Peru’s Irish named president of American Logger’s Council

AUGUSTA – Andy Iris, of Peru, a founding member of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, was sworn in as president of the American Logger’s Council on Sept. 24 at the ALC’s Annual Meeting, in Branson, Missouri.

Irish, who has been an ALC delegate representing Maine for nearly two decades, became the second Maine president for the ALC since it was founded in 1994. He accepted the position at the president’s farewell banquet, replacing Tim Christopherson, of Idaho.
“We’re at a place in our industry where we have the chance to either move forward, or go backwards really fast, so we appreciate all the help from everybody,” Irish said.
He has been logging since the 1970s, and founded Irish Family Logging in 1984. Today, he shares ownership of the Peru-based business with son Jason Irish and son-in-law Dean Knowles. He has been a board member of the PLC since it began in 1995.
“Andy is a great logger with many years of experience in the business and has always stepped up to lead on behalf of loggers here in Maine and beyond whenever he was needed,” said PLC Executive Director Dana Doran. “Both the ALC and PLC are fortunate to have him, and I have no doubt he will represent the interests of the industry well in his new role.”
Irish will serve for one year, with his term ending in the fall of 2023, when Maine will host the ALC Annual Meeting, at Sunday River in October 2023. The previous ALC president from Maine was Steve Hanington, who served in 2003-04.