ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE

The Emmett & ViAnn Thompson Lecture in Forest Economics and Policy was established in the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment by the college’s founding dean, Emmett F. Thompson, and his wife, ViAnn. The annual series will enrich the college’s academic programs with speakers of national and international acclaim who possess expertise in forestry and natural resources with a focus on forest economics and policy. As part of the multi-day event, opportunities for networking and discussion will foster speaker engagement and knowledge transfer among professionals, faculty and students.

INAUGURAL LECTURE

The inaugural Emmett & ViAnn Lecture in Forest Economics and Policy will feature Thompson Distinguished Lecturer Brooks Mendell, president and CEO of Forisk Consulting. Mendell will present a lecture titled “Forest Finance and Economics: Making Investment Decisions in Times of Uncertainty” on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 2 p.m. at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center in Auburn, Ala. The lecture will take place in the Auditorium, with a reception immediately following in the Grand Ballroom.

Lecture Abstract

Investment decisions in forestry and all other asset classes are not made in vacuums. The physical facts on the ground, the priorities of key stakeholders, and the external policy environment affect the economic context in which these decisions are made. Within a framework that accounts for financial objectives, what do the economics of the south’s forest industry and timberland sectors indicate about the sector’s future competitiveness? What lessons can we draw that might apply more generally when making choices with emerging markets and assets associated with the natural environment?

Speaker Biography

Brooks Mendell possesses three decades of consulting, operating and research experience in the forest products and timber industries. His experience includes roles in harvest operations and procurement with Weyerhaeuser, in management consulting with Accenture and as a faculty member in forestry and finance at the University of Georgia (UGA). A Fulbright Scholar in Uruguay, Mendell founded Forisk in 2004. He has broad domestic and international experience supporting small businesses, Fortune 500 corporations and public organizations. An inductee in the Georgia Foresters Hall of Fame, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), an MBA at the University of California at Berkeley, and a doctorate in forest finance at UGA.

Event Details

Auburn University faculty, staff, students, alumni and industry professionals are invited to attend the lecture and reception to be held at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center Auditorium and Grand Ballroom. Admission is complimentary; however, pre-registration is necessary. Please RSVP to Alex Doss at wad0010@auburn.edu by Wednesday, Feb. 12.  Parking is available adjacent to the conference center in the Auburn University South College Parking Deck. For more information, contact Marc Walley, chair of the planning committee, at mwalley@forestinvest.com.