Forest Resources Association Chairman Dick Carmical recently announced that FRA had hired Deb Hawkinson to replace FRA President Richard Lewis, effective as of Lewis’s scheduled retirement on July 2, 2012.
“The FRA Officer Search Team was very impressed with Deb Hawkinson’s past track record of forest industry association experience,” Carmical said. “We feel she is absolutely the right fit to continue FRA’s success in ensuring that FRA wood fiber supply chain members can continue to operate successfully and profitably in the U.S.”
Hawkinson has a strong background in the forest industry, as well as in association management. As Executive Director of the Washington, DC-based Hardwood Federation since 2007, Hawkinson expanded that organization’s government relations and communications capacities, as well as member participation. Prior to that, she spent seven years with increasing responsibilities at the American Forest & Paper Association, eventually as Director, Issues Management, overseeing political involvement programs and grassroots communication, following a 14-year stint with Weyerhaeuser in their Federal Affairs office in Washington, DC.
“FRA plays a key role in representing the interests and promoting the success of its members, from the forest landowner to the wood supplier and wood consumer,” said Hawkinson. “I’m thrilled to be joining the team, and I’m looking forward to working with FRA’s members to continue building a strong future for the organization and its membership.” She will be based in FRA’s National Office in Rockville, Maryland.