Bill Banzhaf
After graduating from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources in 1967, Bill joined his father’s forest resource consulting firm, George Banzhaf and Company, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The primary focus of this organization included National and regional studies on forest policy, timberland appraisal for corporate mergers and acquisitions, forest management studies on Tribal lands, and feasibility studies for the sustainable wood supply of pulp and paper facilities in the United States.
After his father passed away, Bill moved to Washington, DC where he was selected to be the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). As the professional society for forestry, SAF worked with the conservation and environmental communities on forest ecosystem health and provided testimony to the United States Congress on all forestry issues. In addition, this organization published five peer review journals, was responsible for the accreditation of forestry schools and universities throughout the United States, and provided continuing education for over 19,000 members.
In 2002, he left the organization after being selected as the founding President of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). SFI is an independent, nonprofit organization that ensures sustainable forest management through forest certification. SFI is the largest forest certification organization in North America having certified over 350,000,000 acres in the United States and Canada as sustainably managed forest land. In 2007, Bill retired to the cabin built by his father in 1927 on Indian Lake north of Manistique, Michigan.
At every stage of his career, Bill Banzhaf led organizations that directly affected Wisconsin foresters, forest products companies, public agencies and non-profit conservation organizations throughout the United States and Canada. As a consultant, representative of the forestry profession, and a leader of the forest certification movement, he exhibited and promoted respect, ethics, integrity, leadership, and professionalism within forestry and conservation.
