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Biographies

SCOTT T. ASHWORTH, RF

Ashworth Ashworth is an Investment Forester in the Southern Region for RMK Timberland Group. Based in Columbia, South Carolina, Ashworth assists with timberland real estate activities on 300,000 acres in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Prior to joining the RMK Timberland staff in January 2002, Ashworth worked two years with International Paper Company. He was the Manager Land Transactions and managed timberland real estate issues for 2 million acres in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. From 1983 to 1999, Ashworth worked in various land management and timberland real estate positions with Union Camp Corporation.

Ashworth earned a BS degree in Forestry and MS degree in Forestry from West Virginia University. He is a Registered Forester in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and a licensed Real Estate Broker in Georgia and South Carolina. Ashworth is a member of the Georgia Forestry Association, North Carolina Forestry Association, South Carolina Forestry Association, and the Society of American Foresters.


 

MARK L. BICE, BS

BiceBice is Timberland Acquisitions Manager for RMK Timberland Group. He is responsible for all domestic timberland acquisitions for clients. As Timberland Acquisition Manager, Bice is also responsible for overseeing the sourcing, evaluating, negotiating and closing of all timberland transactions.

Before joining RMK Timberland in 2005, Bice worked two years in Regions Morgan Keegan Personal Trust overseeing all real estate assets with an estimated market value of $750 million. From 1980 to 2003, Bice worked with a regional timberland management and investment firm where he held several positions. Bice was Director of Acquisitions from 1990 - 1997 where he lead the effort to place $700 million of institutional investment funds into timberland for an international timberland investment management organization. Bice has over 25 years of experience in the timberland investment business.

Bice is a graduate of Auburn University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Management.


 

JON CALLAGHAN

CallaghanCallaghan is a Portfolio Manager and Director of Real Estate and Added Values for RMK Timberland Group. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, he is responsible for managing client portfolios for pension funds, endowments and foundations. His responsibilities include developing and implementing fund strategies focused on maximizing investment performance consistent with client objectives. Callaghan also provides advisory services for the real estate initiatives of RMK Timberland Group, including acquisitions and planning, coordination, and implementation of disposition strategies for client assets. In addition, Jon is involved in the exploration of additional environmental and ecological revenue streams on behalf of RMK Timberland Group clients.

Prior to joining RMK Timberland Group in 2004, Callaghan worked 8 years with a large US bank serving in a variety of positions within the Private Client Services line of business, most recently as Regional Real Estate Manager. In this capacity, Callaghan managed and disposed of a portfolio of timberland and real estate assets in the Southeast for a wide variety of clients.

Callaghan is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a BBA degree in Marketing and of Georgia State University with an MBA in Real Estate. While at Georgia State University, Callaghan was recognized as a Nita Robinson Scholar through the Institute of International Business, studying in Argentina and Brazil. Jon continues his affiliation with the Robinson College of Business at GSU, serving on the Honorary Board of the Department of Real Estate. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Forestry Association, is a past Trustee of the Chattahoochee Nature Center, a member of the Real Estate Group of Atlanta (REGA) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a volunteer for Trees Atlanta and a licensed real estate salesperson in Georgia.


 

JON P. CAULFIELD, Ph.D.

CaulfieldCaulfield is Director of Research and Analysis for RMK Timberland Group. He is responsible for research, analysis and distribution of forest products related economic and financial information to all areas of the timberland group. Prior to joining RMK Timberland, Caulfield was President of Timberland Fiduciary Research, a consulting firm that provides economic analysis, investment strategy development, forecasting, due diligence and other research services to timberland investors and owners. Caulfield is located in Athens, Georgia with offices in Athens and Atlanta, Georgia.

His career began in 1976 when he worked as a management forester for the South African Department of Forestry. From 1984 to 1992 he was a faculty member at Auburn University School of Forestry, where he served as Assistant, then Associate Professor. From 1992 to 1996, Jon was Senior Forest Economist at Wachovia Timberland Investment Management, in Atlanta. From 1996 to 2000 he was Professor of Forest Finance at the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forest Resources, during which time he founded Timberland Fiduciary Research. From 2000 to 2002 Caulfield was Vice President, Research and Investment Strategy for TimberVest, LLC, a timberland investment management company based in Woodstock, Georgia.

