SGSF Presents Top Regional Awards in Forestry and Wildland Fire Management

The Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF) proudly celebrated a standout group of forestry professionals during the 2025 SGSF Awards Ceremony, held at the Annual Meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi. This annual tradition brings together forestry leaders from across the region to recognize individuals and teams whose exceptional work is shaping the future of Southern forests.

This year’s honorees represent the best of the profession: from cutting-edge wildfire modeling to long-term landowner support, from collaborative urban greening efforts to gold-standard field data collection. These award recipients embody the values of service, innovation and dedication that lie at the heart of sustainable forestry in the South.

Their contributions don’t just make forests healthier, they help communities become more resilient, ecosystems more balanced and agencies better equipped to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. SGSF is proud to shine a light on these individuals whose impact will be felt for years to come.

Wildland Fire and Aviation Excellence Award

Recipients: Curt Stripling, David Shoemate, Javier Vara, Raghu Modala, James Ward
Agency: Texas A&M Forest Service
Award: 2024 SACG Wildland Fire and Aviation Excellence Award

The Applied Technology Department at Texas A&M Forest Service received this regional recognition for their transformative work updating the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal (SouthWRAP). This complex, multi-year project advanced wildfire modeling capabilities and produced tools used by federal, state and local partners to assess and reduce wildfire risk across the South. The team’s innovations, which included new weather modeling, ember analysis and high-resolution burn probability maps, enhanced community planning and hazard mitigation efforts for millions of acres in the Southern Region.

Forest Stewardship Forester Award

Recipient: Justin Mayfield
Agency: Georgia Forestry Commission
Award: 2024 USFS Southern Region Forest Stewardship Forester Award

Justin Mayfield, a Management Forester for the Georgia Forestry Commission, was honored for his exceptional leadership in delivering technical forestry assistance across six counties in the state’s Piedmont region. In FY 2024 alone, he completed more than 235 cases impacting over 30,000 acres of private forestland. Known for his thorough planning, mentorship of new foresters and dedication to landowner service, Justin also played a key role in post-storm recovery efforts and outreach to FFA students and schools. His work exemplifies modern stewardship and cross-boundary impact.

Urban and Community Forestry Partnership Award

Recipient: David Fulgham
Agency: Fulgham’s Inc., Mississippi
Award: Urban and Community Forestry Partnership Award

David Fulgham, founder of Fulgham’s Inc., was recognized for his decades-long contribution to community forestry in Mississippi and beyond. Through tree preservation planning, GIS mapping and plant-health services, his company has helped municipalities, schools and communities build more resilient and sustainable spaces. What sets David apart is his ability to blend technical expertise with trusted collaboration. His projects not only beautify neighborhoods but also foster healthy wildlife habitats, reduce urban heat and strengthen community resilience.

Excellence in Field Data Collection

Recipient: Shannon Anderson
Agency: Alabama Forestry Commission
Award: Davita Colker Bryant Award for Excellence in Field Data Collection

Shannon Anderson was honored for her exceptional accuracy, consistency and mentorship as a Forestry Management Specialist with the Alabama Forestry Commission’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program. For more than 12 years, she has led the state in plot completion and quality scores, helping Alabama achieve top national rankings in FIA data publication. Shannon was also recognized for training new FIA foresters, engaging landowners in the data collection process and fostering excellence in fieldwork.

Excellence in Field Data Collection

Recipient: Byron Rominger and Logan Bell
Agency: South Carolina Forestry Commission
Award: Davita Colker Bryant Award for Excellence in Field Data Collection

Byron Rominger and Logan Bell were honored for their exceptional precision, consistency, and professionalism as field data collectors with the South Carolina Forestry Commission’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program. Their dedication to data accuracy has not only contributed to the state’s high-quality inventory reporting, but has also reinforced the integrity and reliability of FIA data at the national level. Known for their attention to detail and unwavering commitment to the field, Byron and Logan consistently meet the highest standards of quality assurance and productivity. Their work helps ensure that forestry decisions across the region are backed by the best available science.