The Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) recently announced a collaborative leadership structure to guide its government relations work heading into the 2026 legislative session, according to a news release put out by the WFPA.
Former House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox will serve as interim government relations director, bringing decades of experience in forest policy, coalition-building and legislative affairs. Matt Doumit, with more than a decade of experience in natural resource management, legislative policy making and lobbying, will serve as policy associate and support WFPA’s advocacy and policy initiatives. Tom Davis, who announced his retirement as WFPA director of government relations earlier this year, will serve as a resource for Wilcox and Doumit, providing context and institutional knowledge.
“WFPA members — and Washington’s forestry sector as a whole — will be well served by our team,” WFPA Executive Director Jason Spadaro said. “J.T., Matt, Tom and the extended WFPA organization offer a breadth of knowledge and experience in telling the story of working forests. They understand the essential role that healthy, responsibly managed forests play in strengthening our economy, addressing climate change and enhancing our quality of life with renewable, carbon-friendly wood.”
The WFPA represents private forest landowners growing and harvesting trees on about 4 million acres in Washington state, the release stated. Members of the 117-year-old association are large and small companies, individuals and families who practice sustainable forestry in Washington’s private forests. For more information, go to www.wfpa.org.
