Forestry Leaders Recognized for Exceptional Service and Stewardship

The Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF) proudly celebrated standout forestry professionals during the 2026 SGSF Awards Ceremony, held at the Annual Meeting in Fort Myers, Florida. 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 excellence in long-term landowner support to innovations in wildfire prevention access to new audiences. These award recipients embody the values of service, innovation and dedication that lie at the heart of forestry in the South.

Their contributions don’t just conserve and protect forests, they help communities become more resilient, ecosystems more balanced and agencies better equipped to tackle a diverse set of challenges. SGSF is proud to shine a light on these individuals whose impact will be felt for years to come.

Four forestry professionals stand together against a light-colored wall at an awards ceremony. The group includes three men and one woman wearing conference lanyards and business attire. Two of the individuals hold a large handcrafted wooden award featuring natural wood grain and a bold red accent. All four are smiling and facing the camera.

Forest Stewardship Forester Award

Recipient: Jeff Kastle
Agency: Georgia Forestry Commission
Award: 2025 USFS Southern Region Forest Stewardship Forester Award

Jeff Kastle, a Management Forester with the Georgia Forestry Commission, was recognized for his outstanding service to Georgia’s private forest landowners through a combination of technical expertise, forest stewardship, and community engagement. During FY 2025, Jeff completed 286 forestry assistance cases impacting more than 22,000 acres, making him the top producer in Region 2. His accomplishments included developing and renewing forest stewardship plans, implementing restoration practices across thousands of acres, and overseeing extensive tree planting efforts that will benefit Georgia’s forests for years to come.

Beyond his work in forest management, Jeff has demonstrated a strong commitment to education and leadership development, hosting educational programs for more than 1,100 participants and mentoring FFA forestry students interested in natural resource careers. He also stepped forward to support landowners recovering from Hurricane Helene, conducting timber damage assessments and developing reforestation plans to help secure financial assistance through federal recovery programs. Whether assisting individual landowners, supporting forest health initiatives, or helping prepare the next generation of forestry professionals, Jeff’s work reflects a deep commitment to sustainable forestry and public service.

Four forestry professionals pose for a recognition photo against a light-colored wall. At center, Todd Chlanda holds the Robert E. Browning Jr. Award, a decorative plaque recognizing excellence in wildfire prevention. He is flanked by colleagues wearing conference badges and business attire. The group is smiling and facing the camera.

Robert E. Browning, Jr. Award

Recipient: Todd Chlanda
Agency: Florida Forest Service
Award: Robert E. Browning, Jr. Award

Todd Chlanda, a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist with the Florida Forest Service, was recognized with the 2025 Robert E. Browning Award for his innovation and leadership in advancing wildfire prevention education. After identifying a gap in accessibility during a Smokey Bear program for a visually impaired student, Todd spearheaded an effort to make The True Story of Smokey Bear available in braille and later as an audiobook, ensuring that Smokey’s wildfire prevention message could reach audiences previously excluded by format barriers.

What began as a local solution evolved into a resource with national impact. Through partnerships with the Temple Sisterhood Braille Group, the Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Books Library, the National Library Service network, and numerous public libraries, Todd helped create and distribute accessible versions of the book to readers across the country. His efforts expanded access to wildfire prevention education for thousands of visually impaired children and adults while establishing a sustainable framework for future distribution through national channels.

Todd’s initiative exemplifies the leadership, creativity, and commitment to public service that the Browning Award was created to recognize. By transforming a single request into a scalable, nationwide prevention resource, he demonstrated how innovation and collaboration can broaden the reach of wildfire prevention messaging and ensure that critical safety information is accessible to all.