Laura Six, Taylor Scherer and Adam Campbell, forestry supervisor in Penticton, British Columbia, mingle and network at the SFI annual conference.
Weyerhaeuser employees from across the company recently traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May for the 2025 Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Annual Conference.
Representing a broad cross-section of our company — including Sustainability, Timberlands and Recruiting — this group not only attended sessions and engaged with industry peers but also presented on some of our leading efforts in education and climate-smart forestry.
“It was really exciting to be at a conference that’s so collaborative and solution-focused,” says Laura Six, forest ecology scientist based in Centralia, Washington. “You get to see what people across the sector are working on, and where our work fits in.”
Laura, center, participates in a panel discussion.
EXPLORING THE BROADER FOREST SECTOR
Many of our participants this year were new to the event, making the experience especially energizing.
“It was fascinating to see how interconnected the forest sector is,” says Angela Holland, area marketing manager based in Thomasville, Alabama. “There were representatives from conservation nonprofits, forestry companies, Indigenous nations, schools, consumer goods companies and everything in between. It helped me understand how the whole system works together to drive sustainable forestry forward.”
Angela also appreciated the behind-the-scenes view of how SFI® standards are shaped and improved.
“Hearing feedback directly from the people who live and work in the forests gave me a better appreciation for the thoughtfulness that goes into forest certification,” she says.
Laura begins her presentation about using Project Learning Tree materials to increase forest literacy among school-age children.
STEPPING OUT OF THE SILO
Michelle Metcalf, Western Timberlands environmental manager based in Castle Rock, Washington, joined the conference with networking and developmental opportunities in mind. She relished the chance to meet people who do other kinds of industry work, both inside and outside the company.
“My work keeps me in a Western Timberlands bubble most of the time,” she says. “Being exposed to the big picture of environmental certification across the country was really valuable, and it was great to connect with folks from our Canadian Timberlands as well.”
Taylor Scherer, senior talent acquisition manager at our Seattle Headquarters, staffed a Weyerhaeuser booth showcasing career opportunities.
“Meeting Taylor was a highlight for me,” Michelle says. “I learned so much about recruiting, and I got to hang out at the booth and talk to students and young professionals about who we are as a company.”
Wendy Crosina, director of forest sustainability for Canada, presents her topic of climate-informed forestry practices.
TAKING THE STAGE
Laura and Wendy Crosina, our director of forest sustainability for Canada, both presented educational topics during the conference.
Laura talked about increasing forest literacy using SFI’s Project Learning Tree — a topic she’s deeply involved in as part of the PLT Education Operating Committee. She emphasized the importance of partnerships in expanding K–12 forest education and preparing the next generation of environmental leaders.
“SFI’s community of educators and forest professionals is incredibly motivated,” she says. “There was so much energy around the idea that forest literacy needs to be a shared goal across our sector.”
That shared energy extended into other sessions, including Wendy’s presentation on climate-informed forestry practices and the role of the SFI Forest Management Standard in adapting to climate change.
“Wendy did a phenomenal job,” Laura says. “She was so clear and passionate, and I walked away with a deeper understanding of how our forest management work connects to climate strategy.”
Some of our employees at the conference gather for dinner.
A RENEWED SENSE OF PURPOSE
Throughout the conference, participants gained insight into industry trends and Weyerhaeuser’s evolving role in them. For many, the experience brought renewed clarity and motivation.
“I left feeling reinvigorated,” Michelle says. “Stepping into a space like this reminds you how interconnected everything is.”
In addition to professional takeaways, many also found personal inspiration. Laura describes the event as “refreshing,” noting that it provided a chance to step back from day-to-day work and connect to the larger ‘why’ behind sustainable forestry.
“It gave me space to reflect on how our programs fit into the big picture,” Laura says.
That broader perspective — combined with hearing how other organizations are tackling shared challenges — helped spark new ideas for the months ahead.
“I came away feeling proud of the work we’re doing, and inspired to keep pushing it forward,” Angela says. “There’s real momentum in our industry, and we have a great story to tell.”
