Andres Villegas has a great deal of knowledge regarding trees, and he wishes to share this knowledge with you.
Over the course of his professional journey in the agricultural and forestry sectors, Villegas BSA ’98, has emerged as a champion and connector linking rural and metropolitan areas through eco-friendly food and fiber products.
Originally from Colombia, Villegas relocated to Athens at the age of 8 months when his parents, Pedro Villegas PhD ’75 and Angela Villegas MS ’75, returned to UGA for his father’s appointment as a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
From an early age, Villegas displayed an enthusiasm for natural resources and agriculture. He was raised in proximity to farms on the outskirts of the Classic City, spent summers at the family farm in Colombia, and looked up to the contributions his father made at the UGA vet school, focusing on vaccine innovation for the expanding poultry sector of the state.
“Being around animals, on farms, and in environments where individuals were engaged in hands-on work and problem-solving, striving to enhance their farms continuously, was something I found appealing,” Villegas remarks.
Villegas’ professional path has taken him across the globe, engaging in international trade for the Georgia Department of Agriculture, where he facilitated the export of poultry to Cuba and pecans to Asia. Subsequently, he moved to the private sector, being recruited by the Langdale Company, a prominent timber producer in Valdosta, to serve as its vice president of international sales, domestic marketing, and governmental relations.
Following his tenure at Langdale, Villegas transitioned to Weyerhaeuser, another timber powerhouse. During his time there, he was stationed in North Carolina, Oregon, and Uruguay. By late 2015, he returned to Georgia to take charge of the Georgia Forestry Association (GFA), where he dedicated nearly ten years as president and CEO.
Ranked as the leading forestry state in the nation, Georgia boasts a comprehensive international trade framework. During his tenure with GFA, Villegas acquired expertise in advocating for Georgia timber producers—ranging from those on small family-owned farms to those managing extensive operations across thousands of acres.
Currently, Villegas holds the position of vice president of public affairs and communications for Rayonier, a timber real estate investment company that oversees approximately 2.7 million acres of timberland across the U.S. and New Zealand.
Due to Georgia’s eminent standing as the foremost forestry state in the United States, the state plays a vital leadership role. The working forests of Georgia exemplify sustainable forestry by harmonizing timber production with the preservation of air, water, and wildlife resources.
“With assistance from researchers at UGA, we’ve been perfecting our forestry methods for over a century to enhance the sustainability of our working forests, all while fostering a robust forest economy that provides over 140,000 jobs within our state and contributes $42 billion to Georgia’s economy.” — Andres Villegas, vice president of public affairs and communications for Rayonier
Even though Villegas no longer resides in Athens, he maintains a connection to the university as a member of the UGA Alumni Board and serves on the board for UGA’s Advancing Georgia’s Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry.
“The most significant lesson I have gained from my lifelong association with the University of Georgia is that it is an institution capable of transforming the world for the better,” Villegas states. “This capability stems from the individuals who make UGA a genuinely unique institution, empowering every participant to improve the lives of their family, church, community, and professional pursuits.”
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