett is a retired superintendent with the National Park Service, where she spent 38 years managing parks across the country, including Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and Booker T. Washington National Monument. She began her career with a student internship at Cape Lookout National Seashore while earning her bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation administration from NC State University in 1979. Harriett served in roles focused on visitor services, resource protection and staff training, and now volunteers at Shenandoah National Park. She has held board leadership roles with the Association of National Park Rangers and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks. In 2023, Harriett established the Park Steward Internship Award to support experiential learning for NC State students.

Dana Harris
Raleigh, North Carolina
Term: N/A
Committee: Audit and Finance
Dana Harris is the associate vice chancellor for finance and business and university treasurer at NC State University. She holds a degree in business administration with finance emphasis from Elon University and is a certified public accountant, certified internal auditor and certified fraud examiner. Harris brings more than 18 years of public higher education experience to NC State. Before joining NC State, she was the associate vice chancellor for finance at UNC-Wilmington. Her past UNC-Wilmington roles also included senior associate athletic director for internal operations and director of internal audit. Prior to UNC-Wilmington, Harris served as assistant state auditor for the state of North Carolina for 14 years.

Tom Hines
Raleigh, North Carolina
Term: 2027
Committee: Audit and Finance
Tom Hines spent seven years in the U.S. Navy before transitioning into a career as a project manager for ABB Corporate Research — the first corporate tenant to occupy Centennial Campus at NC State University. Hines also served as coordinator of the Centennial Campus Planning Team and served on the NC State University Design School Advisory Board. He has strong family ties to NC State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in recreation and park administration from the College of Natural Resources. He also holds a master’s degree in recreation administration from the University of North Carolina; an MBA from the University of North Carolina; and a master’s degree from Duke University.

Ronnie Hise
Covington, Virginia
Term: 2027
Committee: Audit and Finance
Ronnie Hise, Ph.D., brings a wealth of experience in forest product industry innovation and business development. With a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M and advanced degrees from NC State University, Hise led new business development at MeadWestvaco Corporation for nearly three decades before retiring in 2013. He then joined Bonanza Associates LLC as senior vice president, driving technical development until 2019. A past president of the Pulp and Paper Advisory Board, Hise has a notable record in strategy execution and fostering industry partnerships.

Hunter Jenkins
Richmond, Virginia
Term: 2024
Committee: Advancement
Hunter Jenkins, managing director at The Forestland Group, LLC, is one of two senior executives of the nation’s largest hardwood landowner. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in management from NC State University, with a focus in forest economics and timberland investments. Jenkins is a member of numerous conservation organizations and has served on the boards of various nonprofit institutions.

Patricia Layton
Clemson, South Carolina
Term: 2028
Committee: Advancement

Patricia Layton is the director of the Wood Utilization + Design Institute and a professor of forestry at Clemson University. She previously served as director of the university’s School of Agricultural, Forest and Environmental Sciences (now the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences) and the Department of Forest Resources. Before joining academia, Layton spent 25 years in government and the pulp, paper and wood products industries, including serving as senior director at the American Forest and Paper Association. She is an internationally recognized expert in mass timber construction and serves as vice chair of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Board. Layton earned a bachelor’s degree in forest management from Clemson University, a master’s degree in forest genetics from Texas A&M University and a doctoral degree in forest genetics from the University of Florida.

Chuck Millsaps
Raleigh, North Carolina
Term: 2029
Committee: Audit and Finance

Chuck Millsaps is president of Great Outdoor Provision Co., where he leads business operations and conservation initiatives supporting North Carolina’s public lands. He began his career in Yellowstone National Park and later founded the outdoor apparel company Layers before returning to Great Outdoor Provision. Millsaps helped launch the North Carolina Youth Conservation Corps and the Pathways Into Natural Environments and Science (PINES) program to expand youth access to conservation careers. He serves on the boards of the North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Coalition, Springmoor Endowment Fund and the Great Outdoor Provision Fund. Millsaps holds degrees from Wake Forest University and Duke University.

Rebecca Nicholson
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Term: 2028
Committee: Audit and Finance

Rebecca Nicholson holds dual bachelor’s degrees in paper science and engineering and chemical engineering from NC State University. She has 37 years of experience in environmental consulting, managing projects for the U.S. government, commercial clients and international organizations. Nicholson specializes in air quality management, with a focus on the pulp and paper and wood products industries. Nicholson retired in 2024 as senior vice president of RTI International’s Environment Practice Area, where she led a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers and economists with annual revenues of $55 million. She also directed RTI’s corporate sustainability initiatives and oversaw the launch of its regional office in Beijing.

Larry Perkins
Raleigh, North Carolina
Term: 2024
Committee: Advancement
Larry Perkins holds a bachelor’s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. As a 46-year veteran of the public assembly industry, he has acquired a broad range of expertise in venue management. He served 24 years as vice president of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (Meadowlands Sports Complex), which is home to the New York Giants, New York Jets, Izod Center and Meadowlands Racetrack. He is the author of Buck Seventy-Two: A Destiny of Will, as well as Crowd Safety and Survival and Eight Point Crowd and Event Planning Model. Perkins has also written numerous articles for IAVM Facility Manager Magazine and other publications.

