After serving the southern pine industry for nearly 45 years with the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA), Tami Kessler will retire on April 2, 2021.

Tami began her life-long career with SFPA after graduating from Soule Business College in December 1976, joining the association as Secretary to the Forest Resource Division. Her path to Executive Director began as she moved into SFPA’s Accounting Department following the retirement of Elsie Wichterich. In 1982 she was promoted to Office Manager and then to Director of Administration in 1986 as she quickly ascended through the ranks. In 2002, she was named as Exposition Director for the association’s Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition, followed by the board-level role of SFPA Secretary and Director of Administration. In January 2014, Tami became SFPA’s Executive Director. Tami is one of the longest-serving employees in SFPA history.

As part of an orderly transfer of leadership, Eric Gee will assume the role as Executive Director.

Eric Gee

The Southern Forest Products Association is a non-profit trade association benefiting the Southern Yellow Pine industry.