Two longtime employees to fill top forestry posts

State Forester Mike Carroll has selected two longtime employees to fill top posts within the DNR's Forestry Division.

John Grossbach was appointed to fill the Forestry Division's regional forester position in Brainerd. Grossbach, a division employee for 32 years, spent 17 of these years as assistant regional forester in Brainerd. He assumed the position of regional forester Sept. 7, succeeding Darwin Anderson, who retired in July.

The Forestry Division's Brainerd Region encompasses 15 counties in north-central Minnesota and concentrates primarily on state land management, timber sales, fire protection and private forest management.

Tom Baumann, currently the administrator of the Bureau of Information, Education and Licensing, was selected to head the Forestry Division's Resource Management Section. He will assume the position Sept. 26. The section head responsibilities are many, but include the state land forest management, timber sales, resource assessment, utilization and marketing, and private forest management programs.

Baumann, who has worked for the DNR for 26 years, including 13 years as a field forester, succeeds Bruce ZumBahlen who retired in August.

Carroll said Baumann and Grossbach were selected because of their extensive experience with the DNR and their strong records of achievement.

"These two individuals possess the experience and knowledge to help expand and enhance the division's forest management and protection efforts throughout the north-central region and the state," Carroll said. "They both have a good working relationship with division and department staff and can hit the ground running as soon as they step into these key positions."