Today the Oregon Forest & Industries Council board of directors announced it has selected Chris Edwards as the organization’s next President. Currently President of government relations firm Tivaci Group LLC, Edwards will transition into his new role in the first week of July.
“We are extremely fortunate to have secured Chris to lead OFIC’s high-functioning team of professionals,” said Todd Payne, OFIC Chairman of the Board and President and CEO of Seneca Jones Timber Co. “We are confident his track record of finding common ground through a solutions-oriented, forward-looking approach will continue the industry’s momentum into the next generation. Chris is truly one of us. With roots in the woods and sawdust in his veins, he comes from a family-owned and operated mill business and has always been a champion of natural resources issues both in and out of the Legislature. We are looking forward to the positive energy he will bring to our team.”
Edwards comes to OFIC with ten years of extensive leadership experience in the Legislature, having served as a Democrat for three years in the Oregon House representing House District 14 (West Eugene and Junction City) followed by seven years in the Oregon Senate representing District 7 (North Eugene, West Eugene and Junction City). While in the Legislature, Edwards was known for his ability to work seamlessly with both political parties on intensely controversial environmental issues in pivotal committee positions, including Chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, and Co-Chair of the Natural Resources Joint Sub-Committee of Ways and Means.
In 2016 Edwards stepped down to accept the position of Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at the University of Oregon. Edwards left the University after two years to start his own government relations firm, where OFIC has been his largest client since 2019. A native of Eugene, Edwards spent several years working at his family owned and operated mill in Goshen and running a small forest products export/import company before his tenure in the Legislature.
“I am truly honored to take on this new role and add strength to the collaborative focus of today’s forest products sector,” said Edwards. “This is an exciting time to be involved in forest policy and working with some of the most pioneering forestry professionals in the world. Private forests provide environmental, social and economic benefits for all Oregonians – from clean water to carbon capture and storage in long-lived wood products to wildlife habitat to tens of thousands of family-wage jobs – our industry is inherently part of the solution to climate change and an economic main stay of Oregon. I look forward to working with OFIC members and other partners as we advance into the future of Oregon forestry.”
Edwards will replace Kristina McNitt, who is retiring after nine years as OFIC President, and 25 years of natural resource advocacy before the Oregon state legislature.
“Kristina capably led and empowered OFIC staff for nine years through critically important moments of our industry’s history,” said Payne. “Her loyalty, instinct, strategic thinking, work ethic and grit will be sorely missed, but we are overjoyed for her to finally get to relax in retirement – she has more than earned it.”
Herd Freed Hartz, based in Seattle, conducted the executive search on behalf of the OFIC board of directors.
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The Oregon Forest & Industries Council is a trade association representing more than 50 Oregon forestland owners and forest products manufacturers. OFIC’s members combine sustainable forest management practices with the latest science and technology to continuously improve the environmental, social and economic value of healthy working forests. We protect and manage more than 5 million acres of Oregon forestlands, employ nearly 60,000 Oregonians, and make Oregon the nation’s largest state producer of softwood lumber and plywood. For more information, go to ofic.com.
Contact: Sara Duncan
Phone: 503-828-2373
Email: sara@ofic.com
