Barkman-Gilbert Consulting Forestry is a premier forestry firm rooted in western Pennsylvania, built on a foundation of trust, integrity, and long-standing relationships. Our mission is to provide exceptional, sustainable forestry solutions that serve both people and the land. We believe that personal relationships come before the bottom line — because meaningful partnerships lead to better forests, healthier ecosystems, and stronger communities.
Our team of experienced professionals delivers a full range of forestry and land management services tailored to the unique goals of each client. From forest management planning and timber sales to wildlife habitat enhancement and land restoration, we combine science-based expertise with a personal touch.
At Barkman-Gilbert Consulting Forestry, we are driven by a deep respect for the forest land and a commitment to the future. Through education, transparency, and ethical stewardship, we empower landowners to make informed decisions that ensure the health, vitality, and sustainability of our forests for generations to come.
Barkman-Gilbert Consulting Forestry — Forest Consulting for a Sustainable Future.
Our Story
Where do two foresters meet—high school, college, or somewhere deep in the woods? You might think so, but our story began purely by chance.
Rebeca Barkman and Michael Gilbert, Co-Owners and Co-Founders, grew up states apart: Rebeca in Everett, Pennsylvania, and Michael in Oswego, New York. Their paths first crossed in southeastern Virginia, where Rebeca was completing her Master of Science in Forestry and serving as a teaching assistant for a university field course. The course took students on an industry tour of sawmills, papermills, and other forestry operations, offering a firsthand look at the profession.
At the same time, Michael had just begun his career as a consulting forester with American Forest Management (AFM). The two met at a Society of American Foresters (SAF) meeting in Wakefield, Virginia—an annual gathering for students on the tour. Rebeca was there in her teaching role, and Michael attended as an AFM representative.
While working in Virginia, they learned that Tom O’Neal, a respected consulting forester in Everett, Pennsylvania, was preparing to retire and seeking someone to continue his practice. Recognizing a meaningful opportunity, they decided to relocate to Everett—returning to Rebeca’s hometown and settling within a few hours of Michael’s family. Although Tom has since retired, he continues to share wisdom from his 42-year career, reminding them that some lessons can’t be learned in a classroom.
Working together has been both a professional and personal reward. Rebeca and Michael share a passion for forests—whether they’re managing them, hiking through them, or debating the finer points of forest science. As foresters, they share a long-standing passion for discussing and debating forest science, and since founding their company, those discussions have only become more spirited.
This is the foundation of who they are—and the story behind the work they do every day.
Michael
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Phone: 814-979-0972
Email: michael@bg-forestry.com
Credentials:
Three years of professional experience as a forester with some arborculture experience
License and Accreditations:
Maryland Board of Foresters, Forester Licenses
Pennsylvania Pesticide Application Licences
Virginia Pesticide Application Licences
FAA Small Remote Pilot Licences
Education
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry:
Forest Resources Management B.S
SUNY-ESF Ranger School:
Environmental and Natural Resources Conservation A.A.S
Rebecca
I was born and raised in Everett, PA. I have a passion for the outdoors, hiking, kayaking, and hunting. In middle school, I realized that science just clicked for me, and in seventh grade, my science teacher must have felt the same way because he recruited me to be on the Jr. High Envirothon team. While competing in competitions, I narrowed down my interest to forestry. By my senior year, I won first place in the forestry category. From there, I knew I wanted a career in environmental science, because I had no idea you could go to college to become a forester. I applied to Virginia Tech for Environmental Science??? However, after a semester, I found that forest resource management was a major and the potential jobs associated with that degree. During my time at Virginia Tech, I completed a summer internship with the Matthew’s State Forest (VDOF), where I published two research papers; I was the first author on one and the second author on the other. I graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources Management in December 2022. I jumped right into my masters weeks later. My master’s project was a survey on the economic sustainability of logging businesses in Virginia from across the supply chain.
Phone: 814-979-1337
Email: Rebecca@bg-forestry.com
Credentials:
One year of professional experience as a forester
Research Papers
Tree Seedling and Understory Plant Presence in Deer Exclosures on the Matthews State Forest (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2022)
Impact of Planting Treatments on Eastern White Pine Seedling Survival and Growth at the Matthews State Forest in Grayson County, Virginia (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2021)
Education
Virginia Tech Forest Resources Management M.S
Virginia Tech Forest Resources Management B.S
