Cayden Avera
MFR (December 2027), Forest Business
Additional Degrees:
Prior Work Experience:
06.22.2026
CFB Students Attend the 2026 National Association of Women in Timber Conference
Three CFB students, Emma Dunn, Darcy Tripod, and Catherine Watry, recently attended the 2026 National Association of Women in Timber (NAWT) Conference in Georgetown, South Carolina. The event brought together professionals from across the forestry sector, including timberland managers, consultants, loggers, and students, for two days of learning, networking, and field-based experiences. Reflecting on the experience, Catherine noted, “All conferences are unique in what they offer, but this one has been especially meaningful. It is enlightening to see how over 100 women have built and advanced their careers in the forest industry.”
06.16.2026
How Declining Pulpwood Markets Influence Timberland Investment Returns
A recent study in the Journal of Forestry led by Bruno da Silva and supported by graduate students and faculty at the Center for Forest Business explores an important question for the forestry sector: what happens to pine plantation investment returns when pulp mills close and pulpwood prices fall? The research focused on regions in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina and found that lower pulpwood prices can substantially reduce expected returns to landowners.
05.29.2026
Alumni Spotlight: Jake Parker MFR ’19
Jake Parker works with Tamarack Software, a company that develops technology solutions for the forestry and forest products industry. In his role in software sales and business development, he works with lumber producers and forestry operations to improve data management, forecasting, and operational efficiency. The position requires regular collaboration with professionals across the supply chain, including procurement foresters, mill operators, lumber sales teams, and logistics managers. Although technology-focused roles are not always the most traditional path for forestry graduates, Parker says the MFR in Forest Business program helped prepare him to work at the intersection of forestry, business, and technology.
