TECHNICAL STEERING COMMITTEE
The Technical Steering Committee is composed of individuals who have a high level of expertise through their background, formal educational degrees, and continued research or professional practice so that they are current on issues, trends, and best practices in one of the following areas: climate change, forest conservation, forest ecology, invasive species, landscape ecology, natural resource economics, natural resource law, recreation, silviculture, social policy, visual/aesthetics, watersheds, and wildlife habitat. They are advocates for good science, forest management and process, and are respected by a broad cross-section of stakeholders.
The members of the Technical Steering Committee were selected by a group in which stakeholders held a central role. As a starting point, MODR facilitators identified, and then extended invitations to participate in the selection process, to individuals who have demonstrated strong interest in the issues to be addressed in the visioning process and held leadership roles in organizations in the stakeholder community.
The selection committee included: Heather Clish of the Appalachian Mountain Club, representing environmental interests (who, as one interested in serving on the Technical Steering Committee, recused herself from a discussion of her qualifications); Robert Collins of the Massachusetts Association of Professional Foresters, representing forester interests; David Foster of the Harvard Forest, representing the academic/scientific community; Sharl Heller of the Statewide Friends Network, representing citizen steward interests; and Fred Heyes of the Massachusetts Forest Products Association, representing landowner interests. Also participating in discussions on the selection of Technical Steering Committee members were Lisa Vernegaard of the Trustees of Reservations, who had been named Chair of the Committee by DCR Commissioner Rick Sullivan, and Robert O’Connor of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Stephanie Cooper, DCR Chief of Staff, and Commissioner Sullivan observed, but did not participate in, the selection process.
The group confirmed the types and balance of expertise desired on the Technical Steering Committee and reviewed the qualifications of individuals who had expressed interest to MODR in serving on it. The group reached full consensus on the membership of the Committee, and the MODR facilitators confirmed with those selected that they were willing to serve. Commissioner Sullivan then approved the selections and formally appointed each member. The Technical Steering Committee is holding an organizational meeting on Tuesday, April 21 at 10:00am at the Doyle Center, 464 Abbott Avenue, Leominster.
Technical Steering Committee Members:
Lisa Vernegaard, Chair
Mathew R. Burne
Heather Clish
Kathleen E. Connelly, Esq.
Andy Finton
Dr. William Moomaw
Keith Ross
Bruce Spencer
Thomas Stevens
Charles Thompson
Joseph Zorzin
Biographies for the members can be found at www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/tscbios.pdf.
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