Carolyn Mulligan is the District Manager for AFM’s operations in Virginia and has over 40 years of forest management experience. She received her Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Wildlife from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Averett University. Carolyn is a Certified Forester with the Society of American Foresters and serves on the Virginia Board of Forestry and the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation. She is also a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in Virginia.

Why did you pursue a career in forestry? Although I grew up in urban areas, I always enjoyed being outdoors and learning about the natural environment. When I was 15, I got a summer job with the Youth Conservation Corps in Massachusetts. I lived in a camp and worked by building hiking trails, regrading ditch lines by hand along fire trails, and bucking up trees from a fire-scarred area to construct a walkway across a bog. It was tough work but very rewarding, and it was the first time I had ever heard the term “forestry” used. When it came time to go to college, it was an easy choice to check the box for forestry major on the application.

What do you like the most about your role with AFM? I appreciate being part of a group that offers a wide range of expertise in-house and who can advise our clients on many different aspects of forestry. Managing timberland is complicated, especially these days when there is so much pressure on the environment. It’s definitely a team effort, and AFM has a great team!