He holds Ph.D. (1984) and M.S. (1981) degrees in Forest Economics from North Carolina State University, and a B.S. (1975) in Forest Management from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Jon is author or co-author of over 100 articles, book chapters, and proceedings papers on forest finance and management. He is a Registered Forester in the State of Georgia. His professional affiliations include the Society of American Foresters, Forest Products Society and the Longleaf Alliance.


 

CHARLES D. DANIEL, CF

DanielDaniel is President and Chief Investment Officer of RMK Timberland Group. Daniel, with his staff, is responsible for timberland investment and management functions for all institutional and individual timberland clients of RMK Timberland Group. The group manages assets valued at $1.4 billion invested in approximately 1.1 million acres of timberland. These timberland investments are located in fourteen U.S. states and South America. Daniel resides in Tallahassee, Florida and maintains an office in Atlanta, Georgia.

Prior to assuming his current role, Daniel was responsible for timberland properties in RMK Timberland's Southeast timberland region covering Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee. Before joining RMK Timberland in 1996, Daniel worked in various land management and sales positions with Tenneco Packaging, Inc., Foley Timber & Land Company, and Procter and Gamble Cellulose. He is a military veteran having served on both active and reserve duty in the US Army Field Artillery.

Daniel received his Bachelor and Master degrees in Forestry, B.A. and M.A. Certificates in Latin American Studies and Certificate in Tropical Agriculture from the University of Florida. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters, the American Forestry Association, the Florida Forestry Association, the Georgia Forestry Association, and the Nature Conservancy. He is a past chairman and active Board member of the State of Florida Endangered Plant Advisory Council. He is a past member of the Florida Forestry Association and Georgia Forestry Association Board of Directors. Daniel is Chair-Elect for the Florida Section of the Society of American Foresters. He also serves on the Advisory Council for The University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation. Daniel is a member of the Florida Blue Ribbon Panel for Forest Planning 2030. Daniel is a Guardian ad Litem Child Advocate for the Florida Third Judicial Circuit.


 

STEVE KRIETEMEYER, RF

Krietemeyer Krietemeyer is an Investment Forester in the Southern Region for RMK Timberland Group. Based in Columbia, South Carolina, Krietemeyer is responsible for land management of client properties in South Carolina and lower North Carolina.

Prior to joining RMK Timberland Group in 2004, Krietemeyer worked 17 years with Resource Management Service, Inc. His last position with RMS was as Regional Manager for 185,000 acres of client properties in the Piedmont of South and North Carolina where he was responsible for timberland management activity, including timber sales, silvicultural activities, hunting lease administration and small tract sales. Prior positions with RMS included a District Forester position in South Carolina.

Krietemeyer graduated from Auburn University with a BS degree in Forest Management in 1981. After two years with the Peace Corps in the Philippines, he returned to Auburn to complete a Masters in Forestry with an emphasis in forest economics. He is a Registered Forester in South and North Carolina, and is a member of the South Carolina Forestry Association.


 

JOHN LANGE, RF

Lange Lange is an Investment Forester in the Southern Region for RMK Timberland Group. Based in Huntsville, Alabama, his responsibilities include the supervision of all timberland management activities on client properties in northwest Alabama, northern Mississippi and south central Tennessee.

Prior to joining RMK Timberland Group in 2005, he worked for 5 years as an area forester with Hancock Forest Management, Inc. where he was responsible for all land management and harvest activities in his area. Additional experience also included time with Timberland Harvesters, Inc. and Union Camp.

Lange holds a BS degree in Biology from Rhodes College, an MF degree in Forestry Management from Auburn University, and an MBA from Jacksonville State University. He is a member of both the Society of American Foresters and the Alabama Forestry Association and is a Registered Forester in Alabama.


 

JEFFERSON H. MAYO, Ph.D.

MayoMayo is the Chief Operating Officer for RMK Timberland Group. He is responsible for the development and management of the group’s business processes, the technical forestry planning and information systems and organizational communications. Mayo is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Prior to joining RMK Timberland in January 2002, Mayo served on the faculty of the Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest Resources at the University of Georgia as an Assistant Professor of Forest Business and Finance (1998 to 2002). Mayo has over 20 years of professional forestry experience including 10 years as an industrial forester in various operational positions with Union Camp Corporation.

