MN SAF Awards |
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Congratulations to our most recent MN SAF award winners!
Thank you for your service to SAF and the broader forestry community
Thank you for your service to SAF and the broader forestry community
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OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Greg Bernu Retired, Carlton County Land Commissioner YOUNG FORESTER LEADERSHIP
Lane Moser SFEC Program Coordinator, University of Minnesota |
OUTSTANDING MEMBER
Dr. Marcella Windmuller-Campione Associate Professor of Silviculture, University of Minnesota Sawyer Scherer Forest Ecologist, UPM Blandin Kylee Berger Private Lands Forester, MN Dept. of Natural Resources |
2023 MNSAF Award Recipient Bios
OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE SOCIETY
Greg Bernu
Greg was awarded the Outstanding Service Award as a recognition of his dedication to the field of forestry in Minnesota and the region during his career. As a professional forester, Greg’s work life has taken him to many places and many roles all of which cementing his commitment to serve and enhance the field of forestry and uphold the principles and responsibility that go along with sustainably managing, socially and ecologically, our wonderful forested resource. Greg has been active in SAF for over 36 years as he has worked professionally for Carlton County and a number of other agencies. Through his role with Carlton County, Greg has also engaged in the formation of policy as chair of the Minnesota Forest Resources Partnership, chair of the Minnesota Association of County Land Commissioners (MACLC), and representing County land departments on the Minnesota Forest Resources Council. Additionally, Greg has been key in educating and promoting forestry at the college, high school, and elementary school levels. Throughout all, Greg has exemplified the values and principles of SAF.
OUTSTANDING MEMBER
Marcella Windmuller-Campione
Marcella received an Outstanding Member Award to recognize the various ways she contributes to the forestry community in Minnesota and across the nation. Marcella works as an Associate Professor of Silviculture at the University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Resources and has been a committed member of the Society of American Foresters since being a student member. One of her most notable service contributions, so far, was serving as the Program Chair for the 2023 National Convention held in Sacramento, CA. In this role she provided crucial leadership in the development and implementation of SAF’s largest and most important annual event. In her professional role, Marcella has built a highly regarded research program portfolio involving partners across the state, and nation. She is a skilled and respected educator teaching courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, as well as contributing to continuing education efforts for working professionals. Marcella has served as co-director for the National Advanced Silviculture Program – Ecological Systems Module since 2016.
Sawyer Scherer
Sawyer received an Outstanding Member Award to recognize the many ways he has led the MN SAF chapter over the past few years. Sawyer first raised his hand for chapter leadership back in 2019 as he entered the State Chair leadership cycle and has served as Incoming Chair, Chair, and/or Past Chair during two cycles. During his time in leadership, he led the coordination of at least two annual meetings, represented MN SAF in the SAF House Society of Delegates, served on a District 5 Leadership Academy planning team, reignited the Minnesota Forester Newsletter, led the chapter through the Covid Pandemic, served on the MN SAF DEI working group, and led the chapter through the SAF incorporation process, just to name a few things. MN SAF is in a good spot due to his continued volunteer leadership.
Kylee Berger
Kylee received an Outstanding Member award to recognize her years of service as MN SAF’s State Secretary/Treasurer. Kylee joined SAF as a student chapter member at the University of Minnesota and has remained involved and engaged as she’s gotten her career up and running with the MN DNR, where she assists private landowners in a large area of west central Minnesota. Kylee has been quietly working in the background for the MN SAF state chapter as Secretary/Treasurer since at least 2019. In this role, she has performed some of the most important, though underappreciated, work required for MN SAF to exist. Kylee has maintained the financial books for the state chapter, has led regular audits of the accounts, has created annual budgets, has kept MN SAF’s non-profit status active, maintained records for tax-reporting purposes, and has been present to take notes at annual meetings. In 2023, her well-kept records allowed us to breeze through the SAF incorporation process. Outside of her service at MN DNR, Kylee works as a Cooperative Forest Management (CFM) forester for the DNR out of Detroit Lakes.
YOUNG FORESTER LEADERSHIP AWARD
Lane Moser
Lane received the Young Professional Award to recognize his leadership coordinating the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) working group. Lane has been a dedicated member of SAF since 2017 and has been the Chair of the DEI working group since 2023. During the year, he renewed the working group’s annual goals and work plan, regularly coordinated and led group meetings to maintain progress, hosted a MN SAF Town Hall meeting at the 2023 MN SAF Annual Meeting, and developed a followup report regarding perceptions and understanding of issues related to DEI within the membership of MN SAF (available on the DEI working group webpage). Lane also led the working group through the creation and implementation of the MN SAF Early Career Gap Funding Award(s). Lane’s leadership was key for turning the idea of the early-career gap funding award into a reality in 2023. Lane works as a program coordinator for the Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative based at the University of Minnesota’s Cloquet Forestry Center.
Greg Bernu
Greg was awarded the Outstanding Service Award as a recognition of his dedication to the field of forestry in Minnesota and the region during his career. As a professional forester, Greg’s work life has taken him to many places and many roles all of which cementing his commitment to serve and enhance the field of forestry and uphold the principles and responsibility that go along with sustainably managing, socially and ecologically, our wonderful forested resource. Greg has been active in SAF for over 36 years as he has worked professionally for Carlton County and a number of other agencies. Through his role with Carlton County, Greg has also engaged in the formation of policy as chair of the Minnesota Forest Resources Partnership, chair of the Minnesota Association of County Land Commissioners (MACLC), and representing County land departments on the Minnesota Forest Resources Council. Additionally, Greg has been key in educating and promoting forestry at the college, high school, and elementary school levels. Throughout all, Greg has exemplified the values and principles of SAF.
