Talking Forests

This will be a 4 part series with 4 amazing women, this is 2 out of 4 episodes and will be published  each Monday in each week of October 2020 for National Forest Products week. Melissa and I chatted about working in business in the forest sector. She enjoys OWIT so much! 

My name is Melissa Fullerton. I grew up in rural Montana in a small town called Florence. I graduated from the University of Montana with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. I married my high school sweetheart and we moved to Colville, WA where he began his career as a forester with Boise Cascade in 1992. I found work with an accounting firm in Colville shortly after arriving in Colville. In May of 1993 my husband accepted a job for Boise Cascade in Elgin, OR so we relocated to La Grande. I began my career with Boise Cascade in November of 1994. We have been in La Grande since then. We have two children, a son and a daughter that we are very proud of. My husband is still a forester with Boise Cascade and I have since moved on to Woodgrain as their lumber division controller.

Voice By Gordon Collier in Introduction: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson  www.soundcloud.com/ikson 

Music promoted by Audio Library  www.youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

This will be a 4 part series with 4 amazing women and will be published each Monday in each week of October 2020 for National Forest Products week. Amanda Astor and I recorded this episode before the devastating fires in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. We chatted about forest fires and what Oregon Women in Timber does to make each member special and a part of the community. 

Growing up in Minnesota, Amanda fell in love with the colorful hardwood forests of the midwest. A handful of woodland adventures and camping trips solidified her passion for nature and started her on the path towards a career in natural resources.

Amanda obtained undergraduate degrees in Forest Management and Forest Biology with a minor in Botany from Colorado State University and a Graduate Certificate in Forest Carbon Science, Management, and Policy from Michigan State University.

Amanda now serves as Southwest Oregon Field Forester for the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC). As an advocate for federal timber purchasers and manufacturers, she works to secure a robust and sustainable timber supply from federal lands through the development of operationally feasible, economically viable, and environmentally conscious projects. As a liaison between industry and federal agencies, Amanda encourages legally sound and science based management practices on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management across the Southwest Oregon region.

Before coming to AFRC, Amanda worked as a Pre-Sale Forester for the U.S. Forest Service on Michigan’s Hiawatha National Forest. In this position she developed field knowledge of timber sale preparation, statistically sound cruise design, and timber sale contracting tools while cross-training in silviculture, wildland and prescribed fire operations, and environmental planning and analysis.

Voice By Gordon Collier in Introduction: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson  www.soundcloud.com/ikson 

Music promoted by Audio Library  www.youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

Amanda Hamsley Lang is the COO & Vice President of Client Services, Forisk Consulting and we had a great chat about women working up to leadership positions in forestry companies. Have kids and being a mom is not easy, but worth it and when you work for a flexible team like Forisk, it makes the journey better. 

Amanda Lang is a Partner and, as COO and VP of Client Services, leads all of Forisk’s operating, project management and Forisk Subscriber Support activities. She leads Forisk’s mill capital investment research program, and she teaches workshops and delivers presentations related to tracking and evaluating wood markets and forest industry capacity. Prior to working with Forisk, she interned with International Paper and conducted award-winning forestry operations research at the University of Georgia under Dr. Dale Greene. In 2016, she was named one of the UGA Alumni Association “Forty Under Forty”, and was named the Warnell “Young Alumni of the Year.”  She serves on the Georgia Forestry Association Board of Directors and is the chair of the Southeastern Society of American Foresters.  Ms. Lang received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia.

Voice By Gordon Collier in Introduction: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson  www.soundcloud.com/ikson 

Music promoted by Audio Library  www.youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

Tyler and I had a great chat about forestry in all regions, how his internship led him into his position now, and adversity that we face in the industry. He has a wide variety of knowledge and brings a great education with him to his first year working as a Timber Industry Analyst at Forisk Consulting. 

Role: Currently, I am working as Timber Industry Analyst here at Forisk. I have been with them full-time since July of this year. Previously, I had interned with them going back to March of 2019.

Education: My undergraduate degree was a B.A. in Biology from Georgia Southern University. Afterwards, I got my M.S. in Forest Resources and MFR in Forest Business both from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. This May, I finished up my PhD in Forest Finance and Economics also from Warnell. My master’s work was centered around examining the costs of a chipping operation on an experimental track in South Carolina while my PhD was focused on how working forest conservation easements and their characteristics affect surrounding property value.

Previous jobs: Primarily, I have worked as a graduate research assistant during my time in graduate school both at the masters and PhD level. However, prior to coming to UGA I also worked as women’s assistant soccer coach at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, GA.

Hobbies: Emily (my wife) and I like to go hiking on the weekends when we can. Generally, we enjoy taking a trip up to the North Georgia mountains and spending a day doing so. Also, I have recently started gardening a bit more and enjoy reading and spending time around the house with Emily and our two cats Goblin and Petunia.

Goal in social media: Generally, I would like to get to know more people in the industry. Hopefully, social media and events like this podcast can help with that. Forestry is such a broad field that it is always beneficial to talk to more people because everyone has a unique perspective.

Voice By Gordon Collier in Introduction: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson  www.soundcloud.com/ikson 

Music promoted by Audio Library  www.youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

"John A. Brink came to Canada from Holland in 1965 with $25.47 in his pocket, a suitcase full of books, and a dream to build his own sawmill." Interviewing him was such a treat and we learned so much about lumber, forests and wood from him in our recorded video on YouTube and in this podcast episode, do not miss out on this one! 

