American Forests Taps Hilary Franz, National Natural Resources Champion as its New President & CEO

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- American Forests, the nation's oldest nonprofit conservation organization, today announced Hilary Franz as its new president and CEO. A highly accomplished public servant recognized for her success in forest conservation, management, and restoration, her ability to lead organizations through transformative growth, and her innovation in wildfire response and community resilience, Hilary steps into the leadership position at a pivotal time, when American Forests is celebrating its 150^th Anniversary and when the nation is confronting unprecedented challenges to its forests. 

"Hilary is the perfect person to move us forward in our mission to create healthy and resilient forests that deliver essential benefits for people, no matter where they live," says American Forests Board Chair Ara Erickson. "She is well known to our staff and leadership, having partnered with us on many successful initiatives. In 2019, American Forests recognized her with our Forest Resilience Champion Award for her leadership in transforming the way Washington state responds to wildfires and in setting a bold vision and strategy to make Washington State's forests more resilient in the face of climate change. Through her leadership in wildfire response, her implementation of an unprecedented 20-year Forest Health Strategic Plan, and her launch of Washington's Tree Equity Initiative with American Forests, Hilary has literally created a model for the nation and other states to follow."

"I am deeply grateful to American Forests for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of all Americans by preserving and restoring our forests that bring countless benefits to our communities," says Franz. "From environmental health and the safety of our communities to economic growth and job opportunities, the importance and urgency for forest conservation, restoration, and reforestation are vast. American Forests has a proud legacy of spearheading bold action and bringing people together to do the hard and necessary work to protect our nation's forests from wildfire, development, and other threats. It is a privilege to be asked at this critical time to continue that legacy and join with the amazing team at American Forests, along with its partners and supporters to expand the impact of such noble and far-reaching work." 

"Hilary is renowned for developing holistic strategies to heal and steward our forests and for her ability to bring together diverse interests and win bipartisan support to deliver the resources and partnerships we need to make healthy and resilient forests a reality in cities and rural landscapes alike," says Jad Daley, American Forests' previous president and CEO Emeritus. "She's a collaborator and a team builder, and there's no one who works harder, smarter or with more passion in driving change and progress. Hilary's energy, experience and leadership skills make her the perfect leader to usher American Forests into its next 150 years of accelerated growth and impact."

About Hilary Franz 

Working in the public, private and non-profit sectors, Franz has almost three decades experience in natural resource conservation and management, serving in local and state government; leading a statewide non-profit organization; and practicing environmental, land use and real estate law. Her work has focused on building strong partnerships with Tribes, communities, as well as local, state, and national non-profit, public and private organizations to conserve and restore our natural resources and create more resilient communities. 

Franz was twice elected as Commissioner of Public Lands and Head of Washington State's Department of Natural Resources, a position she held for eight years. During that time, she:

• Developed Washington State's first-ever Wildfire Strategic Plan, restructured the agency's wildfire response, and secured $500 million in critical funding, resulting in a dramatic reduction in destruction to forests and communities (with 90% of wildfires kept below 10 acres in her eight years of leadership). 
  
  
• Created Washington State's Forest Resilience Program, helping restore 1 million acres of federal, state, private and tribal forestlands in just seven years. 
  
  
• Launched the Keep Washington Evergreen Initiative, helping conserve over 200,000 acres of forestlands, including acquiring over 20,000 acres of forestlands which was nationally recognized as 2023 Timberland Deal of the Year.
  
  
• Grew Washington's Urban Forestry Program from $500,000 to $16.6 million and partnered with American Forests to launch Washington State's Tree Equity Program and Collaborative. 

Franz has received numerous awards for her leadership in wildfire response and natural resource management, conservation, and restoration. Early in her career, she focused her public service on supporting and representing victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and she presently serves on the Advisory Board for The Network, a national non-profit organization committed to ending human sex trafficking. Franz holds a B.A. in English and Government from Smith College, and she earned her J.D. from Northeastern University. 

ABOUT AMERICAN FORESTS: American Forests is the first national nonprofit conservation organization created in the U.S. Since its founding in 1875, the organization has been the pathfinders for the forest conservation movement. Its mission is to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to large natural landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. The organization advances its mission through forestry, innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. For more information visit: www.americanforests.org 

Media Contact: Sarah Stanley, [email protected]

SOURCE American Forests