PORTLAND, Ore. – The Oregon Forest Resources Institute board of directors has named seasoned marketing and communications professional Erin Isselmann to serve as the Institute’s new executive director.
Isselmann, most recently the director of communications for the Portland Business Alliance, joined OFRI July 9. She has held communications and marketing leadership roles at several Fortune 500 companies, including Xerox, Tektronix and Conduent, and has more than two decades of experience in corporate communications, public relations and digital marketing.
The OFRI board hired Isselmann last month after an extensive search for a new executive director to lead the Institute following Paul Barnum’s retirement later this summer. Barnum will help with the leadership transition before he officially retires Sept. 1 after 10 years at the helm of OFRI.
“Over the course of her career, Erin has developed expertise in crisis communications, media relations, branding and social media,” says Quincy Powers, OFRI board chairman. “The board has every confidence she has the skills to lead OFRI’s forest-related educational messaging and collaboration efforts in our ever-evolving media landscape.”
Isselmann has a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and political science from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in political science from George Washington University. An Oregon resident since 1996, she and her husband, Jack, live in Portland with their two daughters.
About the Oregon Forest Resources Institute:
The Oregon Legislature created the Oregon Forest Resources Institute in 1991 to advance public understanding of forests, forest management and forest products, and to encourage sound forestry through landowner education. A 13-member board of directors governs OFRI. It is funded by a portion of the forest products harvest tax.