Since founding Forest Management
Specialists, Inc. in 1996, Billy Rye has
built a career on advocating for
landowners. As a consultant forester and
real estate broker, Billy’s focus has
always been on representing his clients'
best interests. Acting exclusively as an
agent for sellers in timber sales, he
ensures that his clients' goals are
prioritized. "Being an agent is an
important distinction," Rye explained.
"It means I’m obligated to the
landowner, not a company or wood buyer."
While timber management remains part
of his expertise, Billy’s work has
evolved to emphasize wildlife habitat
and recreational forestry. He crafts
tailored management plans that range
from oak and pine savannas, designed to
increase biodiversity, to early
successional habitats created through
strategic clear-cuts. These methods not
only benefit wildlife but also enhance
the natural beauty of the land.
Now a real estate broker with
National Land Realty, Rye leverages his
36 years of forestry experience to
assist clients in buying, selling, and
improving land. His goal is simple: to
enhance the value of every property he
touches. "Even if you don’t plan to
sell, someday someone will," he notes.
"It’s about leaving the land better than
you found it."
(Previously published
in March 2025 newsletter.)