Mayo is a native of Alabama and received a Bachelor of Science degree (forest management) from the University of Florida, a Master of Science degree (forest biometrics) from West Virginia University and a Ph.D. degree from Clemson University (forest management and economics). He is a member of the Society of American Foresters.


 

THOMAS R. MCALLISTER

McAllisterMcAllister is Director of Administration in RMK Timberland Group. He is responsible for managing support functions for administration, marketing and client service for the group. McAllister is based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Prior to joining the timberland group, McAllister was manager for administration, marketing and product development for Wachovia Asset Management in Winston-Salem. He was responsible for managing operating support and performance measurement, investment services marketing, product development, and managing client service support and investment communication programs for institutional clients.

McAllister initially joined Wachovia in 1971 in personal trust. From 1976 through 1994 he held various account and management positions in Employee Benefit Trust Services. He became manager of all marketing and investment services for Wachovia Employee Benefit Trust Services in 1987. McAllister is a graduate of Guilford College.


 

JAMES W. McBRIDE

McBrideMcBride is Vice President of Business Development for RMK Timberland Group. He has 25 years of investment experience, both marketing and managing investment assets. McBride is based in the Winston-Salem office.

Prior to joining RMK Timberland Group in 2004, he was with Columbia Management Group, focusing on large public fund institutional investors. He has 10 years experience in the natural resource area, most recently directing marketing and sales for the Hancock Agricultural Investment Group. He has also held marketing positions at CIGNA Corporation and was a portfolio manager at Bankers Trust Company.

McBride received a BA from Tufts University and a MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College, with concentrations in marketing and finance.


 

JEFF NEWSOME, RF

Newsome Newsome is the Southern Regional Manager for RMK Timberland Group. Based in Tallahassee, Florida, he is responsible for timberland properties in the Southern Region covering Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Prior to joining the group in 2002, Newsome worked 17 years with Union Camp and International Paper serving in a variety of positions including Forest Supervisor, Procurement District Supervisor, Land and Timber Team Leader, and Land Resources Manager in Georgia and South Carolina. While serving in the various land management positions during this 17-year period, he was responsible for developing, implementing, and training personnel on intensive pine and hardwood plantation management, managing a GIS staff, negotiating region-wide herbicide and fertilizer contracts, preparation of timber harvesting and land management budgets, contractor supervision, and financial analysis. During his years in wood procurement, he was responsible for establishing a new procurement area, hiring and training wood yard personnel, market wood acquisition, timber sale negotiations, and logging supervision.

Newsome is a 1985 graduate of Clemson University with a BS degree in Forest Management. He is a Registered Forester in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, a South Carolina Commercial Pesticide Applicator, a South Carolina Certified Prescribed Fire Manager, a member of the Florida Forestry Association, and a member of the South Carolina Forestry Association. Newsome also served six years in the United States Marine Corps Reserves.


 

JOYCE W. NIGGLEY, CFA

NiggleyNiggley is a Portfolio Manager for RMK Timberland Group. She is responsible for managing client portfolios for public and corporate pension funds as well as endowments and foundations. Her responsibilities include developing and implementing fund strategies focused on maximizing investment performance consistent with client objectives. Niggley serves on the RMK Timberland Group Committee responsible for approving acquisitions, dispositions and performance. Niggley is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

With 26 years of experience with national and international firms, Niggley has broad-based experience in timberland and general agriculture investments for both individuals and institutional investors. Prior to joining RMK Timberland in 1996, she was a portfolio manager for the Equitable Agri-Business $2.1 billion portfolio. She analyzed investments for acquisition and disposition and managed properties.

Niggley has an MBA in finance from Rockhurst College in Kansas City and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri in agricultural economics. She was awarded the CFA designation in 1994. Niggley is an active member of the Association for Investment Management and Research. She is an active member of the timberland committee in the National Council of Real Estate Fiduciaries and also a member of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts. She is a professional member of the Society of American Foresters. She serves on national committees of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and provides leadership as a director of the state chapter.


