Walter Beineke, Ph.D.
Dr. Walter F. Beineke has served as the Director of Research at Arbor America since 1999. He has also been Professor Emeritus at Purdue University since July 1998.
Dr. Beineke was Associate/Assistant Professor of Forestry Genetics at the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University from 1964 to 1998. He obtained his B.S. in Forest Management from Purdue University in 1960, his M.F. in Silviculture from Duke University in 1961, and his PhD. in Forest Genetics from North Carolina University in 1966.
Dr. Beineke initiated a black walnut genetic improvement program in 1967 in response to the decline of the supply of high quality black walnut timber due to the continued extraction of the best trees from the wild populations. This program grew to include all phases of an ongoing action program, including cultivar patented for timber production as well as research programs, basic and applied, leading to the establishment of progeny tested seed orchards.
In 1985 he received the American Black Walnut Research Award presented by the Walnut Council for "Outstanding Accomplishments in the Development of Practical Procedures and Improved Techniques in the Growing of American Black Walnut Trees for the Future".
He also received the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University in 1972, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1997, and 1998, as well as the Outstanding Student Advisor Award in 1990 and 1997.
Dr. Beineke's work and experience in black walnut research and management are unparalleled worldwide. No other temperate fine hardwood species has been subject to such long term, rigorous research as black walnut, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Beineke over the last 40 years.
Guillermo Pardillo, M.S., M.B.A.
Guillermo Pardillo has been the Deputy CEO of Arbor America since 2002. From this position, he is responsible for the implementation of the financial and administrative plans of the company, as well as the planning and management of its production and research activities.
He obtained his degree in Forestry Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain (1983-1989). He also holds a Master Degree in Environmental Management from U.P.M. (2002), and a MBA from Purdue University (2008).
Guillermo has extensive experience in the management of projects related to forestry, the environment, and natural resources, as well as in business management. After working for the Department of Botany of the Forestry School of Madrid from 1989 to 1992, he became a field engineer for the private company Talher, S.A. in Barcelona, Spain. From this position he managed reforestation projects, environmental improvement of natural stands, wild firefight management, and rural development. He became Technical Director of Talher in 1995, a position he held until 2001, when he became Technical Director of Arbor America.
