Leadership
Mapping our course
Port Blakely's executive management team works to ensure we continually advance the ideals and best practices of good corporate and environmental stewardship and to ensure our decisions have a positive impact on our forests, our people, and our community today, and for decades—even centuries—to come.
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
As Chairman & CEO, René guides the strategic direction of the company, setting the course of Port Blakely’s multi-national operations.
After joining Port Blakely in 2005, René served in the company’s Forestry and Real Estate operations, becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2008. He was named CEO in 2010, and added Chairman to his title in 2015. A fourth-generation descendant of the company’s founders, he helped establish the Eddy Family Council, creating a nationally recognized model for a sustainable family business governance structure.
He is an active member of community and industry boards and committees including the National Association of Forest Owners, Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Forterra, and the Washington Roundtable. He previously served on the Board of NatureBridge and as the Chairman of the Board of the Seattle Symphony (2018-2021).
René holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College, a master’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and an MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business.
Chief Financial Officer
A seasoned business leader with deep experience with both privately and family-owned companies, Kim joined Port Blakely in November 2021. She brings a diverse set of skills and experiences having held the CFO or senior financial role at companies in sectors ranging from commercial fishing and technology startups to manufacturing. As CFO, she sets and directs the company's financial strategy and is a key contributor to our long-term vision.
Kim is a 4th-generation Washington state native with a strong commitment to the community. She is active in a wide range of organizations supporting children, with particular emphasis on the foster care system. These include serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), a board member for Washington Association for Child Advocate Program, and past president of Treehouse and Girls on the Run PS. She is also active in the Washington Women’s Foundation and the CFO Leadership Council.
She is a Certified Public Accountant and alum of Deloitte. A graduate of Seattle University, Kim earned both her BA in Accounting and Finance and a Masters in Nonprofit Leadership.
Chief People Officer
An accomplished human resources leader, Liz brings a wealth of experience to her role as Chief People Officer. Liz drives the company’s long-term people strategy, overseeing all aspects of the employee experience.
She joined the Port Blakely leadership team after more than a decade in senior executive human resource roles at Starbucks and more recently with WeWork. In addition, she has done extensive organizational development consulting and coaching, supporting a broad spectrum of clients in both business and education.
Liz is a life-long community volunteer, currently serving as Board member for Seattle Girls’ School and as a member of the Advisory Council of The Mountaineers. She also is an active member of the International Women’s Forum. She holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and an MEd in Educational Psychology from the University of Washington, and a BA in Neuroscience from Mount Holyoke College. In her free time, Liz enjoys going to the mountains with her family, including two Labrador retrievers, where they hike, mountain bike, ski, and just play outdoors.
President, US Forestry
Mike joined the company in 1997, and he has built his career working across the business, from Forester and Siviculture Manager to Director of Strategy and VP of Operations.
Mike has led many significant timberland acquisitions for Port Blakely. He is also a strong voice in cross-sector climate policy efforts and is part of the team that drove our entry into the voluntary carbon market. He represents Port Blakely on the boards of the Washington Forest Protection Association and the Operating Committee of the National Alliance of Forest Owners.
As a Pacific Northwest native, Mike enjoys all the things that make this part of the world special. He is mostly at home in the forest but enjoys spending time with his family on Puget Sound and in the mountains of the Cascade Range. He holds an MBA from the University of Washington.
Managing Director, NZ Forestry
A love of nature and interest in applied science led Phil to a career in forestry, which began more than 30 years ago as a forest worker pruning and thinning trees in Otago, New Zealand.
As Managing Director of NZ Forestry, Phil oversees all aspects of NZ Forestry’s holdings and is an avid proponent of managing forests responsibly. Phil currently serves as President of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association and he is a board member of the Forest Levy Trust.
Phil is a keen and talented outdoor photographer and enjoys tasting the many fine wines produced in New Zealand. He holds a New Zealand Certificate of Forestry and a bachelor’s degree in forest science from the University of Canterbury.