Cedrick Thomas
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
High-tech safety gear, tablet in hand—the modern face of international precision forestry
The Cedrick Factor
Generational Trust Meets Precision Technology
Cedrick Thomas didn't just build a logging company—he revolutionized an industry. Growing up in the forests of Arizona, Cedrick learned to read timber from his grandfather, a third-generation forester who managed some of the Southwest's most productive ponderosa pine stands.
After earning his Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources from the University of Arizona in 1985, Cedrick spent two years with the U.S. Forest Service before founding Cedrick Logging in 1952. His vision was radical for its time: apply emerging GIS and remote sensing technologies to traditional forestry practices.
"My grandfather taught me to read the forest with my eyes and hands. Today's LiDAR systems let me understand it at the molecular level. But the mission remains the same: leave this land better than we found it."
Over 70 years, Cedrick has grown the company from a single crew and pickup truck to an international operation spanning three continents. He's personally overseen the sustainable harvest of over 150,000 acres and pioneered the integration of drone-based LiDAR surveys into forestry management plans.
Education & Certifications
- 🎓 B.S. Forest Resources, University of Arizona (1985)
- 🎓 Executive MBA, Thunderbird School of Global Management (2008)
- 📜 Society of American Foresters (SAF) Certified Forester
- 📜 ISA Certified Arborist
- 📜 FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
- 📜 OSHA 30-Hour Forest Operations Safety
