Liana Gooding with her son Ian, son Jared, and husband Mark.
Liana (pronounced “Lee Anna”) Gooding is the NYSUFC’s new Executive Secretary. Welcome, Liana! She introduces herself here.
I grew up in suburban Rochester, attended SUNY Oswego and have lived in several different areas of New York State. I now reside in the small rural village of Lima, just south of Rochester with my husband Mark and son Jared (my six-foot-tall, 16-year-old “baby.”) Our older son, Ian, is in his first year at Clarkson University. He’s doing great, while mom is still having separation anxiety.
I began my administrative career in medical office management and upon moving to the Adirondacks (where Mark was working for NYS DEC) I had the opportunity to work for the Village of Saranac Lake and served as Village Clerk. Mark and I had two young boys when he was offered a transfer to the Region 8 DEC office (where he is today), which brought us to Lima and closer to family.
I married into forestry. Mark was attending SUNY ESF when we met, and he works as a forester for DEC. He introduced me to various forestry related groups, including the New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA), New York Tree Farm, and the NYS Urban Forestry Council. I was at home with our young boys when the office administrator opportunity came up for both NYFOA and Tree Farm. Both jobs fit my administrative skills and provided the work from home option that I have enjoyed for ten years. It’s been rewarding to support a group of engaged volunteers working toward a shared purpose. Finding out that the NYS Urban Forestry Council was looking for an Executive Secretary, I felt it would be a great fit for me and would blend well with the work I do for the other groups.
I’m looking forward to seeing a different side of forestry and meeting a whole new group of people. I hear the Council is a fun bunch of dedicated professionals. I look forward to meeting many of you at the summer conference!
I’d love to hear from you: [email protected]. I can be found most days in my home office with my furry companions. They’re kind of lazy, and one has been known to bark when I’m on the phone, but they are the best co-workers around.