Cindy Mitchell Recognized as FRA’s 2026 National Technical Writing Aaward Winner
CHARLESTON, SC — May 19, 2026 — The Forest Resources Association (FRA) honored Cindy Mitchell, Senior Director of Public Affairs and CFO, Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA), as the recipient of the 2026 National Technical Writing Award. The award was presented during FRA’s 2026 Annual Meeting at the Hotel Emeline in Charleston, South Carolina. Mitchell won the 2025 Western Region Technical Writing Award and subsequently advanced alongside other regional winners for consideration for the national honor.
FRA’s Technical Releases are quarterly publications that highlight technical advancements, research, and innovative programs across the forest products industry. Many of these publications are authored by FRA members, and outstanding submissions from each region are selected annually by regional Steering Committees for consideration for national recognition.
Lindsay Warness, FRA Western Region Manager, took the stage to share details about Mitchell’s award-winning Technical Release, “Washington Voter Perception of Forest Management,” and to recognize her contributions to the industry. The Technical Release summarized the result of the WFPA’s voter perception polling and concluded that active forest management is supported by a majority of the public, with respondents placing a greater value on environmental and health-related benefits rather than economic ones, with more members recognizing that well-managed forests align closely with the values they hold dear, including sustainability, community resilience, and environmental health.
Following the presentation, Mitchell received a commemorative plaque and a monetary award from FRA and was invited to address attendees. During her remarks, Mitchell emphasized the importance of strengthening the forest products industry’s communication with broader audiences, noting the need to better tell the story of working forests and the value the industry provides to communities across the country.
“I am thankful for the work that Cindy Mitchell and the WFPA have done to advance the Forest Industry. The polling has been invaluable for our industry to understand the perception of the public.” – Lindsay Warness
Cindy Mitchell serves as Senior Director of Public Affairs and CFO at the Washington Forest Protection Association, where she leads public information and strategic communications on forest policy. She brings extensive experience in forestry policy, research, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on making complex regulatory and scientific issues accessible and actionable.
About Forest Resources Association (FRA)
FRA is an association representing the interests of more than 300 organizations and businesses in the forest products industry, including forest landowners, suppliers, consuming mills, associated businesses, and state forestry associations. Members all share a common interest – they rely on FRA to promote the public policy interests of the forest products industry’s supply chain on Capitol Hill and our work to advance safety, operational and technical efficiencies, and supply chain relations. FRA has member representation in 49 states and 384 Congressional Districts.
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