How long have you worked at FIA?

22 years. I joined FIA in 2004.

FIA is marking 40 years – what feels most important to reflect on as you look back? What does being part of a 40-year story mean to you personally?

As I reflect on FIA’s 40 years, I think of the people. The FIAers of today stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. Each generation of FIA leaders and staff has navigated and grown through its own set of challenges. From the early days of introducing a nascent asset class to the institutional investment community to the evolution of sustainable forest investments as a multi-factor investment solution, our team has risen to and embraced those challenges.

Our people are what have established and protected our reputation, which we all consider one of the firm’s most – if not the most – precious assets. Our consistent approach of putting clients first mirrors the culture in our shop: we demonstrate FIA values to each other and to our clients.

Personally, being able to work for a company where my values align so tightly with the firm’s has been an incredibly powerful and positive factor in all aspects of my life. I have grown into a better person because of the environment FIA creates. This company cares about its people, and that goes both ways. When life’s challenges arise, I have felt FIA’s support, and I believe others have felt the same. It’s hard for me to imagine where I would be without FIA as part of my life.

What responsibilities come with managing forests and capital over decades?

Incredible responsibility and stewardship come with being a fiduciary of our clients’ investments. We manage the sustainable forest assets entrusted to us as if the properties were our own.

The land ethic and sustainability mindset are core to our firm and our investment approach. The responsible management of our clients’ forests also considers environmental factors to ensure the ongoing sustainability of these areas and landscape-level interactions with broader economic factors. Forests are real assets, and across the Americas, FIA manages over two million acres (810,000 hectares); which is a truly significant footprint.

Our forests largely exist in rural communities, providing economic opportunities for local populations. Continuing to manage these assets in a way that protects both environmental and economic sustainability is central to our duty.

What is your favorite place/forest to visit?

Asking what is my favorite forest is like asking me to pick my favorite child…impossible! The Appalachian Mountains of the Southeastern U.S. will always be my forest “home.” I also take incredible pride in visiting FIA operations across the U.S., Brazil, and Chile, and seeing the quality and beauty of those forests.

What is your favorite FIA memory?

So many that it’s hard to choose. If I had to pick one, it would be 2012, when we closed on our first investment outside of the U.S., in Brazil. I returned from Brazil on a Saturday morning, which happened to be the same day an FIA picnic was scheduled at Marc Walley’s house. Knowing the picnic was planned, I brought back some cachaça, a traditional Brazilian distilled spirit, and made caipirinhas, Brazil’s national cocktail, for my fellow FIAers. It was an amazing feeling to close on our first ex-U.S. acquisition and come home to celebrate in that way.

What is it about the people and culture at FIA that gives you confidence in the firm’s future?

I believe our people are what make FIA so strong. It’s not just about the alignment on Values and FIA’s Mission that we all share – it’s the technical ability and deep understanding of what it takes to be successful in this asset class. Many of us were trained as foresters, which helps us appreciate the real, on-the-ground factors involved in managing sustainable forests. Having that real-world knowledge to complement the development and execution of investment strategy is critical. Additionally, the data and related insights we’ve aggregated over our 40 years provide us with the ability to help investors customize their approach in this space. Our culture, and the fabric of FIA, is rooted in our employee ownership which links our short-term actions to our long-term ambition.

What do you hope endures at FIA long after this anniversary? When you think 20 years ahead, what role do you believe FIA will play?

My wish for FIA is to continue to stay true to itself while continually challenging our evolution in today’s fast-changing world. Asking our leaders to focus continually on our people is the best way we can deliver investment value to our clients.

When I think of FIA in 20 years, I believe the firm will remain a leader in sustainable forest investments. This asset class, linked to society’s fundamental need for sustainable forest products and the ever-growing concept of natural capital, is well-positioned as an important component of investor portfolios in the decades to come. I envision an FIA where technology and innovation overlay our track record in timberland to deliver investor solutions in new and useful ways. This is an example of how a “Legacy is Built for the Long-Term.”