Leadership
FORTE is directed by Derek Dougherty. Derek brings substantial forestry education, operational management, applied research, tree breeding, due diligence, investment management and economic analysis, communication, and business and association leadership experience to FORTE.
Derek obtained a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources with a focus in Forest Business in 1993 and a PhD in Forest Resources with a focus on loblolly pine silviculture and genetics in 2018, both degrees from the University of Georgia. Derek is a Registered Forester in many southern states and has worked to implement progressive forestry management for landowners and investors across the southeastern US over the last three decades. Derek has worked hands on with many forest management systems to include artificial pine plantations (loblolly, slash, and longleaf), natural pine regeneration, grade hardwood management, and plantation hardwood systems including eucalyptus and cottonwood.
Derek Dougherty pictured with pines he helped hand plant in 1986 in Madison Co., GA
FORTE is supported by the Center of Forestry Research and Applied Management (Scientists, Statisticians, and Field Technicians in place):
Phil Dougherty with a 1-year old loblolly pine from an operational planting on Burgin Timberlands Property in Randolph Co., GA
Phil Dougherty serves as Director and Senior Research Scientist for the Center of Forestry Research and Applied Management in Danielsville, GA. Phil obtained a B.S. in Wildlife Science from Texas A&M University, an M.S. in Tree Physiology from Texas A&M, and a Ph.D. in Forest Ecophysiology from the University of Missouri. His career includes positions as a Regeneration Ecologist with Weyerhaueser in Centralia, WA; a Forestry Research Station Manager for Weyerhaeser in Wright City, OK; Associate Professor of Forestry, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; Tree Physiologist and Team Leader Global Change with the USDA Forest Service in RTP, North Carolina; Ecophysiologist/Plantation Productivity Project Leader/Pine Development, MeadWestvaco Forest Science & Technology, Summerville, SC; and Senior Scientist Advanced Sales and Silvicultural Systems Dev. for Arborgen. Phil has coauthored more than 50 Journal Articles related to silviculture and ecophysiology and is co-editor of the Forest Regeneration Manual.
