Meet Ryan Owens, NEFF’s New Leader

New England Forestry Foundation is pleased to provide an in-depth introduction to our new leader and Executive Director, Ryan Owens, who stepped into his role this November—curious, excited, and ready to learn more about NEFF’s unique niche and rich history among New England environmental nonprofits.

Within two weeks, NEFF’s forestry team had him trekking through woodlands managed to Exemplary Forestry standards that are enrolled in our Western Maine Habitat Restoration initiative, headed by NEFF Western Maine Project Specialist Christine Parrish. By all accounts, everyone had a great time.

“I’ve spent a lot of time studying New England’s natural history, but walking the woods with the forestry staff was a whole new experience,” said Ryan. “They can see into the future, predicting what the forest will look like in 50 years as a result of decisions made today.”

If you haven’t had a chance to review it, here’s Ryan’s impressive professional background: Ryan joined NEFF after 16 years as Executive Director of the Monadnock Conservancy, a land trust serving southwest New Hampshire. Under his leadership, the Conservancy more than doubled its protected land holdings and became one of the first land trusts in the country to earn Land Trust Accreditation. Ryan was a cofounding director and past president of the New Hampshire Land Trust Coalition, and he currently serves on the Land Trust Alliance Leadership Council. He started his career with The Wilderness Society, where he overlapped briefly with former NEFF Executive Director Bob Perschel. He holds a master’s degree from the Field Naturalist Program at University of Vermont and a B.A. in ecology from Dartmouth.

This article uses an interview format to quickly introduce Ryan in his own words.

Ryan’s Working Woodlands Hobbies

Walnut and birch make for a striking contrast in the half-blind dovetails on this drawer, made by NEFF Executive Director Ryan Owens

To me, wood is the ultimate creative medium. I first learned basic carpentry from my dad, then I figured out hand tools making canoe paddles and carving spoons. These days, cabinetmaking for my old house occupies most of my time in the shop. I love the elegant simplicity of the Shaker style, but I try to add my own creative touches now and then.

The carbon footprint of my first propane-fueled maple sugaring season in 2020 still makes me cringe. Fortunately, I’ve since converted to boiling sap with wood. My first real evaporator, cobbled together from cinder blocks and steamer pans, worked surprisingly well. Last season saw the debut of my hand-built barrel model. The pure physical labor of sugaring—gather, boil, repeat—is my antidote to life’s stresses.

Why New England Forestry Foundation?

NEFF’s mission aligns with my values perhaps more than any other conservation organization I’ve known, making it a logical career step. In my mid-twenties, as I slowly learned that I did not, in fact, have all the answers, I came to embrace forestry and the forest products economy as not the enemy of forest conservation, but rather a critical complement to it when practiced thoughtfully and holistically. This belief has been central to NEFF’s mission for 80 years, which is why I’d long admired the organization, and that respect only grew when NEFF more recently linked good forestry to climate action.

A Little Help From a Friend (With Expert Advice)

I was fortunate to have outgoing Executive Director Bob Perschel stick around through the end of 2024 to show me the ropes and welcome me into NEFF’s extensive network of partners and supporters. Bob still has a lot to offer NEFF, which is why he’ll continue working with us as Senior Advisor on a consulting basis on select initiatives to help advance Exemplary Forestry™ and the 30 Percent Solution.

What Have You Learned and Appreciated About NEFF So Far?

First, I knew NEFF had a top-notch staff when I applied for the job, but the caliber I’ve now witnessed firsthand exceeded my already high expectations. From the office staff who keep everything running smoothly to the field staff who traverse, assess, and manage the forests, every team member is a true professional and shows dedication to NEFF, its mission, and one another. They’re a lot of fun, too!

NEFF staff Sophie Anthony, Kate Collin, Jennifer Shakum, Lisa Hayden and Dan Hohl | Photo by Tinsley Hunsdorfer

Second, NEFF has a small but fiercely loyal base of supporters. There are hundreds of families who have been donating for decades, and more than a few for whom NEFF is a multi-generational commitment, some even going back to NEFF’s founders. I’m enjoying getting to know many of them while thinking creatively about how to engage the next generation with our critically important work.

What’s Next for You and NEFF?

In the near term, I still have a lot to learn and many people to meet, so I’ve gone on the first of several trips around New England to visit NEFF staff, partners, and supporters.

Longer term, we’re entering year three of our five-year, $30-million USDA-funded New England Climate-Smart Commodities Partnership Project, and the early work we’ve done to engage commercial, smaller-acreage, and Tribal Nations forest landowners will start to pay off in new climate-smart forestry practices on the ground.