Consultant, Kevin Kennedy Associates Inc.
Providing expertise in natural resource management, silvicultural alternatives, resource and forestry consulting, environmental assessment, natural resource litigation consulting, and related expertise to a wide variety of clients.
Natural Resource and Forestry Consultant
Worked with various clients in the management of their timber properties. Specialized in timber sales, marketing timber products, timber property evaluations, timber taxes, natural resource litigation issues, chain of custody auditor for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) wood products, and developing management plans under the Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program.
Operations-Forester Team Leade, Northwest Pennsylvania
Was responsible for managing the implementation of 250,000-acre District recreation, fire control, oil, gas, minerals, use permits, wildlife, watershed and timber programs. Managed a complex Million-dollar program budget and $13.5 million in timber contracts. Forest Type consisted of Alleghany, Northern and Oak hardwoods. Major species worked with are back cherry, red maple, sugar maple, birch, beech, and red pine. As a Certified Silviculturist, was responsible for the District's reforestation, TSI, herbicide and fertilization programs. Developed the first commercial hardwood plantations in western Pennsylvania. Represented the District in contacts with the general public and Federal, State and local governmental agencies. Utilized consensus building and negotiating skills amongst team members, the general public, contractors and Forest users. Provided technical environmental advice to the District's Design Team during the development of District Environmental Assessment projects. Supervised a staff of 12 employees.
Owner-Forester of 350 acres of Hardwood Forest in western Pennsylvania
Developed management and harvest plans. Worked with various independent operators in plan implementation. Worked with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry's tree farming and Forest Stewardship programs to private landowners. Developed a major timber sale utilizing helicopter logging in order to minimize the environmental impacts to the land due to steep slopes and watershed concerns.
Owner/ operator of 848 acres of mineral rights
Entered into negotiations with oil and gas companies in the development of these rights. Worked with deed searches and surveying techniques. Interpreted available geological data in the analysis of a property's mineral potential. This mineral ownership was in the Marcellus gas shale.
Owner/ operator of 230 acres of Indigenous Old Growth Pine Forest, Honduras, C.A.
Managed the Property for timber production. Dealt with the local legal system in land tenure issues. Worked with Honduran Forest Service, local sawmills and reality firms in the management of this tract.
Silviculturist
Worked in developing fuels reduction prescriptions on 6,000-acre parcel in Montana. Various ecosystems were encountered from low elevation open ponderosa pine to high elevation spruce douglas fir forest. Worked in old growth and young regeneration stands.
Forester, Technical Advisor in Colombia, South America
Developed a chain of custody proposal for timber harvesting operations for the US Agency for International Development (USAID)/MIDAS project. Evaluated project needs for AID, including added value/forestry value chains and developed recommendations to improve efficiencies and increase financial returns to local communities that participated within the project’s scope.
ID Team Leader/ Silviculturist
Was ID Team leader on a 14,000-acre watershed environmental assessment in cooperation with the US Department of Energy (DOE) on the Savanna River District Site. Developed silvicultural alternatives and prescriptions for southern pine (slash, longleaf) and hardwood stands. Worked cooperatively with agency biologist in order to develop prescriptions that improved habitat for the federally endangered Red Cockaded Wood Pecker. Worked with University of South Carolina specialist in archeology and ecology as well as USFS agency specialist in developing a final assessment report that was jointly reviewed and approved by DOE and USFS. Developed recommendations for improving efficiencies in development of future on-site projects.
Instructor, Namibia, Africa
As part of a multi-national cadre of instructors, developed and instructed a two week training course on sustainable forestry, and forest and wildlife inventory methodologies. Instructed a multi-national group of professionals and key community members from Botswana, Namibia, Angola and Zambia that were associated with the Okavango Integrated River Basin Management Project funded by the US Agency for International Development (AID). Coordinated with the Namibian Forest Service research branch to develop a partnership with the Angolan Institute of Forestry Development and IP whereby the skills of the Namibian Forest Service could be leveraged to cost effectively assist the Angolans in developing a national inventory system. Over 40 participants were reached and headway made in helping to develop skills to assist in the Okavango Integrated River Basin Management Project implementation.
Environmental Assessment Team Member, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Nicaragua, Central America
Evaluated affects on bio-diversity and tropical forestry for a proposed US Agency for International Development (AID) countrywide economic project proposal for Nicaragua. Specifically assigned the task to review and analyze existing Nicaraguan laws, regulations & treaties; NGOs, multilateral governmental and in country agency programs; and private industry and their affect on the proposed AID economic programs (agricultural, forestry & Eco-tourism) and bio-diversity. Developed the assessment with recommendations for AID. The assessment was designed for a 4-person team for 4 weeks and the team completed the assignment in 2 weeks with 2 persons.
US Project Leader, Honduras, Central America
Was Technical Advisor and US project Leader, for FAS on a technical team responsible for developing ecological, landslide restoration and road assessments within the Rio Humuya upper watershed project area. Worked with local community leaders, AID and local non-governmental organizations (NGO) in implementing the project's goal of restoration of this watershed area in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Developed a project design for AID Honduras to mitigate environmental affects of future natural disasters by converting present agricultural coffee growing practices to a more ecologically friendly system. Designed and implemented an assessment review for the $6 million project. A final report was presented to USDA FAS and US AID.
Technical Coordinator, to the USDA FAS
Was responsible for the recruiting, interviewing and selection of three technical advisory teams to implement assignments in Honduras and Nicaragua, C.A. Areas of team design and expertise were in reforestation, water quality monitoring and roading. Coordinated with in-country project managers, FAS Washington, D.C. based program managers and technical advisors.
