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AFM NEWS

American Forest Management Announces the Retirements of its Chairman of the Board and two Region Managers

2021/01/06

Effective December 31, 2020, three key leaders within American Forest Management retired. These include Roy Belser as Chairman of the Board/Coastal Carolinas Region Manager, John Cheatham as Carolina Region Manager, and Jake Almond as Appalachian Region Manager. Upon their retirements, a reorganization of these Regions occurred. The districts which were part of Cheatham’s Carolinas Region have merged with the Mid-Atlantic Region currently managed by Chris Manus. The districts which were part of Belser’s Coastal Carolina Region now report to Mike Calder, South Atlantic Region Manager. Merrill Nall, Tennessee Valley Region Manager, will now oversee the eastern Tennessee districts which were a part of Almond’s Appalachian Region while the West Virginia and eastern Kentucky Districts will now become part of the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Belser began his employment with the company in 1978 and served in his current role since May 2006. Prior to that he served in many field and leadership positions within AFM’s Land Management Group. During his tenure as Chairman, he played a key role in helping the organization grow throughout the United States.

Cheatham retired with 43 years of experience in forestry beginning his career with Canal Industries in 1977 and continuing his employment with Canal Forest Resources and then AFM.

Almond’s forestry career spanned 38 years in total joining the company in 1992. He was instrumental in developing and growing the company’s business in the Appalachian Region.

“Roy, as one of our company’s founders, and long-time Chairman, has served our company for many years with true dedication and unsurpassed leadership. His contributions will be long remembered”, said Brent Keefer, CEO of American Forest Management.

“John and Jake have contributed so much to the growth of our company in Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee. We wish them all of the best in the next chapter”, said Tom Margo, President of American Forest Management.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Effective December 31, 2020, three key leaders retired from American Forest Management. These were Roy Belser, who served as Chairman of the Board and Coastal Carolinas Region Manager; John Cheatham, the Carolina Region Manager; and Jake Almond, the Appalachian Region Manager.

  • Following the retirements, AFM reorganized the affected regions. The districts from Cheatham's Carolinas Region merged with the Mid-Atlantic Region, now managed by Chris Manus. The districts from Belser's Coastal Carolina Region now report to Mike Calder, South Atlantic Region Manager. Merrill Nall, Tennessee Valley Region Manager, took over the eastern Tennessee districts from Almond's Appalachian Region, while the West Virginia and eastern Kentucky districts became part of the Mid-Atlantic Region.

  • Roy Belser began his employment with the company in 1978 and served as Chairman of the Board since May 2006. Before taking on that role, he held many field and leadership positions within AFM's Land Management Group, and he is recognized as one of the company's founders.

  • John Cheatham retired with 43 years of experience in forestry. He began his career with Canal Industries in 1977 and went on to work with Canal Forest Resources before continuing his career with AFM.

  • Jake Almond's forestry career spanned 38 years in total, and he joined AFM in 1992. He was instrumental in developing and growing the company's business in the Appalachian Region, which included operations in Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee.

  • CEO Brent Keefer recognized Roy Belser as one of the company's founders and long-time Chairman, praising his many years of dedication and unsurpassed leadership, and noting that his contributions will be long remembered. President Tom Margo highlighted the significant contributions John Cheatham and Jake Almond made to the company's growth across multiple states and wished them well in the next chapter of their lives.