About Aurora Sustainable Lands

As the CEO of Aurora, Jamie oversees the carbon offset development, acquisitions and management of 1.65 million acres of working forests in North America. He has been with Aurora (formally Bluesource Sustainable Forests Company) since January of 2022 and helped oversee the merger of The Forestland Group and Bluesource Sustainable Forests Company in October of 2022. Prior to Aurora he worked as a VP for Landmark Companies and COO and Senior Director of Real Estate and Renewables at The Molpus Woodlands Group. He is also a Registered Forester in Mississippi.

Education

BA in Managerial Finance & Real Estate – University of Mississippi

MF Finance – University of Georgia

Kevin joined Aurora in April 2023. Before that he was Vice President of Timberland Investments at Rayonier January 2020 to December 2022, Vice President of Timberland Investments Pope Resources from June 2014 January 2020 , Director of Timberland Investment Management from March 2007 to June 2014. Controller from February 2001 to March 2007, Accounting Manager from February 1998 to February 2001. Internal Audit for Fluke Corporation and Accounting Manager for WAVTrace from May 1997 to March 1998. Audit Senior and Audit Manager for Deloitte & Touche, 1991 to 1997.

Education

BS, Business Administration, Emphasis Accounting Theory & Practice – California State University, Northridge.

Prior to joining Aurora in 2023, John was a partner in the M&A/Private Equity Group at Kirkland & Ellis LLP for more than four and a half years, where his practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures and complex commercial transactions with a particular focus in the infrastructure, energy transition and financial services sectors. While at Kirkland, John led the legal team responsible for closing Aurora’s acquisition of 1.5 million acres of timberland and its $1.5+ billion debt and equity capital raise. John is an Eagle Scout.

Education

BA – Vanderbilt University

Juris Doctorate – The University of Texas School of Law

Aaron oversees acquisitions, dispositions, energy, conservation, and other transactions for Aurora. In addition, he manages the analytics team responsible for underwriting, portfolio optimization, and business decision making. He is the company’s first employee and led the initial four acquisitions prior to the merger with TFG in October 2022. Prior to Aurora he worked as a conservation investments director for the Nature Conservancy, management consulting director, and entrepreneur. Aurora is his fourth start up.

Education

BA in History – Reed College

MBA – Yale School of Management

MEM – Yale School of Forestry

Mike joined Aurora in August 2024 and currently leads the Forest Operations Group. In this role, he oversees all operational activities and manages relationships with third-party managers across Aurora’s diverse portfolio. He also heads the Forest Systems and FSC Certification team, ensuring sustainable practices and compliance with industry standards.

Prior to joining Aurora, Mike served as Director of US Timberland Transactions at Campbell Global. Over his 15-year tenure there, he held multiple senior leadership positions spanning resource planning, operations, and strategic development, contributing significantly to the firm’s growth and operational excellence.

Education

BS in Forest Management – Mississippi State University

Joe Schwartz leads deal process for timberland acquisitions and dispositions. His duties include transactions strategy development and implementation, deal structuring and negotiation, acquisition and disposition valuation, real estate contract review and transaction due diligence. Joe joined Aurora (formerly BSFC) in October, 2022 through a strategic merger with The Forestland Group LLC (TFG).

Prior to employment with Aurora, Joe served in various capacities with TFG’s transactions team including as Transactions Director and Director of Investment Analysis. Joe joined TFG in 2012 on their Operations team where he was Assistant Regional Director for TFG’s Southern Region. Before joining TFG, Joe worked as a Resource Forester with the Missouri Department of Conservation. He has also worked with non-industrial private forest owners as a consulting forester and spent time as a forest inventory contractor. Joe has transactional experience in the US, Canada, Costa Rica, and Panama and has field forestry experience spanning the eastern United States. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters. Education BS in Forest Science – University of Wisconsin MS in Forestry – Michigan Technological University

Education

BS in Forest Science – University of Wisconsin

MS in Forestry – Michigan Technological University

Christine is responsible for the coordination and issuance of financial statements and investor reports. She manages internal accounting process and procedures and external audit and tax filings. Prior to Aurora, Christine spent 15 years at Manulife Investment Management in the Timberland & Agriculture group (formerly Hancock Natural Resource Group) where she was the Assistant Controller for the Client Reporting group, managing the reporting, and auditing of over $14.8 billion in assets under management.

Education

BA in Mathematics & Minor in Business Administration – University of New Hampshire

Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies, Finance – Harvard Extension School

Blake is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a Registered Forester in the State of North Carolina. Prior to joining Aurora Blake was the President and CEO of The Forestland Group (TFG) where he began working in 2000 as a forestland analyst. He held several other positions at TFG including Director of Investments and Vice President of Investments. Prior to joining TFG Blake was the Senior Associate Appraiser for Canal Forest Resources in Charlotte, North Carolina. At Canal, Blake completed a variety of timberland valuation and investment analysis projects. In 2025, Blake joined the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition’s Board of Directors, working with leaders across the industry to accelerate innovation and adoption of sustainable forestry best practices.

Blake serves on several non-profit Boards including Open Table Ministries, Inc., a local charitable organization serving the homeless community in Durham, NC, Yolany’s Hope, Inc., an international non-profit focused on support and education for children in Latin America, and Newhope Church based in Durham, NC.

Education

BS in Biology with Business minor – Presbyterian College

MFR, Master of Forest Resources Business Management – University of Georgia

Cakey is Aurora’s strategic lead on carbon, climate, sustainability, and impact. She oversees a team that manages Improved Forest Management carbon projects, forest climate adaptation and resilience planning, wildlife and biodiversity protection, sustainability reporting, and stakeholder engagement. Cakey holds a Master of Forestry and Master of Environmental Management from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University and a BS in Biology from Davidson College. Cakey is a Certified Forester through the Society of American Foresters, a Wilderness Medicine Association Wilderness First Responder, and the President of the Nicholas School Alumni Council.

Education

BS in Biology – Davidson College

MEM and MF – Duke University