ABOUT US

We are New York Logger Training (NYLT), an organization under the umbrella of the Empire State Forest Products Association (ESFPA) charged with facilitating and delivering education, skills training, and professional development opportunities for timber harvesters and the forest products industry in New York State. 

What is Trained Logger Certification (TLC)?

Trained Logger Certification (TLC) is a voluntary program of NYLT that recognizes loggers and other participants 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.

Emphasis on Training Individuals, Not Companies

Differing 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 they work for. This encourages high-level skill development, commitment to safety, and adherence to environmental and best management practices by all loggers in the state -- acumen that can be carried with them even if they change companies. 

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...

  • 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 that help you reach TNC attainment and contribute to ongoing professional and skill development. 

  • 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. 

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. You will note we are modifying, consolidating, and rearranging information to improve the user experience and make important information more 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

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. 

Current President
Rick Lutz, Lutz 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 

Timber Harvester Representative
Dan Schaefer, Schaefer Enterprises, Schaefer Logging

At-Large Industry Representative
Jay Hiretzke, Northwoods Forestry Consultants  

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

2026 TLC CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

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. Current members include:

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