The Washington State Society of American Foresters is one of 30 societies forming the Society of American Foresters (SAF). Our society is comprised of professional foresters and forestry students throughout the state of Washington.
Our members play a major role in managing Washington’s 22 million acres of forest land. These forests provide a variety of benefits for Washingtonians and the nation in the form of wildlife, water, recreation, and timber and other forest products.
There are 10 chapters and student chapters that comprise WSSAF: Admiralty Inlet, Central Washington, Grays Harbor College Student Chapter, Green River College Student Chapter, Longview, Mid-Columbia, North Olympic, North Puget Sound, South Puget Sound, Southwest Washington, University of Washington Student Chapter.
We govern in accordance to our society’s bylaws and are a registered 501(c)3. The executive committee meets monthly to discuss state society business.
Meet the Leadership
BRADY DIER
2025 WSSAF Chair
Brady is the 2025 WSSAF Chair and is a State Lands Forester and Wildland Firefighter for the Department of Natural Resources in the Pacific Cascade Region. Brady holds a BAS in Forest Resource Management from Green River College, an AAS in Natural Resources from Grays Harbor College, and a BA in Philosophy from Washington State University. Brady is also a certified Tree Farm Inspector and volunteers with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southwest Washington.
MICHELLE METCALF
Chair-Elect
Michelle is WSSAF’s Chair-elect after serving as Longview Chapter Chair. Michelle is the current Environmental Manager for Weyerhaeuser Company’s Western Timberlands in Washington and Oregon. Michelle holds a B.S. in Forestry from the University of Montana and has been a member of the Society of American Foresters (SAF) since 1996. Michelle started her professional career at the Department of Natural Resources and later transitioned to the private sector. Michelle lives in the Castle Rock area with her husband Erik and their two sons. In her leisure time, you may find Michelle riding her horses down the trail or hiking the hills with her family.
DARREN GOODING
Treasurer
Darren Gooding is WSSAF Treasurer. Darren is the NEOF-Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) Designated Federal Staff Officer for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forester out of Baker City, OR.
MARGARET KREDER
Secretary
Margaret Kreder is currently the Stewardship Forester at Mason Conservation District, in Shelton, WA. Margaret is a graduate of Washington State University and has been a member of SAF since 2016. Margaret is also a member of the Washington Farm Forestry Association and is a Tree Farm Program Inspector. Margaret is serving as WSSAF Secretary.
SAMANTHA CHANG
WSSAF Past Chair
Samantha is the WSSAF Past Chair. Samantha is a graduate of Humboldt State University with a BS in Forestry, and retired USFS Silviculturist. Samantha was the 2017 Washington State Forester of the Year and a 2021 SAF Presidential Field Forester, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Glacier Peak Institute. She previously served as the North Puget Sound Chapter Chair. She has been a member of SAF since 2000.
LUKE SEMLER
North Puget Sound Chapter Chair
Luke Semler is the North Puget Sound Chapter Chair and works for the US Forest Service as the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Presale Forester. Luke has been a member of SAF since 2017 when he was at the University of Washington working through his BS in Sustainable Forest Management and Master of Forest Resources, Forest Management programs. Luke served as WSSAF Chair in 2022.
ED MORGAN
District 1 Representative
Ed is the District 1 Representative (Inland Empire, Washington State and Alaska) on the National SAF Board of Directors. Ed retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs as Alaska Regional Forester and now works in fire management with Incident Management Teams. Ed earned a B.S. in Forestry from Colorado State University and an M.S. in Forest Biometrics from the University of Montana. Ed also served as Alaska SAF State Chair in 2021-2022. Ed and his wife reside in Juneau, Alaska.
HARRY BELL
North Olympic Chapter Chair
Harry has been involved in Olympic forestry work since 1979 first with ITT Rayonier 1979-1992 and later with Green Crow 1992-2015. Harry operates Bell Forestry serving as a Forest Research Consultant for WFFA involving Adaptive Management. Harry holds a MS in Applied Forest Genetics from University of Washington, BS in Forest Management from West Virginia University and AS in Applied Science in Forestry from Paul Smith’s College. Harry has been an SAF member since 1969, is an SAF Fellow and Golden Member.
KARL PETERSON
Southwest WA Chapter Chair
Karl is the SW Washington Chapter Chair and WSSAF CFE Contact
FERN HAHELE AND JAMIE FOSTER
– Co-Chairs- Green River College Student Chapter
Fern and Jamie are Co-Chairs of the Green River College Student Chapter. Fern and his family moved to Washington from Minnesota in 2014 after falling in love with the natural beauty of the state. Through completing Fire and EMS training, serving as an Eastside Fire & Rescue Cadet, and volunteering with the Washington Trails Association (WTA), he found his passion for public service, most recently serving the community as a WTA Assistant Crew Leader. While earning an Associates in environmental Horticulture Degree, he found his keen interest in native plants. Fueled by his enthusiasm, Fern trained to become a Washington Native Plant Society Master Native Plant Steward and is currently leading a one-acre restoration in Federal Way. While volunteering with and working for the Forest Service out of the Snoqualmie Ranger District, Fern found his calling and is working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Forest Resource Management at Green River College.
Through their role as SAF Co-Chair, Fern and Jamie hopes to help foster connection and community, and to help students find their careers.
ANDREW PERLEBERG
Mid-Columbia Chapter Chair
Andy is a Professor, Regional Extension Specialist and Forestry Team Leader for Washington State University Extension Forestry. Andy serves Counties in Central and Eastern WA working out of the WSU Chelan County Extension Office located in Wenatchee.
KEVIN DEGRAW, Chair
Grays Harbor College Student Chapter
Kevin is a student at Grays Harbor College
STEPHEN RICKETTS
Admiralty Inlet Chapter Chair
Steve is a retired USDA Forest Service – Olympic National Forest. Steve is a SAF Fellow and Golden Member. Steve serves as WSSAF Historian and volunteers at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum and other local historical museums. Steve and his wife, Gloria lives in Port Hadlock, WA.
KIRK OWENS
Longview Chapter Chair
Kirk is currently a Forester for Weyerhaeuser Company’s Western Timberlands in Northwest Oregon. Kirk holds a B.S. in Forest Ecology & Management. Kirk has been a member of the Society of American Foresters (SAF) since 2021. Kirk lives in the Kalama area. In his leisure time, you may find Kirk hiking trails or taking his truck off-road
TBA
South Puget Sound Chapter Chair
TBA
MITCHELL KNOWLTON
Chair
University of Washington Student Chapter
Mitchell is a student and UW Student Chapter Chair at the University of Washington – Seattle