Nancy Thompson
Raleigh, North Carolina
Term: 2027
Committee: Advancement

Nancy Thompson is director of governmental affairs at Weyerhaeuser, where she leads the company’s public policy, strategic planning, and sustainability efforts within the forestry products industry. She began her career with influential roles at the NC Chamber and the Manufacturers and Chemical Industry Council of NC before joining Weyerhaeuser as public affairs manager, a role she held for a decade prior to her current position. Thompson serves as chairman of the North Carolina Forestry Association, advocating for policies and programs that promote environmental stewardship and economic growth in the natural resources sector. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications from Meredith College.

Michelle Wells
Raleigh, North Carolina
Term: 2026
Committee: Audit and Finance
Michelle Wells joined the North Carolina Recreation & Park Association (NCRPA) in 2012 as an executive director. In her role, she works collaboratively with the board of directors and is responsible for developing and implementing the annual budget and audit, updating policies and procedures and ensuring compliance with federal and state filing requirements. Before becoming executive director, Wells spent nearly 14 years with NCRPA, first as a membership service coordinator and later as a program director. In these positions, she supported and managed organization committees, provided support to the executive director, served as state coordinator for a children’s skills competition offered by the NFL, and authored a weekly newsletter.

Jazmin Varela
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Term: 2025
Committee: Forest Management
Jazmin Varela is the director of landowner relations at Finite Carbon. She previously served as associate director of integrative services for The Conservation Fund, park naturalist at Mt. Mitchell State Park and outreach specialist as an AmeriCorps Member. She holds a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree in geography with a minor in biology from Appalachian State University.

Jennifer Zuckerman
Durham, North Carolina
Term: 2026
Committee: Advancement

Jen Zuckerman is the director of strategic initiatives at Duke University’s World Food Policy Center. Her work focuses on people-first policy development for equitable food policy in the U.S. As a result, Zuckerman has supported research to demonstrate the racialized history of policies that have created the inequities in the food system of today, identifying strategies that shift power and decision making to community leadership. In addition to her position with the World Food Policy Center, she contracts with DEI Works Collective as a racial equity facilitator. Prior to her current work, Zuckerman spent 12 years at the BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Foundation as the senior program officer for healthy living and the director of strategic partnerships, focusing on increasing access to safe active environments and on providing sources for healthy, locally-sourced food.

Nonvoting Members

Sam Cook
Raleigh, North Carolina
Email
Term: N/A
Committee: Forest Management

Sam Cook serves as the executive director of forest assets for the College of Natural Resources at NC State University, overseeing 11 forest properties that support research and teaching while generating more than $3 million annually for the college. Cook is dedicated to mentoring students and expanding educational opportunities for underrepresented groups. He co-manages the Forester of the Future program, a collaboration between the College of Natural Resources, Tuskegee University and Resource Management Service, which offers an accelerated graduate degree program for students pursuing forestry careers. Cook and his wife, Sherry, also established the Sam and Sherry Lynn Cook Fund for Outreach and Support for Diversity to recruit forestry students from diverse backgrounds. He previously worked for the U.S. Forest Service, Duke Power, International Paper and forestry-related nonprofits in South Carolina. Cook earned his degree in forestry from NC State University in 1984.

Jennifer Piercy
Raleigh, North Carolina
Email
Term: N/A
Committee: Advancement

Jennifer Piercy serves as the assistant dean for philanthropy for the College of Natural Resources at NC State University and president of the NC State Natural Resources Foundation. She previously served as director of student recruiting in the Department of Forest Biomaterials and executive director of the Pulp and Paper Advisory Board. Piercy brings over a decade of board management, fundraising, alumni relations, communications, leadership and management experience to this position. After graduating from NC State University with degrees in pulp and paper technology and chemical engineering, she joined Procter and Gamble as a process engineer, machine manager and operations manager. Piercy also worked for the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business in the MBA Career Services Center.  

Myron F. Floyd
Raleigh, North Carolina
Email
Term: N/A
Committee: Audit and Finance

Myron F. Floyd is dean of the College of Natural Resources at NC State University, a position he assumed April 1, 2020. Floyd joined the college in 2005 as a professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. He became director of the department’s graduate programs in 2010 and was named department head in 2014, expanding the department’s teaching, research and outreach programs. An elected fellow of both the Academy of Leisure Sciences and the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, Floyd is recognized for his research on race and ethnic patterns in outdoor recreation and the role of parks, green spaces and the built environment in physical activity and health equity. Before joining NC State, Floyd held faculty positions at Clemson University, Texas A&M University and the University of Florida. He earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in recreation and park administration from Clemson University and a doctoral degree in recreation and resources development with a specialization in natural resource sociology from Texas A&M University.