Marc started with FIA in 1994 and has served in a range of roles over nearly three decades, including as President and CEO from 2016 to 2023 and as Executive Vice President and Director of Timberland Management from 2008 to 2015. In his current role as Senior Managing Director, Marc focuses on supporting FIA’s internal business governance and culture. He is Chair of the Investment Committee and Chair of the FIA Board of Directors.

Previous Experience

Marc was previously employed by Scott Paper Company in Alabama, where he held positions in timberland management and operations.

What is your business philosophy?

Trust is the currency of relationships. Strive to cultivate an environment and reputation characterized by authenticity and trustworthiness, aspiring to high standards and always acting with utmost integrity.  Consistently embodying these values paves the way for success but, more importantly, earning the trust and respect of those we engage with.

Why did you choose this field / career path?

I credit my mother with encouraging my interest in the natural world.  She did a master’s degree in biology around the time I was in middle school and she traipsed me and my three younger siblings around forests and fields in support of her thesis work.  My dad worked for a short time as a chemical engineer for International Paper Company, so I knew a bit about the role of forests in paper making.  Ultimately, they both suggested forestry as a possible fit for me.

Institutional investing in timberland was just developing when I graduated from Auburn.  Landing in this sector and with FIA was a combination of luck, good timing and desire to pursue something new in forestry.  The tenets of responsible forestry and sound investing are remarkably compatible.  The combination of the two make for a fascinating field full of very interesting people!

What is one of the best lessons you’ve learned during your career?

Remember people’s names and be genuinely interested in them.