DCNR names new forester for Sproul State Forest
HARRISBURG, PA – Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today announced the appointment of Gregory Kisko as the District Forester for Sproul State Forest in Clinton and Centre counties, which is in the Pennsylvania Wilds.
“Greg has risen to every challenge in his time with DCNR and we are confident he will be very successful managing the forest,” Dunn said. “Sproul features some beautiful landscapes, pure water, recreation opportunities, wildlife habitats and so many more great natural resources, and Greg and the district team will continue to be good stewards of the majestic forest.”
Kisko will oversee management of the forest, which covers more than 305,000 acres and features steep and rugged hillsides cut by the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and its tributaries, which is located in Clinton and Centre counties. Sproul State Forest was named in honor of William C. Sproul, governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923. Governor Sproul was best known for expansion of the public education system in Pennsylvania.
“The hard work and dedication Greg has exhibited over a career of more than 20 years with the department has prepared him for this important role,” State Forester Ellen Shultzabarger said. “He demonstrated his skillset as an administrator, coordinator and leader in each of his prior roles within the Bureau of Forestry and I know he will do a wonderful job in this position.”
Kisko is a native of Clinton County and grew up in and around the Sproul. He received an associate degree from the Pennsylvania College of Technology and began working in DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry in 2000 as a forest technician on the inventory crew. Later that year, he transferred to Tiadaghton State Forest and held several positions before becoming a forester in 2008. From 2010 to 2016, Kisko served as a gas forester in the Tiadaghton before transferring to Tioga State Forest where he worked as the assistant district forester, primarily managing the district’s maintenance, recreational, fire and service forestry programs.
“I have family here, I grew up here, I hunted in these woods, and now I am managing the forest — there would be no other district, other than Tioga, I would like to finish my career in. I would like to thank Jim Hyland, Benn Carlson, and the rest of the Tioga staff in helping me get to where I am today. Also I would like to thank the Tiadaghton district from where this journey all started,” Kisko said. “I want to be helpful and look forward to building on the work of the previous district foresters through strengthening partnerships and being a strong leader in the community.”
Kisko lives in Antes Fort with his wife, Stephanie, daughters, Arabella and Samara, and his two dogs, Desmond and Oliver. When he is not spending time with his family or attending sporting events, he enjoys hunting and spending time outdoors, working on projects around his house, and running his sawmill. Most recently, Kisko has started raising honeybees.
For more information about Sproul State Forest, contact the district office at 570-923-6011 or visit the DCNR website.
