Jason Watson is the ArborGen Director of U.S. Sales. He has been a crucial member of the ArborGen Team for 12 years. Before becoming the Director of U.S. Sales four years ago, he was the Reforestation Advisor in South Carolina for eight years. Jason is a forester and a forest landowner who has been in the industry for over 25 years.
ArborGen Team
Get to Know Your ArborGen Team: Kylie Burdette
Kylie Burdette is the ArborGen U.S. Sales Manager. She has been a significant member of the ArborGen team for five years. Before becoming the U.S. Sales Manager, she was the Reforestation Advisor in South Carolina and Southern North Carolina. Kylie grew up around timber, and her family is very timber-oriented. She loves meeting with landowners, going out in the field when they’re planting, and checking on the seedlings.
Get to Know Your ArborGen Team: Greg Hay
Greg Hay is the Reforestation Advisor in Arkansas, North Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Greg has been a valuable member of the ArborGen Reforestation Team for four years. Greg has been working in forestry for over 45 years and finds that helping private landowners establish their plantations after harvest is the most gratifying part of his profession.
Get to Know Your ArborGen Team: Paul Jeffreys
Paul Jeffreys is the ArborGen Reforestation Advisor in Alabama and Mississippi. Paul has been a valuable member of the ArborGen Reforestation Team for ten years. Paul’s career path was straightforward, with a PhD in forestry and being a timberland owner in Alabama. He wanted to work with landowners like himself and his family and help them manage their property in a way that would help them achieve their goals.
Get to Know Your ArborGen Team: Austin Heine
Austin Heine is the ArborGen Reforestation Advisor in North Carolina and Virginia. Austin has been a crucial member of the ArborGen Reforestation Team since January 2023. Before becoming the Reforestation Advisor for North Carolina and Virginia, he worked with the NC State tree improvement cooperative for eight years.
ArborGen is Hiring
Our company is made up of innovative and passionate people; foresters, scientists, biologists, conservationists, tree farmers and researchers. We provide a professional yet fun work environment where your input and abilities will have a direct impact on every seedling we grow. Consider joining us!
ArborGen Team Promotions
Congratulations to Reforestation Advisor for South Carolina, Kylie Burdette, on her recent promotion to U.S. Sales Manager and to Reforestation Advisor, Paul Jeffreys, on his promotion to Manager of Special Projects and Sustainability.
Congratulations to the team at the ArborGen Bluff City Nursery in Arkansas!
Since the first crop planted in 1980, the nursery has produced 2 billion seedlings. Pictured left to right: Gene Bickerstaff, western regional nursery manager, BJ Hampton, business specialist, Chase Weatherly, production specialist, CEO Justin Birch, and Robert Nimmo, nursery manager.
Welcome Justin Birch
Please join us in welcoming Justin Birch to ArborGen as our new president and CEO! Justin succeeds Andrew Baum, who will retire on June 19th but will continue in a consulting capacity to facilitate a seamless leadership transition.
Mike Arnette Promoted to Nursery Manager
Congratulations to new ArborGen Blenheim Nursery Manager Mike Arnette! He takes over the position as manager Gary Nelson retires.