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About

Forestry and Natural Resources Alumni Association

The Forestry and Natural Resources Alumni Association supports the School of Natural Resources and the Environment by providing scholarships, creating job opportunities, and building networking connections for graduates. The association also enhances the School's promotion and operations through various initiatives, while encouraging fellowship among alumni through events, communications and shared activities.

Executive Board Members

President

Shawn Grushecky – Morgantown, WV

  • '92 WVU Bachelor's Degree Wildlife Resources Management 
  • '95 WVU Master's Degree Wildlife and Fisheries Resources Management 
  • '11 WVU Doctorate Degree Forest Resources Science
  • Current Employment:  Associate Professor, WVU Energy Land Management   

Vice-President

Sco tt Reigel – Lewisburg, WV

  • WVRPF#580
  • '99  WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Resources Management 
  • '99  WVU Bachelor's Degree Wood Industries Utilization Option 
  • Current Employment: Forestry Department Head and Instructor at Mountain Gateway Community College, Clifton Forge, VA  
  • Additional Professional Engagement: Appalachian Region Society of American Foresters Science and Technology Chair.  
  • WVU Memories:  WVU Forestry Club President and Treasurer, The Cruiser, pig roasts 

Treasurer

Jim Harold – Rockwood, PA

  • '72 WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Resources Management
  • '05 WVU Master's Degree in Forestry
  • Current Employment: Retired Forestry Educator at Somerset County Technology Center; Currently provides private consulting services.
  • Additional Professional Engagement: Past President of the WVU Forestry and Natural Resources Alumni Association, Member of Society of American Foresters, Active member of many local and national Wildlife Organizations, Member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church
  • WVU Memories: Dr. Carvell's summer camp trip to Duke University

Secretary

John Edwards – Mt. Morris, PA

  • '80 BS Wildlife Management WVU
  • MS Forest Resources, Clemson University 1986
  • PhD Forest Resources, Clemson University 1995
  • Current Employment:  Wildlife Professor at WVU, 1998 - Present

Board Members

Tom Armstrong – Front Royal, VA
  • '75  WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Resources Management 
  • Current Employment:  Owner of Armstrong Arboriculture, Since 2014
  • Additional Professional Engagement: Virginia Commercial Pesticide Applicator, 2021 - 2024 President of the Alumni Association

Ryan Cuccia – Annapolis, MD

  • 2013 WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Resources Management 
  • Current Employment:  Commercial Arborist for Bartlett Tree Experts
  • Additional Professional Engagement: Anne Arundel County Forestry Boar
  • WVU Memories: WVU Football games, bouldering at Cooper's Rock, Summer Camp at Research Forest

Cinda Francis – Sandyville, WV

  • Current Employment:   Worked for the WVFA (1996-2013) as WV's SFI Forester; 2014 - current - joined full-time family feed, farm supply & trucking business 
  • '93 WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Resources Management
  • Additional Professional Engagement: WV Tree Farm Committee Treasurer, 2011 Recipient of WVDA's Women in Agriculture   
  • WVU Memories:  Woodsmen's Team, Forestry Club, Work study for Dr. Wiant and Dr. MacDonald 

Barb McWhorter – Horner, WV and Hatteras, NC

  • '83 WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Resources Management
  • Current Employment:  Retired in 2018 as the WV State Forester for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service after 32 years of service - prior to that - worked for WVU and the West Virginia Division of Forestry 
  • Currently part-time forester for Tri-State Forest Products, LLC
  • Additional Professional Engagement: WV Communications Chair for Society of American Foresters, WV Ag and Forestry Hall of Fame Committee, WV 4-H and CEOS
  • WVU Memories:  WVU Track and Field, Forestry Club, Woodsmen's Team 

Rodger Ozburn – Fairview, WV

  • '84 WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Resources Management
  • Current Employment:  : Retired from WV Division of Forestry in 2023 with over 38 years of service, since 2024 has held a part-time position with the DOF with emphasis on wildland fire hazard mitigation and drone program coordination 
  • Additional Professional Engagement: WV Registered Professional Forester #454 and owns Ozburn Enterprises LLC, a small aerial drone service and forestry consulting company. Also serves as an Elder and Board Chairman for Dolls Run Christian Church, Core, WV
  • WVU Memories:  Forestry Club President, Woodsmen’s Team, pig roasts, making some lifelong friends 
Larry Sappington – Barboursville, VA
  • '81 WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Resources Management
  • Current Employment:   After stints with the Maryland Forest Service, USFS (Apache Sitgreaves NF), & Westvaco (WV & Va Timberlands), enjoyed a 30-year career as procurement forester with Koppers, Inc.  Also, enjoyed teaching a forestry course at Piedmont Community College in Charlottesville, VA 
  • Additional Professional Engagement: Past Member of Skyline Community Action Program Board of Directors; Current volunteer and Spanish translator at the Orange, Va Love Outreach Food Bank 
  • WVU Memories:  Pig roasts at the Fleming Farm with bluegrass music

George Tabb – Kearneysville, WV

  • '72 WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Recreation Resources Management
  • '74 WVU Master's Degree Recreation and Parks
  • Current Employment:  33-year career with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Worked as a park ranger, park manager and retired as Chief of Natural Resources Management for the Corps in Washington.  Retired in 2006.Following retirement, worked for 7 years as a Park Manager for the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.  Retired in 2013.
  • Additional Professional Engagement: Passed President of the Alumni Association, volunteer work for the Boy Scouts of America, Jefferson County 4-H Foundation, and his church.
  • WVU Memories:  Forestry Club, Alpha Phi Omega, Collegiate 4-H Club

Rusty Leonard – Bruceton Mills, WV

  • '98 WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Resources Management
  • Current Employment: Forester for Northwest Hardwoods, Hopwood, PA
  • Additional Professional Engagement: Secretary of the Mountain Loggers Group, Board member of WV Forestry Association,  Citizens Advisory Committee for Savage River State Forest in MD
  • WVU Memories: Dr. Harry Wiant's quote "The goal of every tree is to become a stump."

Anthony Tomkowski – Morgantown, WV

  • '67 WVU Bachelor's Degree

Joseph McNeel – Morgantown, WV

  • '79 WVU Bachelor's Degree FNR

Jeff Jones – Keyser, WV

  • '01 WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Resources Management

Bill Bleckley

  • '81 WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Resources Management

Earl "Bud" Reaves

  • '85 WVU Bachelor's Degree Forest Resources Management