Linda Carnell
Assistant State Forester
Communication & Education
Linda is a Forestry Specialist in the Logging Sediment Control Program with the West Virginia Division of Forestry in Romney, WV. She started with the WVDOF in 1986 and in that time has served as a Forest Products Utilization Forester working with with the Forest Industry Community. In 2001, Linda became the District Forester.
At present, She supervises nine other foresters and is in charge of overseeing all activities in logging sediment control, Chesapeake Bay Program issues and training activities in a twenty county area of North and Eastern area of West Virginia.
In 1998 she was named 'Employee of the Year' for her work and volunteer time with the American Red Cross.
Linda is a native of West Virginia and grew up in Benwood (Wheeling area). She began her forestry career at the ripe old age of 9. That's when she entered the West Virginia 4-H program. Her first project, besides "Yeast Breads", was West Virginia Trees 1. Although Linda had early aspirations of being a nurse, she learned a love for the outdoors early on and continued in the forestry curriculum throughout her 4-H career, eventually winning many county, regional, state awards and one of International Paper Company's scholarships at the 1978 National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago. The National 4-H forestry Invitational was just beginning as Linda left high school. She attended the first Forestry Invitational at Jackson's Mill as a Camping Assistant and basically was in charge of campfire programs and helped out where needed.
Linda went on to graduate from West Virginia University with a BS in Forest Management. Upon graduation she was chosen to become West Virginia's 1985 International 4-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) representative where she traveled to Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. There she worked on projects with Extension and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. After her returned to West Virginia, she traveled the state to present her experiences to organizations in all counties. One of Linda's career goals is working with people to help them understand forestry. Another goal is to give something back to 4-H after all it had done for her. She still remains active in the 4-H program today.
Linda currently lives in Keyser, WV with her husband, Todd, who is also a forester and daughter Clarissa.
Office Address: WV Division of Forestry, One Depot St., Romney, WV 26757
Phone: 304-822-4512
Fax: 304-822-7331
E-mail: Linda.O.Carnell@wv.gov
