Sappi Lake States Forestry Program
Partner with Your Local Sappi Forester
Serving Landowners in Minnesota, Wisconsin & Michigan
Sappi’s experienced forestry team is rooted in communities across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Landowners choose to manage their forests for many reasons—improving forest health, enhancing wildlife habitat, generating income, or enjoying recreational use. Whatever your goals, our local foresters are here to help.
We offer free, no-obligation professional forest management services, including:
- Personalized harvest planning tailored to your long-term objectives
- Custom mapping and clear, transparent agreements to protect your land and interests
- Selection of reputable, local logging contractors—no bidding process required
- On-site harvest management with a focus on protecting soil and water quality
- Timber marketing through our broad network of trusted sawmills and log yards
- Prompt, pay-as-cut payments with full accountability throughout the process
Whether your priority is wildlife, recreation, forest health, or maximizing timber value, Sappi’s forestry team is ready to help you make the most of your land.
Contact us today to connect with your local Sappi forester.
Foresters - Lake States
Brett Peterson
Brett holds a B.S. in Forestry from the Michigan Technological University. He serves as the Chair of the Training and Education subcommittee of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) State Implementation Committee for Wisconsin and is a member of the Michigan SFI® State Implementation Committee.
Ross Korpela
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, with a Major in Forest Management and Minors in Resource Management and Forest Recreation. He also holds a Masters Degree in Management from the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN, in combination with pre-MBA work from the University of MN Duluth. He is active in MN Tree Farm, Timber Producers Association of MN, Minnesota Logger Education Program, and the University of MN Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative. Ross purchases all of the open market wood and residue from Minnesota and manages the five Minnesota stumpage foresters. When not working, you may find him in the community coaching youth basketball, fishing Musky tournaments, or managing his own land for timber & wildlife
Chris Martland
Chris has cruised timber in every state south of the Mason-Dixon line during the winter and spent summers doing timber sale set up in Northern Michigan prior to joining Sappi in 2004. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from the Michigan Technological University, and a Master of Arts in Management from the College of St Scholastica. Chris is the Board Chair for Minnesota Log A Load. In the summer he spends a lot of time on his bicycles and motorcycles.
Cory Moderson
Cory will have overall responsibility for Sappi NA Lake States timber sales and managing chip quality. Cory has 12 Plus years of experience as a Log Procurement Forester, purchasing logs in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Michigan Technological University. When not working, you can find Cory hunting or fishing in the Great Lakes region.
Brian Johnson
External Woodyard Logistics Coordinator began his career at the Cloquet mill in 1995 working in the Construction and Engineering Department during the Pulpmill expansion, he has held various positions around the mill before landing in his current position. He is now responsible for coordinating and managing all of Sappi’s external woodyards in the region. Brian also serves as a Township Supervisor since 2005 and is associated with the Carlton County Township Association and also the Minnesota Township Officers Association. When not at work Brian can be found enjoying the outdoors with his family
Damon Polus
Procurement Forester in northeast Minnesota, has a Forestry degree from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, majoring in Forestry Administration and Utilization, and minoring in Business. Damon joined the Sappi team in 2005
Eric Schram
Eric is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a B.S. in Forestry (Administration and Utilization), and a minor in Business Administration. Prior to joining Sappi, Eric worked as a Procurement Forester purchasing hardwood veneer and saw logs in the lake states region, for over 10 years. His free time is spent enjoying the outdoors with his family.
Patrick Galdonik
Procurement Forester west central Minnesota, worked for the Cloquet Mill under Potlatch from 1994 until 2003 when he joined the Sappi group. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Silviculture/Forest Resource Management from the University of Minnesota. Patrick is a past President on the Sustainable Forestry Initiative ® (SFI) MN State Implementation Committee (SIC), and is currently a Minnesota SIC representative. He has been procuring wood for the mill since 1991.
Tom Cunningham
Tom has a Forestry degree from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. He buys private and public timber, and works with a variety of landowners and loggers. When not helping landowners Tom is usually cooking or working in the garden.
Pat Wherley
Pat is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, with a B.S. in Forest Management, minors in Soil Science and GIS. He also completed a Natural Resource Management Master’s Program at UW - Stevens Point, conducted through the Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit. Prior to joining Sappi, Pat was a forester and wildland firefighter for the MN, Dept. of Natural Resources for 13+ years, a Forest Ranger for the Wisconsin DNR, and also worked as a Forestry Technician for the U.S. Forest Service for 5 seasons. In his free time, Pat enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his friends and family.
Corey Verdegan
Graduated with a double major in Forest Management and Recreation from the University Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Corey has 10+ years of experience as a professional forester. Prior to joining Sappi in the spring of 2016 Corey was the Assistant Forest administrator for Price County Forestry and Parks Department in Phillips, Wisconsin.
Jacob Ansami
Prior to joining Sappi, Jacob worked as a Forester for Keweenaw Land Association in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin. Jacob spends his free time with either a fishing pole or golf club in hand.
Mike Raichel
Mike has bought or sold timber across the Lakes States including Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. He holds an Associate’s degree in Forest Management Technology from Montgomery Community College in Troy, NC, a Bachelor’s in Forestry and Natural Resources Management from Paul Smith’s College in Saranac Lake New York, and a Master of Business Administration from Rice University in Houston, Texas. He serves on the Natural Resources Commission for the City of Duluth. When he is not at work he can usually be found fishing for trout, hunting grouse, or training bird dogs.
Matt Konoske
He has a bachelor of Science Forestry degree from Michigan Technological University. Matt has worked in the forest products industry for 14 years and joined Sappi Wood Procurement team in the fall of 2021. When he is not working he enjoys spending time with friends and family.
Cody Crawford
I graduated from Iowa State University with a Major in Forest Ecosystem management. Prior to joining Sappi, I spent one year working as a Forestry Technician for Aitkin County Land Department and 9 years with the Minnesota DNR Forestry Division with the last 3 as an area Silviculture Forester. In my free time, I like to fish and hunt with friends and family.
Barb Austin
She is responsible payment setup, check requests/advances, and vendor set-up in the Lake States. When not at work she can be found attending her daughters’ events and spending time with her family.
Kim Bremer
She assists with logger payments, agency sales and logger communications. She also provides administrative and technical support to the Cloquet Wood Procurement group. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.