The Coconino Board of Supervisors has appointed Jay Smith as forest restoration director,  overseeing both the agency and operational opportunities for the development of the forest industry. 

In addition, Smith will also address Coconino County's issues on public safety, including wildfires and flooding, and work on pilot projects including the expansion of Good Neighbor Agreements that will include other counties. He also is tasked with working with the Ecological Restoration Institute at Northern Arizona University to design and promote a wood manufacturing business and biomass facility. 

"By hiring a forest restoration director, Coconino County has demonstrated its commitment to bring innovation and leadership to move critical forest restoration objectives forward,” District 1 Supervisor Art Babbott said. “Viable forest industries are a prerequisite for successful restoration and Jay’s decade-long involvement in the private sector will serve the interests re-establishing successful industry in our region.

Smith has been the senior forester for Good Earth Power/NewLife Forest Products since 2015. Prior to that, he worked as vice president of harvesting operations at Southwest Forest Products from 2013 to 2014. 

A graduate in Forest Management from Northern Arizona University, he served on the elected board for the Tennessee Forestry Association from 2001-13.