About Us
Decades of Combined Experience
Established in 2007 and based in Bluefield, Virginia, Advantage Timberland has been managing and providing forestry, land and property services on over 680,000 acres of timberland in Eastern Kentucky, Southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia for large and small-scale timberland investment groups and non-industrial private forestland owners.
The management team has decades of combined experience in the forest industry and is made up of forest and environmental resource professionals from the central Appalachians and the Northeast. Advantage Timberland employs professional foresters, forestry technicians, natural scientists, and GIS specialists. In efforts to provide unrivaled services to our clients, Advantage Timberland not only pursues qualified personnel, but also men and women who demonstrate a high level of ethics and integrity.
Management Partners
Terry Owen
President
Terry grew up and graduated high school in upstate NY. Immediately after high school, he enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps. After completing his tour, he went on to college earning an A.A.S. in Forest Technology in 1990 from the NY State Ranger School and a B.S. in Forestry in 1992 from the University of Maine. He practiced forestry for 8 years in Northern New England as a field forester and 7 years in Appalachia as the General Manager for Wagner Forest Management. In 2007, Advantage Timberland, Inc. was incorporated where he is currently President.
Terry is a WV Registered Forester, a NH Licensed Forester, a member of the West Virginia Forestry Association, the Virginia Forestry Association, and the Forest Resources Association. He has served on the Town of Rumney Conservation Commission, the Rumney, NH Volunteer Fire Dept., the Bluefield, VA Volunteer Fire Dept., FRA’s Appalachian Region Timber Security Committee and the Appalachian Region Steering Committee. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Triangle Sportsman’s Club and as team leader of his church’s safety team.
Mike Jones
Vice President - Land Management Forester
Mike grew up in the Bluefield area where he has worked in the timber industry for over two decades. After earning his Bachelor of Science Degree from Virginia Tech, majoring in Forestry and Wildlife, cum laude, he began working as a procurement forester for a local peeler mill. Just a few years later he was offered his dream job with Wagner Forest Management managing a large timber holding encompassing 540,000 acres in the coalfields of KY, WV and VA. Several years later, he and his partners established Advantage Timberland where they continue to manage much of the same properties.
Mike is licensed with the West Virginia Board of Registered Foresters and shares Advantage's business membership with the West Virginia Forestry Association and the Virginia Forestry Association. He enjoys spending as much time in God's creation with his wife, Kimberly, and their two sons. He currently serves as Deacon and Youth Director at his local congregation and has a few years under his belt coaching Little League Baseball and leading a few Cub Scout dens.
John Ward
Vice President - Regional Manager - West Virginia & Virginia
John was born and raised in upstate New York where he graduated from the SUNY ESF Ranger School in 1996. He began his forestry career working in the Adirondack Mountains where he harvested timber and managed timberland as a forester for Wagner Forest Management. His work led him north of the border into the boreal forests and northern hardwoods of Northern Ontario, Canada for four years until he transferred south to the coalfields of WV, VA and KY in 2003.
John helped establish Advantage Timberland in 2007 and currently holds the positions of Regional Manager and Chief of Operations for the Bluefield Log Yard.
Not only does he enjoy working outdoors, but he also spends much of his free time out there fishing, waterfowl hunting and canoeing. When the elements are less than ideal, you will likely find him in his woodworking shop.
Steve Roach
Vice President - Regional Manager - Kentucky
Steve is a regional consulting forester with over 23 years of professional experience. He has managed to work from his hometown of Duffield, VA for his entire career. After graduating from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Resource Management, he went straight into the field of forestry procuring for a local chip mill. He is one of four of the founding members of Advantage Timberland, Inc, which was formed in 2007.
Steve is a driven individual with a positive outlook and encourages others to work hard and succeed. He is inspired daily by his loving family. He enjoys spending time with them as well as friends, traveling and attending concerts.