Lumber Heritage Region

Governor’s Task Force on the Pennsylvania Wilds

The Governor's Task Force brings together the heads of all of the key players and stakeholders involved in the development of the Region.

In 2003, Governor Rendell established a cabinet-level task force and charged DCNR with coordinating state agency involvement in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

The task force grew out of the detailed findings and recommendations for the growth and marketing of nature tourism and elk viewing identified in the 95-page Plan for Elk Watching and Nature Tourism in North Central Pennsylvania, developed by DCNR, the Lumber Heritage Region, and other conservation and community organizations.

The Task Force meets one or two times a year.. This list is current as of June 2008.

Michael DiBerardinis, Secretary, DCNR

• Dennis Yablonsky, Secretary, DCED

• Kathleen McGinty, Secretary, DEP

• Allen Biehler, Secretary, PennDOT

• Carl Roe, Executive Director, PA Game Commission

• Douglas Austen, Executive Director, PA Fish and Boat Commission

• Barbara Franco, Executive Director, PA Historical and Museum Commission

• Congressman John Peterson

• Representative Dan Surra, 75th District

• David Morris, Executive Director, Northwest Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau, and Jason Fink, Chairman, Pennsylvania Wilds Tourism Marketing Corporation

• Jerry Walls, Lycoming County Planning Director (Retired) and head of County Planning Directors Association

• Mark Hamilton, Chairman of the Tioga County Commissioners

• Raymond Werts, President, Western Clinton County Sportsmen Association

• Terri Dennison, Director, Route 6 Association

• Leanne Marten, Forest Supervisor, Allegheny National Forest

• Eric Bridges, Executive Director, Northcentral PA Regional Planning and Development Commission

• Susan Swanson, Executive Director, Allegheny Hardwoods Utilization Group

• Robert Veilleux, Chairman, Lumber Heritage Region

Past Members:

• Robert Martin, Lumber Heritage Region, Dec. 2003-Dec. 2006

• Tony Moscato, Chairman, Northcentral PA Regional Planning and Development Commission, Dec. 2003-March 2005

• Ron Kuleck, Executive Director, Northcentral PA Regional Planning and Development Commission, March 2005-May 2006

• Jeffrey Kochel, Forest Investment Associates, Dec. 2003- Nov. 2006