Women's Leadership Summit

Elevate | Empower | Inspire

Whether you’re a rising professional, a seasoned executive, or just someone passionate about growth, innovation, and driving change — the Women’s Leadership Summit hosted by the Southern Forest Products Association is for you!

We all know leadership has looked a certain way for a long time. But the truth is, we’re changing that.

Summits like this are a reminder we’re not waiting around for change — we are the change. By showcasing successful women leaders, we’re not just clapping for achievements — we’re lighting the way for others to follow. We’re creating space for mentorship, for connection, and for the kind of career growth that breaks down old barriers.

When women are part of leadership, teams thrive. Innovation happens. Communities grow stronger. And doors open for everyone.

SFPA hosted the inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit at Forest Products EXPO 2025 to help build a future where leadership reflects the world as it truly is — diverse, dynamic, and full of potential.

The panel discussion featuring four phenomenal women leaders who dived into topics like mentorship, sales and marketing excellence, and strategic communications, didn’t just talk about theory — they shared real-world strategies – what they’ve lived and experienced out there.

No matter where you are in your career, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re a woman or a man, we promise you’ll walk away having learned something new you can implement within your organization.

The 2025 conversation provided strategic and tactical insights that transcend gender, with topics including:

What was a defining moment in your career that shifted your path or led to leadership?
What’s one risk you took that changed everything—for better or for growth?
What strategies have helped you defy expectations?
Who mentored you, and how do you now mentor others?
When have you had to show both strength and vulnerability as a leader?
What advice would you give your younger self — or to someone in the audience today?
And more...

Will you join us in 2026?

Moderator
Donna Whitaker

Donna Whitaker brings more than 32 years of experience in the lumber industry, where she has held pivotal roles and forged a legacy of leadership and mentorship.

She began her career with Rayonier and was part of the historic first acquisitions Interfor made in the Southern U.S. Donna served as vice president of sales and marketing at Interfor and has contributed her leadership to numerous boards over the years, including the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA).

Throughout her career, she has had the honor of working alongside incredible leaders and mentors who shaped her path and inspired her passion for lifting others up.

Known for her strategic insight, collaborative leadership, and tireless advocacy, Donna has helped pave the way for women in an industry that’s long been male-dominated.

Now entering her next chapter, Donna remains passionately committed to supporting and advancing women in the forest products industry, fostering environments where they are empowered to grow, lead, and thrive.

Mentorship, Education, and Advancing Women in the Industry
Dr. Heidi Adams, associate professor and Frank Merritt Endowed Professor of Forestry at Louisiana Tech University

Dr. Heidi Adams is a Certified Wildlife Biologist® and an associate professor of wildlife habitat management in Louisiana Tech University’s forestry program. Originally from east Nebraska, she attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she earned a BS and a MS in 2004 and 2006, respectively.

Her MS research focused on the role of birds in insect suppression in crop fields adjacent to forest habitats. In 2011, she earned her doctorate from Mississippi State University after studying how birds respond to different forms of disturbance (prescribed fire and light strip-disking) in early successional habitat.

Louisiana Tech University hired Dr. Adams in 2014 where she teaches courses in wildlife biology, wildlife habitat management, and human dimensions of forestry. She serves as the faculty advisor to the Louisiana Tech Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society. She also developed and currently serves as a secondary faculty advisor to the Louisiana Tech student organization Women of Louisiana Forestry & Supporters, or WOLFS.

Her research interests include forest habitat management, specifically for birds and mammals, and environmental education. In 2023, Dr. Adams, along with Dr. Nan Nan (Louisiana Tech assistant professor of forest products) initiated Women in the Woods, a program designed to increase female participation in the forestry profession via outreach, mentorship, and experiential learning. This program has already been able to educate hundreds of youth about forestry and has garnered support from federal and state agencies, NGOs, and private industries.

The biggest success of this program is the annual Women in the Woods workshop, an event where high school girls from across the state of Louisiana gather at the Louisiana Ecological Forestry Center for an entire weekend to learn about forestry from women foresters.

Dr. Adams has been recognized as the Frank Merritt Endowed Professor of Forestry and the Louisiana Wildlife Federation’s 2024 Conservationist of the Year. She lives in Ruston, Louisiana, with her husband of 15 years, Dr. Joshua Adams, who is also a Louisiana Tech professor specializing in silviculture and forest genetics. Together they have two children, Mary Virginia (13) and John Mark (11), both of whom love the outdoors just as much as their parents. In her free time, Dr. Adams enjoys bird watching, hunting, reading, and cheering for her kids on the soccer pitch and baseball field.

Sales and Marketing Excellence
Heidi Danbrook, sales manager with Gilbert

Heidi Danbrook has been a key figure in the global lumber industry for more than 25 years, serving as sales manager at Gilbert. With a deep specialization in planermill equipment, Heidi has played an instrumental role in expanding Gilbert’s international presence, helping to sell and install machinery in more than 20 countries worldwide.

Known for her unique blend of technical expertise and educational approach, Heidi’s background in teaching has enabled her to go beyond traditional sales. She excels at building trust with customers and empowering planer teams with the knowledge they need to operate their equipment efficiently and confidently.

Her hands-on involvement throughout the sales and installation process has made her a trusted advisor to mills around the globe.

Heidi’s career is defined by a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning — values that continue to guide her work and contribute to the ongoing success of Gilbert and its partners.

Strategic Communications and Public Relations
Kim Drew APR

Founded in May 1996, Drew Public Relations, Inc. is an award-winning, full-service public relations firm. In the years since, Kim Drew has represented clients around the world through standalone public relations activities and/or as part of an integrated marketing team.

Before consulting, Kim was public relations representative for the building products division of Georgia-Pacific Corp., then a Fortune 50 company. Operating as part of a two-person team, she managed media relations, special events, and long-range planning and strategizing for the division. Agency work included time with Ogilvy & Mather South, The Headline Group (now Edelman Atlanta), and Alexander Communications, Inc. (now Ogilvy Public Relations Atlanta).

Kim’s extensive experience includes managing comprehensive public relations programs for manufacturing companies, associations, service providers, retailers, arts groups, educational entities, and more. Decades of experience in the lumber and building products industry have resulted in a deep knowledge of both key media outlets and the overall industry. She is a frequent contributor to industry trade magazines on behalf of her clients and on her own.

Active in the Georgia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America since 1990, Kim earned the national designation Accredited in Public Relations (APR) in July 1996. Kim was named the Luminary Star Award recipient for the Georgia Chapter PRSA, an award recognizing the outstanding public relations person of the year (November 2007).

Kim has also guest-lectured at national conferences and university classes on the topics of crisis communications, media relations, and solo consulting. She has won multiple awards and recognitions for her media relations work from PRSA and IABC. Kim earned a degree in English from Agnes Scott College and cross-registered at Georgia State University to study public relations and journalism.

With an unabashed love of children, dogs, and the arts, Kim volunteers her time with multiple organizations near and dear to her heart.