Forester, Technical Advisor to the Dominican Republic
Worked with US Agency for International Development (AID) and the new Dominican Republic Forest Service (SUREF) in implementing the Dominican Republic’s new environmental planning laws for both governmental and privately owned lands. Helped interpret and develop the implementation of a land management planning process to be utilized nationally to meet the intent of the new law. Developed the technical assistant scope of work to implement the first governmental Forest Land Management Plan (FLMP) initiated under the new law.
Forester, Technical Advisor to the Dominican Republic
Worked with US AID, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and the Dominican Republic Forest Service (FORESTA) in developing and implementing a final technical review of a 4 sawmill timber harvesting project that was supplying lumber for emergency housing. In addition, developed the final assessment for AID on the feasibility of using this implementation model for other similar disaster projects. Developed recommendations as to how the model could be adapted for use in other regions of the world.
Forester, Technical Advisor to the Dominican Republic
Worked with US AID, NGOs and the Dominican Republic Forest Service (FORESTA) in evaluating and improving production of 4 sawmills that were supplying lumber for emergency housing. In addition, developed harvest plans to improve delivery of logs to the mills. Assessed the quality and quantity of damaged timber still available for mill use from a hurricane storm. Evaluated, developed and reviewed accountability for the production and delivery of lumber from the AID sawmills.
Adult Education Lecturer, Jeff Tech Institute, Reynoldsville, PA
Developed and taught a 9-hour adult education class, titled Forest Management for the Private Woodlot Owner. Course consisted of three, 3-hour lectures covering ownership goals and management plans, silvicultural practices and timber sale development, timber taxes and the investment potential of timberland.
University Instructor, USFS Eastern and Southern Regions University, St. Louis, Missouri
Developed and taught, as one of a team of instructors, the Natural Resource 381A Timber Appraisal Course to professional timber appraisers. Such topics as log grades, yield tables, timber pricing, appraisal methods and marketing techniques were discussed.
Lecturer, Penn State Cooperative Extension Service, Smethport, PA
Assisted the Penn State Cooperative Extension service forester in developing and presenting a forestry management short course for large and small private forest landowners.
University Lecturer, Penn State University, DuBois, PA
Developed and taught the spring semester Forestry 242 course to approximately 40-second year wildlife majors. The 3-credit course consisted of 3 segments of lectures on forestry. These three segments were management, law enforcement and international forest management and policy.
Forester, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico
Developed the annual report for the international Forestry Support Program. Evaluated and recommended candidates for a United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) assignment in Rome. Coordinated with Washington offices and the US Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico in developing a white paper on accessing available tropical forestry research and reorganization recommendation for International Forestry to better respond to tropical forestry information needs.
Forester, Northwestern Pennsylvania
Was responsible for the planning, implementation and administration of a 125,000-acre District's oil, gas and minerals program. Developed the District's timber sale appraisals and contracts. District Team Leader, negotiated with major oil and gas companies in developing their mineral rights on National Forest System Lands. Developed oil and gas development project Environmental Assessment Reports (National Environmental Policy Act). Coordinated with various state and federal regulatory agencies to insure that state and federal regulations and laws in oil and gas development were adhered to.
Forester, Honduras, C.A.
Was technical advisor to Honduras, C.A. Worked with the Honduran Forest Development Corporation (COHDEFOR) in evaluating their timber sale administration and logging engineering program as part of a joint Honduran government and US AID tropical forestry development project.
Forest Pest Management Broker, Ridgway, PA
Coordinated the aerial spraying of private Landowner’s property for Gypsy Moth infestations. Worked with landowners over a two county area in the evaluation and spraying of their properties.
Operations Team Leader, Northwestern Pennsylvania
Planned, budgeted and administrated a 125,000 acre Forest District's operations and contract administration programs. Directed and reviewed program work for recreation, fire control, oil, gas, minerals, special use permits, wildlife, watershed and timber programs. Represented the District in contacts with recreational user groups, timber purchasers, and oil and gas owners in explaining and interpreting the District’s policies, objectives, rules and regulations of said programs. Supervised a staff of 16.
Partner and U.S. Marketing Manager, for PNG Timberlands, Buffalo, NY
Formed a partnership and served as the U.S. Marketing Manager. The company goal was to sell quality U.S. hardwoods in the Australian market. After extensive marketing research, both in the U.S. and Australia, it was felt that selling into the Australian market would not meet our desired goals.
Forester, Northwestern Pennsylvania
Implemented and administrated a 125,000 Forest District's Operations Program, including timber management, wildlife management and developed recreation management, special use permits. Reviewed projects to assure that they were in compliance with Environmental Assessments (EA). ID Team Leader for a toxic waste site situated on the District. Developed timber sale contracts and timber appraisals. Assisted the State of Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry in developing a cable logging demonstration. Supervised 10 forest technicians.
Forester, Ketchikan, Alaska
Was responsible for all silvicultural, logging engineering and forestry activities on a one million acre Forest District. Forest types worked in were spruce-hemlock.
Forester, Forest Research Station
Evaluated various ecological forest types throughout South Carolina and Florida.
Forester, US Peace Corps Volunteer, Honduras, C.A.
Worked throughout the country of Honduras developing and implementing National Forestry Policy for the Honduran Forest Service.
Supervisor skill training, Program of Advanced Studies in Silviculture, Forest Engineering Institute (FEI), Photogrammetry, National Institute of Professional Formation