The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) announced leadership transition. Current President Pete Madden has assumed the role of President and CEO, replacing Carlton Owen, who has led as CEO since the Endowment was founded on September 21, 2006. Madden joined the staff as President on February 17, 2020. Owen will retire on December 31, 2020.
The Endowment was initially formed in 2006 as a result of the signing of the Softwood Lumber Agreement to end ongoing litigation between the United States and Canadian governments. A key component of this agreement was to utilize a portion of the disputed fees to fund jointly agreed-upon initiatives supporting the lumber industry. To cement the organization’s establishment, Owen helped negotiate two final agreements: it would have an independent board of directors, initially selected by the Chairman and CEO, and its principal would be managed as a perpetual endowment. Under Owen’s leadership, the Endowment has utilized $82 million of its original $200 million to leverage $647 million from partner and external investments, totaling $730 million in economic impact.
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities.
