Port Blakely's Environmental Education Grants support creative, hands on projects that connect students with the natural world. Learn more about this year's recipients and the innovative ideas they'll bring to their classrooms.
A Seattle Times story highlights the partnerships helping improve wildlife connectivity across Washington and the important role working forests play in supporting healthy, connected landscapes.
Port Blakely hosted high school students from the Southwest Washington STEM Career Academy for a day of hands-on learning about sustainable forestry and careers in the industry. Students toured an active logging operation, practiced field forestry techniques and met with employees to explore career opportunities in natural resources.
Port Blakely visited Fairlie Primary School as part of the Wood is Good initiative, teaching students about sustainable forestry, wood products, and road safety around log trucks.
Port Blakely employees across New Zealand and the U.S. came together to recognize Pink Shirt Day, promoting kindness, inclusion, and standing up against bullying. Through wearing pink and supporting mental health and antibullying organizations, employees showed their commitment to creating a culture where everyone feels supported and included.
A recent Scoop article highlights Port Blakely’s New Zealand leadership transition. It recognizes Phil Taylor’s legacy and Andrew Cocking’s continued leadership and board appointment.
Volunteers and Port Blakely staff joined the Lewis Conservation District to plant 6,000 trees along Mill Creek near Adna, part of a multi-year effort to restore salmon habitat. The project will establish more than 20,000 native trees and shrubs to replace invasive grass, improve stream conditions, and support wildlife that helps create healthy salmon ecosystems.
Andrew Cocking has been named Managing Director of Port Blakely Ltd., New Zealand Forestry, effective July 1, 2026, succeeding Phil Taylor upon his retirement after 20 years of leadership. A 28-year company veteran, Andrew brings deep operational expertise and strong industry relationships to guide the next chapter of the New Zealand business.
Nick Henderson, Production/Protection Forester for Port Blakely’s South Island operations, joined Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Bravo contingent in Victoria, Australia, to support post-containment bushfire recovery during an intense 2026 fire season. Selected for his advanced forestry and tree-felling expertise, he helped remove hazardous trees, strengthen containment lines, and restore access to fire-affected areas.
Port Blakely CEO Mike Warjone was featured in the January/February issue of the Puget Sound Business Journal, where he shared his perspective on forestry, leadership, and the future of working forests. That early connection to the woods shaped his career and continues to influence how he leads today.
Port Blakely is proud to celebrate South Island Regional Manager Barry Wells, who was named a runner-up in the 2025 Most Valuable Coach (MVC) Awards presented by Competenz, New Zealand’s industry training organization. The MVC Awards recognize outstanding workplace coaches and mentors across the country who are making a meaningful impact in workforce training and skills development.
Family Business Magazine highlights Port Blakely’s CEO transition and the strong governance and stewardship values guiding the company into its sixth generation.
On September 24, 2025, Port Blakely had the honor of seeing two scholarships awarded at Grays Harbor College’s annual Scholarship Social. The Chris Lunde Forest Resource Management Scholarship and the Port Blakely / Cascade Family Motorcycle Club Scholarship reflect our commitment to education, sustainability, and the next generation of forestry leaders.
Port Blakely announced its plan to appoint Mike Warjone as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026. He will succeed René Ancinas, who will remain Board Chair. As a family-owned company, this transition continues Port Blakely’s legacy of family leadership, stewardship, and sustainability.
As hunting season begins, understanding access to Port Blakely’s working forestlands in Washington and Oregon is essential for a safe and successful trip. Learn how access policies, safety requirements, and changing forest conditions affect hunting opportunities on privately managed lands.
Christchurch, New Zealand — Port Blakely’s restoration efforts at the Robinson Kakahu Wetland were featured in a recent Environment Canterbury article (June 26, 2025), which features a $5,000 contribution from the Ōrāri Temuka Ōpihi Pareora (OTOP) Water Zone Committee. This funding will enhance the ongoing restoration of the 16-hectare inland wetland in the Geraldine region, a project that Port Blakely has been leading since 2020.
At Port Blakely, we’re constantly seeking new ways to make forestry safer, smarter, and more sustainable. That’s why we were excited to pilot an innovative technology in our Geraldine forests in New Zealand: heavy-lifting drones that can deliver seedling loads directly to planting crews working in steep, rugged terrain. Recently featured in the Timaru Herald, this pioneering work is the result of a collaboration between Port Blakely and ProVision Ltd., a South Canterbury-based company led by drone innovator Khan Adam.
This past spring, Port Blakely welcomed fifth-grade classes from Molalla Elementary School to our forest near Molalla as part of our Environmental Education Program. This experience was highlighted in the Molalla River School District Newsletter (June 2025). For the past five years, Port Blakely has hosted students from the Molalla River School District. These forest field trips provide hands-on lessons in forest ecology, the importance of trees, and the diverse wildlife that thrives in our working forests.
René Ancinas, Chairman and CEO of Port Blakely, was featured in the April 2025 edition of Family Business Magazine. The article offers a thoughtful look into René’s leadership journey, insights on sustaining a multigenerational family business, and the values that continue to guide Port Blakely’s mission.
Recent coverage about the Department of Natural Resources’ “legacy forests” suggests that DNR is the only landowner managing extended rotation forests. As a fourth-generation owner of Port Blakely, a family-owned company that has managed long-rotation forests for generations, I am concerned by this assumption.