 

DENNIS E. NORTON, RF, CF

NortonNorton is a Timerland Acquisition Forester for RMK Timberland Group. His current responsibilities include sourcing and analysis of potential timberland acquisitions and assisting with negotiations and closings. Norton is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Prior to joining RMK Timberland Group in 1996, Norton served as Owner/President of TranSouth, Inc., a woodlands service company providing forest regeneration services to private landowners, forestry consultants and timber companies throughout Georgia. From 1988-1993, Norton was employed by Resource Management Service of Birmingham, Alabama as herbicide specialist/staff forester while serving as the Georgia product sales representative. From 1984-1988, he served as area procurement forester for Georgia-Pacific Corporation, responsible for performing timber inventories, negotiating timber sales and supervising logging activities. Norton began his forestry career as a research technician with the U.S. Forest Service, collecting and processing data in hardwood control, kudzu control and prescribed fire studies across the south.

Norton is a 1983 graduate of Auburn University with a BS degree in Forest Management. He is a Society of American Foresters Certified Forester, a Registered Forester in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina; a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator; and has been certified as a prescribed burn manager by the Georgia Forestry Commission. His professional affiliations include the Society of American Foresters, the Georgia Forestry Association, the Florida Forestry Association, the Forest Landowner's Association and the Auburn University Forestry Alumni Association.


 

DAVID P. PRESTON, CF

Preston Preston is an Investment Forester in the Northern Region for RMK Timberland Group. His current responsibilities include the supervision of land management activities on timberland holdings in northeast North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. Preston is based in Richmond, Virginia.

Prior to joining RMK Timberland in 2003, Preston worked 3 years for F&W Forestry Services, a Southeast forestry consulting firm. His responsibilities included supervision of land management activities, developing management plans for institutional timberland, financial analysis of timberland operations, growth and yield modeling, and other projects associated with appraisals and valuation. From 1995 to 2001 he worked for Westvaco Corporation where he was responsible for a 600,000 acre land classification project and managed timber harvesting operations on 170,000 acres in Virginia. His responsibilities included annual budget planning, harvest planning, environmental reviews, timber sale layout, timber sale inspection, SFI compliance, and ensuring adherence to best management practices. His first forestry position was as a graduate research assistant at Virginia Tech from 1993 to 1995.

Preston graduated Cum Laude from Virginia Tech in 1993 with a BS degree in Forestry. He completed his MS degree in Forestry with a Forest Soils specialization in 1996. He is a Society of American Foresters Certified Forester and is a member of the Society of American Foresters and the Soil Science Society of America. Preston served in the U.S. Army 1988 to 1990 and when he was called back to active duty in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm.


 

MICHAEL T. SHEARER, CF, RF

Shearer Shearer is a Portfolio Manager for RMK Timberland Group. Based in Atlanta, he is responsible for managing client portfolios for public and corporate pension funds as well as endowments and foundations. His responsibilities include developing and implementing fund strategies focused on maximizing investment performance consistent with client objectives.

With 29 years of experience in the forest products industry and timberland management business, Shearer has broad-based experience in timberland investing and management. Prior to joining RMK Timberland, Shearer was Manager of Forest Investments for Global Forest Partners LP. From 1976 to 1991, he worked in forest management and timberland acquisitions and dispositions with Weyerhaeuser Company.

Shearer received his BS degree in Forestry and MS in Forest Soils at the University of Kentucky. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters and is a Certified Forester. He also is a Registered Forester in Alabama and is a member of the Georgia Forestry Association Board of Directors.


 

ROBERT S. SINCLAIR

Sinclair Sinclair is the Western Regional Manager and Uruguay Portfolio Manager for RMK Timberland Group. Based in Dallas, Texas, he is responsible for the management of 85,000 acres in the Western timberland region covering Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, East Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Prior to joining RMK Timberland in December 1995, Sinclair worked with Travelers Real Estate Investment Company for 14 years. He held various positions in Agricultural and timberland lending and acquisition across the South. His last position with the company was the management and disposition of nearly 1,400,000 acres of foreclosed properties east of the Rocky Mountains. Sinclair has been involved in pension investment in timberland since the early stages of its development. Prior to 1981 he worked as a Research Forester for the University of Georgia.

