Keynote Speakers
Jingjing Liang
Associate Professor
Purdue Forest Advanced Computing and Artificial Intelligence (FACAI) Laboratory
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Jingjing Liang, an Associate Professor at Purdue University, heads the Purdue Forest Advanced Computing and Artificial Intelligence (FACAI) Laboratory. His research employs AI tools and extensive tree survey data to address key questions in global forest ecology. He led an international team in creating the first global forest inventory database GFBi, featuring over 1.9 million sample plots worldwide. Dr. Liang's work revealed the Earth's tree species count and a positive link between species diversity and forest productivity. A proponent of open science, he established the Science-i platform, aiding numerous under-represented scientists globally in impactful research endeavors.
Jaret Brochmann
Vice President of Sales and Technical Service for North America
Bakelite Synthetics
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Jaret Brochmann is the Vice President of Sales and Technical Service for North America at Bakelite Synthetics,, a leading global integrated producer of amino and phenolic resins, critical to the building and construction, specialty, and transportation markets. Today he is responsible for developing and executing strategies for the North American adhesives business.
With more than 20 years of experience in the adhesives industry, prior to his current role, Jaret has spent his entire professional career and held a variety of roles within the organization, first as a Resin Technologist in Diboll, TX for Borden Chemical in 2002, and then multiple regional technical sales and national management roles for both Momentive and Hexion within the Forest Products Division.
Jaret earned a Masters in Science from the University of Minnesota in 2002 and a Bachelors in Wood Science from the University of Illinois in 2000.
Brandon Collins
Associate Adjunct Professor
UC Berkeley, Department of Enviromental Sciences, Policy, and Management
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Brandon Collins is the Regional Ecologist for the US Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region. He is also an Adjunct Professor with UC Berkeley, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. Brandon has a B.S. in Forestry from UC Berkeley, a M.S. from Colorado State University, and a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. His previous work has largely been in research, which included investigating: 1) vegetation/fuel development following fuel reduction treatments and wildfires, 2) effects of landscape fuel treatment networks on fire patterns, and 3) fire patterns and vegetation feedback in long-term natural fire areas.
Lorraine Russ
Senior Director Plywood & EWP
Roseburg
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