GLENS FALLS, NY - Finch Paper LLC's senior forester has been elected vice president of the world's largest association of professional foresters - the Society of American Foresters (SAF).
 
Roger A. Dziengeleski, vice president of external operations and continuous improvement at the Glens Falls-based paper manufacturer, will serve as vice president of the 13,000-member SAF beginning January 1, 2010. Following the Society's normal chain of succession, Mr. Dziengeleski will become SAF president in 2011. A Finch forester for 33 years, Mr. Dziengeleski has overseen all forest management services for the company since 1991.
 
"This is a tremendous accomplishment for Roger, and reflects the great respect he holds among the American forestry community," said Joseph F. Raccuia, the company's president and CEO. "Finch has an extremely proud tradition of responsible forestry, and Roger has been a leading contributor to our success in that area for more than three decades."
 
"I have always said that being a forester is the best job in the world," Mr. Dziengeleski said. "I look forward to helping people gain a better understanding of our profession, our science, and the invaluable contributions that healthy, growing forests provide society in the form of paper and wood products, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and environmental services such as carbon sequestration and clean water."
 
Mr. Dziengeleski has been a member of the not-for-profit SAF since 1976, and was honored as the Forester of the Year by the New York State Society of American Foresters in 2001. As national vice president, he said he hopes to unite SAF members across the country to become more effective educators and advocates on forestry-related issues.
 
Mr. Dziengeleski began his career with Finch Paper as a forester in 1978 after serving four years in the U. S. Air Force and earning his bachelor of science degree in forest management from the University of Maine in Orono. He has overseen the company's Woodlands Department since 1991.
 
Since becoming an SAF member, Mr. Dziengeleski has served in a variety of positions at both the national and state levels. At the national level, he currently serves as a representative to the SAF Council (2007-2009) and on the Council Finance Investments Committee (2007-2009). He previously served on the National Convention Program Committee (1998-2000), the Corporate Sponsors Board (2000-2001), the Media Relations Network, and the Centennial Celebration Fund Raising Committee. At the state level he has held several positions with the New York State Society, including chair (1993-1994), Executive Committee member (1993-1995), past chair (1994-1995), and Publicity Committee member.
 
A respected voice on forestry-related issues throughout his career, Mr. Dziengeleski has held leadership positions with the Society of American Foresters, the American Forest & Paper Association, the Empire State Forest Products Association, the New York State Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee, the New York Center for Forestry Research & Development, the New York Forest Practice Board, the New York State Region 5 Open Space Advisory Committee, the New York State Tree Farm Committee, and New York Project Learning Tree.