Stephen E. Swanson began his consulting forestry career after several years working in the Wood Procurement Department of Westvaco’s Summerville Lumber Mill. In 1980, a well-known and widely respected Consulting Forester for over 40 years, Robert F. Knoth died and there was an immediate void among many private forestland owners, large and small, for forestry services. After knocking on many doors and writing numerous letters to Mr. Knoth’s former clients, I was fortunate enough to acquire a few jobs, chief among them, Medway Plantation in Berkeley Co., consisting of 6,000 acres.

 

In 1982, I had the opportunity to acquire a 50% interest in the Forestry Consulting Firm of Henry B. Fishburne and Associates, another well-known forestry consultant to private landowners. With the new business entity of Swanson, Belser, Fishburne and Associates, came several long time clients of Mr. Fishburne’s: Cain Hoy Plantation, Berkeley Co.( 9,000 acres), Alcoa, Berkeley Co. (6,000 acres) and Marys Island Plantation, Colleton Co. (8,000 acres), now Donnelley Wildlife Management Area.

 

The relationships developed 30 years ago continue today with the owners of Cain Hoy Plantation and Big Survey Plantation, (10,000 acres) in Colleton Co., both multiple-use forestland tracts. In addition, many other tracts date back to those years ranging in size from 100 acres to 2,000 acres.

 

 

Experience:

• (1992-Present) Owner, Swanson Forestry & Real Estate Co.

• (1982-1992) Partner, Swanson, Belser, Fishburne & Associates, Consulting Foresters

• (1980-1982) Stephen E. Swanson, Consulting Forester

• (1977-1980) Wood Procurement, Westvaco Lumber Division, Summerville Sawmill

 

Education:

• University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee (1972/1976)

• BA Degree- History (1972)

• BS Degree-Forestry (1976)

• Continuing Education courses in Forestry & related fields meeting or exceeding 20 hrs./annually

 

State Designations:

• Registered Forester-South Carolina

• Licensed Real Estate Broker-South Carolina

 

Professional Organizations:

• Association of Consulting Foresters of America, Inc. (ACF)

• South Carolina Chapter, ACF

• Forest Landowners Association

• South Carolina Forestry Association