Sinclair received a bachelor's degree in timber management from the University of Georgia. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters.


 

JEANETTE SULLIVAN, CPA

SullivanSullivan is the Director of Financial Operations for RMK Timberland Group. She is responsible for overseeing all financial activities of the RMK Timberland enterprise, including accounting operations, budgeting, tax reporting, client reporting, and financial structuring. Sullivan is based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Prior to joining RMK Timberland Group in 2008, Sullivan was employed by Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP for seven years and provided consulting services for companies in crisis, providing dispute analysis & investigations, business recovery services, and insurance claims services. Collectively, Sullivan has over 20 years of experience in financial consulting and technology.

Sullivan received her Masters of Business Administration from Duke University in 1995, and her Bachelors of Science in Accounting and Accounting Information Systems at Virginia Tech in 1988. She is a North Carolina Certified Public Accountant and a member of the AICPA.


 

JAMES F. WEBB, JR.

WebbWebb is Director of Business Development for RMK Timberland Group. He is responsible for business development with new and existing clients and consultant relationships. Drawing on his extensive client service experience with the group, he guides marketing efforts dedicated to understanding and meeting the unique needs of corporate and public pension plans as well as endowments and foundations as they do their due diligence in examining timberland for inclusion in their institutional portfolios. Webb is based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Prior to joining RMK Timberland in 1988, Webb was employed by Weyerhaeuser Company for nearly fourteen years and was responsible for marketing and disposition of southern timberland to institutional investors and forest product concerns. He serves on various advisory boards on both a local and national basis. He is currently serving on the Advisory Committee for The Center for Forest Business at the Warnell School of Forestry, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.

Webb is a registered forester and a member of the Society of American Foresters. He is a native of West Virginia and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia University in Forest Resource Management.


 

PHILIP S. WEIGEL, RF

Weigel Weigel is the Northern Regional Manager for RMK Timberland Group. Based in Richmond, Virginia, he is responsible for timberland management in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee Virginia, Maryland and northern North Carolina.

Before joining RMK Timberland in 2001, Weigel worked for 21 years with Georgia-Pacific Corporation, holding a broad spectrum of land management, procurement, land sales, and land acquisition roles. Most recently, beginning in 1999, Weigel was responsible for executing a land disposition program in North Carolina & Virginia. From 1997 to 1999, he was responsible for management of 85,000 acres in northeastern North Carolina. From 1992 to1997, he served as procurement forester in southeastern North Carolina, with emphasis on wood dealer management, stumpage acquisition, logger supervision, and software development. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, he was a land manager of 75,000 acres in South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina.

Weigel holds a BS degree in Forest Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, with a minor in economics, and an MBA degree from the University of South Carolina. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters, and a Registered Forester in North Carolina, and a board member of the North Carolina Forestry Association.


 

GREGORY S. WILLIAMS, RF

WilliamsWilliams is a Portfolio Manager for RMK Timberland Group. Based in Atlanta, he is responsible for managing client portfolios for public and corporate pension funds as well as endowments and foundations. His responsibilities include developing and implementing fund strategies focused on maximizing investment performance consistent with client objectives.

Before joining RMK Timberland in 1991, Williams worked 13 years with the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources. He was a district forester in the northern piedmont of North Carolina from 1986 to 1991. His responsibilities included administering the division's forest management, fire control, pest control, and forestry education programs in an eight county area. From 1978 to 1986, Williams worked as a Service Forester in western North Carolina concentrating in all areas of forestland management for private woodland owners.

Williams is a graduate of North Carolina State University where he received two Bachelor of Science degrees in forest management and in agricultural economics. He is a Certified Public Manager, a Registered Forester in Georgia and a member of the Society of American Foresters and Georgia Forestry Association.


 
Investments in timberland are not bank deposits or obligations of Regions Bank or any affiliates and are not insured by, guaranteed by, or obligations of the FDIC, any governmental agency, or any bank. Investments in timberland involve risk, including possible loss of principal. Investment risks of timber and timberland include cyclical market conditions, environmental restrictions and possible damages from biological causes and natural catastrophic events.