Tom Schultz, Vice President of Resources / Government Affairs & Chief of Staff – Idaho Forest Group

Tom has a deep understanding of the complexities of the forest products industry and is a trusted advisor to not only the IFG team, but collaborative partner agencies and organizations. In his role, he provides leadership and direction to the Resource Team in the development and execution of timber procurement responsibilities in Idaho and Mississippi. He manages strategic relationships with key local, state, and federal governmental officials and serves as a key advisor to the owner and executive leadership team, providing guidance and support on organizational priorities and initiatives. A former Officer in the United States Air Force, Tom has worked for the states of Montana and Idaho in leadership roles dedicated to the management and conservation of forests and rangeland. He served as the director of the Idaho Department of Lands and secretary to the State Board of Land Commissioners, where he oversaw the management of 2.4 million surface acres of endowment lands and 3.3 million acres of endowment minerals. Tom spent fourteen years with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) where he served as the administrator of the DNRC Trust Lands Division and Water Resources Division.

Tom has a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Virginia as well as master’s degrees in both political science and forestry from the University of Wyoming and University of Montana, respectively. Tom and his wife of 30 years have three grown children and enjoy spending time hunting, fishing, and hiking.