ABOUT US

We are New York Logger Training (NYLT), an organization under the umbrella of the Empire State Forest Products Association (ESFPA) that provides educational and skills training for timber harvesters and the forest products industry in New York State. NYLT is governed by its own Board of DIrectors, separate from ESFPA, that includes professional loggers representing leadership and best practice excellence, as well as at-large members from industry and partner organizations. Training programs and workshops designed and delivered by NYLT are guided by a curriculum committee composed of educators and practitioners across the forestry and timber harvesting sector, with input from additional public and private organization and agency expertise, to ensure training objectives and topics align with real-world practices on the ground, in the woods, and on the road. 

What is the NY Trained Logger Certification (TLC) Program/Distinction?

Trained Logger Certification (TLC) is a voluntary program of NYLT that recognizes loggers who have achieved a high-level of training and continuing education. Since its inception in 1996, TLC has become the standard training program for the wood using industry in New York, and is a requisite attainment for conducting harvesting on state lands as well delivering wood to companies adhering to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and other forest certification programs.

TLC requires the completion of 3 CORE training workshops (Chainsaw Operation, Safety, & Productivity (Game of Logging I) + Environmental Concerns (Forest Ecology & Silviculture) + Adult First Aid & CPR), plus 3 Credits of Continuing Education post-CORE completion, fulfilled before the conclusion of three years.

Different from some programs, the state of New York, SFI participants, and NYLT remain committed to supporting TLC certification of each individual contractor and crew member, not merely the company as representative, encouraging high-level skill development, commitment to safety, and adherence to environmental and best management practices by all loggers in the state. To date, more than 6,000 individuals have enrolled in nearly 3,800 NYLT and affiliated workshops, and 275 have attained the TLC distinction, made possible through the support of NYLT financial sponsors, our network of instructors, as well as the dedicated work of our many generous partner organizations. 

Learn More While You are Visiting New York TLC's Hub...

  • Visit our Get Certified page to learn more about how to get certified and maintain certification.

  • Check out our In-Person Scheduled Workshops and Online Continuing Education Opportunities.

  • For additional information, to check on your TLC status, to discuss our NYLT workshops and qualified TLC courses, or to determine whether a workshop or event you found outside of our network qualifies for credit(s), please contact Dorian Johnson (Dorian@esfpa.org) or call ESFPA at (518) 463-1297. We are happy to help. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Website Under (Minor) Construction 
(Posted 9/11/2026) -- Our NYLT/TLC Website is undergoing some minor tweaks until we implement an overhaul in the near future. We are trying to group information to be more clear and easily accessible. Please be patient with us as we continue to make small changes we hope will be helpful. If you are struggling to find important information, please contact us (Dorian@esfpa.org).

Fall Workshop Schedule Published
(Posted 9/11/2026) -- You can find our Fall In-Person Workshop Schedule behind the Scheduled Workshops Tab in our menu. This schedule will be updated regularly, and in downloadable PDF format for printing, download, and sharing, and includes not only workshops offered through NYLT, but also additional in-person workshops scheduled by our training partner organizations.  

2026 NYLT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Current President
Rick Lutz, Lutz Logging

Incoming President
Dan Schaefer, Schaefer Enterprises, Schaefer Logging

Immediate Past President
Craig Jochum, Craig Jochum Logging

Vice President
Walt Chandler, Walter E Chandler Forestry Services

Secretary/Treasurer
Jim Karascewski, Jim's Five Star Services 

At-Large Industry Representative
Jay Hiretzke, Northwoods Forestry Consultants  

At-Large Industry Representative
Mark Friebel, W.J. Cox 

2026 TLC CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

  • René Germain, SUNY ESF
  • Mark Friebel, W.J. Cox 
  • Peter Smallidge, Cornell University
  • Mike Finnerty, Finnerty Logging & Tree Service
  • Brandan Kelly, SUNY Morrisville