Deere & Co. elected Ryan Campbell as President, Construction & Forestry Div. and Power Systems. Campbell leads a team focused on the sustainable, profitable growth of the company’s construction and forestry equipment business around the globe as well as the continued success of the Wirtgen Group. He also has responsibility for the company’s engine and powertrain businesses. Campbell brings 25 years of wide-ranging experience to his current position.
Montana DNRC Forester and Forestry Division Administrator Sonya Germann has been selected to serve on the Presidential Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission.
“It is imperative that the State of Montana be part of the national dialogue about improving the health and viability of our forests while reducing wildfire risk,” said DNRC Director Amanda Kaster. “We are pleased Sonya has been selected to serve on the commission. She is an effective and well-respected leader with a commitment to finding solutions to address our forest health crisis. She will do an excellent job advocating on behalf of Montanans.”
Grant Somerville (left), Ken MacDonald
On August 2, 2022, Grant Somerville stepped away from his role as president of Tigercat Industries. The timing is related to Grant’s original intention to serve as president for a five-year term when he took on the role in 2017. Tigercat founder, Ken MacDonald has assumed the role of president.
Ken thanked Grant for all of the contributions that he made to the company during his entire 30 years. “I want to particularly recognize the leadership he provided during his presidency. He very capably steered us through and oversaw record production and sales volumes in 2019. He then went on to lead our team through the incredibly trying last two and a half years during which we dealt with the COVID pandemic as well as the effects on our business related to the war in Ukraine. Despite these challenges, he took everything in stride and saw to it that we still managed to complete two major plant expansions and launch several new product lines.”
Grant will continue to serve the company as a director. In his new role, he will offer advice, and support various engineering initiatives focused on the development of new products and the improvement of existing products.
Ponsse Plc has sold all shares in OOO Ponsse, its subsidiary that provided PONSSE services in Russia and Belarus. Ponsse announced its intention to divest its operations in Russia on 15 June 2022.
The buyer, OOO Bison, is owned by Aleksey Voronkevich, whose company Dormashimport has been responsible for the retail of PONSSE forest machines in the eastern parts of Russia since 2007.
The companies will not disclose the price of the transaction. The sale will not have any significant impact on Ponsse, nor will the company record any significant impairment or profit on its Q2 income statement as a result.
Fecon has announced the hiring of Brandon Flexsenhar, who joins the company as Chief Operating Officer (COO), a new position within the company. Flexsenhar has served in a variety of production and operations positions with companies such as Caterpillar, LB Steel, Fairbanks Morse Engine, Putzmeister, and most recently as VP of Operations for KION. He holds a BS in Organizational Leadership and Supervision, Industrial Technology from Purdue University, and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The Departments of Agriculture, the Interior, and Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have announced the selection of members to the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission.
Established by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and announced in December 2021, the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission will play a key role in recommending ways that federal agencies can better prevent, mitigate, suppress, and manage wildland fires. It will also recommend policies and strategies on how to restore the lands affected by wildfire.
Commission members represent federal agencies, tribes, state and local municipalities, and private entities, as directed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
For more information, visit the commission website or email [email protected].
Disc Mulcher Eradicates Trees to Create Fire BreaksFecon introduced the FDX36 Fecon Disc Mulcher, which quickly eradicates standing trees and other vegetation to create fire breaks, fire lanes, defensible fire positions, and more. Ideal for pairing with 15-ton excavators, the FDX36 weighs 2965 pounds and features a 36-inch cutting width. Designed with productivity and versatility in mind, the mulcher has 10 knives on the top of the disc, 8 edge knives, and 8 single point carbide tools on the disc bottom. This allows the bottom of the disc to mulch standing trees or brush piles for top-down feeding. www.fecon.com
ON THE COVER
Plikat Logging
Your Only as Good as Your Horse and Crew
Nick Rodgers, a fourth-generation logger from Butte Falls, Oregon, started contract cutting right how of high school.
Focus on Yarders
First part on a two-part series about innovative yarder developments.
Treat ‘em Right and Work ‘em Hard
Plikat Logging provides logging services for private landowners in the Umpqua Valley. It currently employs 70 to 75 full-time, year-round workers.
Long-Term Stewardship Contracts and the Future Forest
New ways of addressing important issues often present unforeseen challenges as well as opportunities.
2022/23 Buyer’s Guide
Complete directory to products, manufacturers, distributors and services.
Guest Column
Who Are the True Conservationists?
DEPARTMENTS