OUTSTANDING MEMBER
Marcella Windmuller-Campione
Marcella received an Outstanding Member Award to recognize the various ways she contributes to the forestry community in Minnesota and across the nation. Marcella works as an Associate Professor of Silviculture at the University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Resources and has been a committed member of the Society of American Foresters since being a student member. One of her most notable service contributions, so far, was serving as the Program Chair for the 2023 National Convention held in Sacramento, CA. In this role she provided crucial leadership in the development and implementation of SAF’s largest and most important annual event. In her professional role, Marcella has built a highly regarded research program portfolio involving partners across the state, and nation. She is a skilled and respected educator teaching courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, as well as contributing to continuing education efforts for working professionals. Marcella has served as co-director for the National Advanced Silviculture Program – Ecological Systems Module since 2016.
Sawyer Scherer
Sawyer received an Outstanding Member Award to recognize the many ways he has led the MN SAF chapter over the past few years. Sawyer first raised his hand for chapter leadership back in 2019 as he entered the State Chair leadership cycle and has served as Incoming Chair, Chair, and/or Past Chair during two cycles. During his time in leadership, he led the coordination of at least two annual meetings, represented MN SAF in the SAF House Society of Delegates, served on a District 5 Leadership Academy planning team, reignited the Minnesota Forester Newsletter, led the chapter through the Covid Pandemic, served on the MN SAF DEI working group, and led the chapter through the SAF incorporation process, just to name a few things. MN SAF is in a good spot due to his continued volunteer leadership.
Kylee Berger
Kylee received an Outstanding Member award to recognize her years of service as MN SAF’s State Secretary/Treasurer. Kylee joined SAF as a student chapter member at the University of Minnesota and has remained involved and engaged as she’s gotten her career up and running with the MN DNR, where she assists private landowners in a large area of west central Minnesota. Kylee has been quietly working in the background for the MN SAF state chapter as Secretary/Treasurer since at least 2019. In this role, she has performed some of the most important, though underappreciated, work required for MN SAF to exist. Kylee has maintained the financial books for the state chapter, has led regular audits of the accounts, has created annual budgets, has kept MN SAF’s non-profit status active, maintained records for tax-reporting purposes, and has been present to take notes at annual meetings. In 2023, her well-kept records allowed us to breeze through the SAF incorporation process. Outside of her service at MN DNR, Kylee works as a Cooperative Forest Management (CFM) forester for the DNR out of Detroit Lakes.
YOUNG FORESTER LEADERSHIP AWARD
Lane Moser
Lane received the Young Professional Award to recognize his leadership coordinating the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) working group. Lane has been a dedicated member of SAF since 2017 and has been the Chair of the DEI working group since 2023. During the year, he renewed the working group’s annual goals and work plan, regularly coordinated and led group meetings to maintain progress, hosted a MN SAF Town Hall meeting at the 2023 MN SAF Annual Meeting, and developed a followup report regarding perceptions and understanding of issues related to DEI within the membership of MN SAF (available on the DEI working group webpage). Lane also led the working group through the creation and implementation of the MN SAF Early Career Gap Funding Award(s). Lane’s leadership was key for turning the idea of the early-career gap funding award into a reality in 2023. Lane works as a program coordinator for the Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative based at the University of Minnesota’s Cloquet Forestry Center.
2022 Award Winners
Outstanding service: Dr. Matt Russell
Outstanding members: Emma Schultz, Kyle Gill
Young Forester Leadership: Rachael Dube
Outstanding service: Dr. Matt Russell
Outstanding members: Emma Schultz, Kyle Gill
Young Forester Leadership: Rachael Dube
MNSAF Award Criteria
OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE SOCIETY AWARD
The award recognizes the outstanding individual MN SAF member with broad contributions to the practice of forestry. Emphasis will be placed on accomplishments and activities during the past year but not to the exclusion of other significant lifetime activities. Consideration can be given but not limited to advancement and implementation of forest biology, policy activities, professional development, promotion of forestry and service to SAF.
OUTSTANDING MEMBER AWARD
This award recognizes up to three MN SAF members for their service to SAF. Emphasis shall be placed on their service during the previous year, but consideration shall be given for their service to SAF over a sustained period of time. Service may include outstanding work for a chapter, the Minnesota society and/or the national SAF.
YOUNG FORESTER LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Minnesota SAF Young Forester Leadership Award, recognizes a young forester for their development and promotion of a project or program benefitting the practice of forestry and SAF.
The award recognizes the outstanding individual MN SAF member with broad contributions to the practice of forestry. Emphasis will be placed on accomplishments and activities during the past year but not to the exclusion of other significant lifetime activities. Consideration can be given but not limited to advancement and implementation of forest biology, policy activities, professional development, promotion of forestry and service to SAF.
OUTSTANDING MEMBER AWARD
This award recognizes up to three MN SAF members for their service to SAF. Emphasis shall be placed on their service during the previous year, but consideration shall be given for their service to SAF over a sustained period of time. Service may include outstanding work for a chapter, the Minnesota society and/or the national SAF.
YOUNG FORESTER LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Minnesota SAF Young Forester Leadership Award, recognizes a young forester for their development and promotion of a project or program benefitting the practice of forestry and SAF.