Bettina Ring

Bettina Kay Ring (born October 16, 1963) is an American agricultural expert who served as Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry under Governor Ralph Northam from 2018 to 2022. She previously served as the Virginia State Forester under Governor Terry McAuliffe from 2014 to 2018.[1][2][3]

Bettina Ring
4th Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
In office
January 13, 2018 – January 15, 2022
GovernorRalph Northam
Preceded byBasil Gooden
Succeeded byMatt Lohr
State Forester of Virginia
In office
May 2014 – January 13, 2018
GovernorTerry McAuliffe
Preceded byCarl E. Garrison III
Succeeded byRob Farrell
Personal details
Born
Bettina Kay Ring

(1963-10-16) October 16, 1963
Hopewell, Virginia, U.S.
Alma materVirginia Tech
James Madison University

Background

Ring graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Forestry and Wildlife in 1986. She went onto join the Virginia Department of Forestry, where she initially worked as an area forester.[4] Early in her career, Ring did work in Greene County and northwestern Albemarle County.[5] In 2001, she earned a Master of Business Administration from James Madison University.[6] The same year, she left the Department of Forestry, having attained the rank of Deputy State Forester during her fourteen-year tenure there.[3][4]

Relocating to the western United States, Ring then transitioned into non-profit work, serving in senior positions at the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts, the Wilderness Land Trust and the Bay Area Open Space Council.[4][6] In May 2012, Ring joined the American Forest Foundation in Washington D.C., where she served as Senior Vice President of Family Forests[4] and oversaw the American Tree Farm System.[6]

Ring also co-founded the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute.[6]

McAuliffe administration

In 2014, Ring was appointed Virginia State Forester by Governor Terry McAuliffe.[6] Under Ring's leadership, the Virginia Department of Forestry sent over 100 first responders to assist in out of state emergencies throughout 2017, including a group of twenty who were sent to Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.[7][8] During her tenure as State Forester, Ring also led the National Association of State Foresters' legislative committee.[9]

References
  1. Gregory S. Schneider (December 14, 2017). "Northam names Democrat from Lynchburg as secretary of transportation". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  2. The Associated Press (14 December 2017). "Gov.-elect Northam appoints 2 to incoming administration". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  3. "Bettina Ring, State Forester of Virginia - Virginia Department of Forestry". www.dof.virginia.gov. November 6, 2014. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  4. "Alumni Profile: Bettina Ring". CNRE Newsmagazine. Blacksburg, Virginia: Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment. February 15, 2013. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  5. "Ring, who began career in Greene, named forestry, ag. secretary". Greene County Record. The Daily Progress. December 27, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  6. "Ring appointed Virginia State Forester". CNRE Newsmagazine. Blacksburg, Virginia: Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment. August 15, 2014. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  7. "Virginia forestry crew heading to Houston to help respond to Harvey". WHSV-TV. August 28, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  8. "VDOF team heading to Texas". CBS 19. August 28, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  9. Jeff Mapes (September 30, 2015). "After wildfires rage in the West, Congress moves to provide $700 million in emergency aid". The Oregonian. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
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