GFB News Magazine

New leaders guiding Georgia forestry organizations

Posted on December 3, 2024 4:16 AM

Georgia’s two leading forestry organizations got new leaders this fall. Tim Lowrimore stepped down as director of the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) to serve as president and chief executive officer of the Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) and the Georgia Forestry Foundation.

Gov. Brian Kemp then appointed Johnny Sabo to replace Lowrimore at the GFC.

Sabo came to the GFC, a state government agency, as deputy director in April 2023. Johnny previously served nearly 20 years with the Florida Forest Service. At GFC, Sabo has direct oversight of the Forest Management, Forest Protection, and Law Enforcement departments. He also serves on the Georgia Forestry Foundation Board of Trustees and the Georgia Sentinel Landscape Executive Committee. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Forest Resource Management from Clemson University. 

GFA, a member-based organization, says Lowrimore’s experience gives him a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing landowners, loggers and forest product manufacturers in Georgia. Lowrimore, who Gov. Kemp appointed as director/state forester of the GFC in December 2020, is a registered forester with more than 20 years of forestry experience whose career spans the entire forestry supply chain. He worked at GFA from 2003 to 2008 as director of GFA Forest Policy.