Watch Our YouTube Video of John and Candra here: https://youtu.be/k8AH1TwK9XY

"10 years later, through sheer determination and an unwavering dedication to his vision, John developed a detailed business plan in 1975, establishing a value-added manufacturing facility in Northern British Columbia named Brink Forest Products. 44 years later, John is still at the helm of Brink Forest Products, which is today is the largest secondary wood manufacturing company in Canada and 13th largest forest company in the province of British Columbia, employing in excess of 400 people.

John has a proven track record as a visionary leader in various industry organizations. However, the road hasn’t always been easy. It has taken resourcefulness, perseverance, innovation and boundless determination for Brink to succeed in a tough industry.

Brink started his business with a lumber remanufacturing and finger-jointing plant; both of which he constructed from scratch. Finger-jointing dimension lumber had never been done in Canada prior to this, allowing Brink to establish himself as an industry pioneer. Brink’s original vision continues to guide the company today. The original business plan of 1975 accounts for the aggressive growth strategy that Brink has currently embarked on over past 44 years.

As an industry leader, Brink is the longest serving director on the Council of Forest Industries, which represents the forest industry in British Columbia. Brink is the founding president of the B.C. Council of Value-Added Wood Processors, which had eight associations across B.C. and boasted 800 members.  He has been involved in all five of Canada’s softwood lumber battles with the United States, representing the secondary re-manufacturing industry. 

As a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) recipient – the highest recognizable achievement in Toastmasters – Brink has enjoyed being a public speaker for many years, with speaking engagements ranging from UNBC MBA presentations to local forestry tours for individuals from across the globe, as well as other speaking opportunities throughout province and nation.

In addition to a successful business acumen, Brink is also a dedicated philanthropist, supporting hundreds of charities and non-profit organizations in the community and across the globe. Brink is also well-known for advocating animal welfare, supporting the SPCA, PG Humane Society and most recently, providing a $50,000 donation to the Prince George Animal Rescue. Additionally, Brink is a founding sponsor of the international West Coast Dressage Festival and rides dressage on a weekly basis with his wife, Sharon."

Voice By Gordon Collier in Introduction: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/

Spring by Ikson  www.soundcloud.com/ikson 

Music promoted by Audio Library  www.youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

Leslie and I chatted about the responsibilities of being an extension forester, being proactive to plant the right trees in the right areas and she is proud of her role in her office. 

Leslie Boby is the Coordinator for the Southern Regional Extension Forestry (SREF) office and has been leading the office on an interim basis since the previous lead left in January 2019. She has worked as an Extension Associate on regional projects for the SREF office since 2011 and is based at the University of Georgia.

SREF Twitter: https://twitter.com/soforext or @soforext

Leslie's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Leslie_Boby or @Leslie_Boby

As Interim Coordinator of the SREF office, Leslie’s work entails facilitating connections and regional programs among the 13 southern land-grant universities, the USDA Forest Service, state forestry agencies and other southern forestry community members. These efforts include education, technology transfer and Extension programs that can serve the entire region. Leslie has a Masters degree in Forest Ecology from the University of Florida, a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from University of Illinois and is currently pursuing a Doctorate at the University of Georgia in Adult Education and Leadership. Prior to joining SREF, Leslie worked in various locations nationwide and for multiple agencies. She worked for the Audubon Society in California, as a wildland firefighter and forest technician for the Bureau of Land Management in northern New Mexico, and conducted wildland fire and soils research in Alaska. Leslie began her Extension career by serving in the United States Peace Corps as an Agroforestry Extension volunteer in rural Kenya for two years. Leslie lives with her husband and two boys in Athens, GA and enjoys hiking and camping with her family as much as possible.

Want to be featured? Schedule your interview with Talking Forests on this link: www.calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier  www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/ 

Spring by Ikson  www.soundcloud.com/ikson 

Music promoted by Audio Library  www.youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

Mima Letts - Founder and Director of Tree Sparks and I talked about awareness of forestry careers for young people and how she navigated going from university to training forester in the UK. She wants to make a difference in our sector. 

https://www.treesparks.co.uk/post/a-career-in-forestry-the-roots-of-my-journey

We Are Women in Forestry https://youtu.be/eW4JvC6STBA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tree_sparks @tree_sparks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TreeSparksIgnite/ @TreeSparksIgnite

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tree_sparks/ @tree_sparks

Mima started Tree Sparks in 2018 with the aim of increasing awareness of forestry careers in young people. A graduate student from the Forestry program at Bangor University, Mima found herself facing many barriers when she decided that forestry was the career path for her. Careers in forestry and the environment are often not advertised by schools and misunderstood making it hard for young people to get into forestry. After experiencing this for herself, Mima wants to change this by shining the light on the mixed and varied roles available in forestry.

Mima has been studying Forestry for the past 3 years at Bangor University, working as an outdoor activity instructor during the summer seasons. She is now Training Forester on Chatworph in England. She is also a qualified Volunteer Ranger for the Peak District National Park and loves to spend as much time as she can out in the forest.​

Anna and I talked about being young women business owners with forestry backgrounds. She worked in the industry as an employee before breaking out on her own and creating Free Range Forestry LLC so she could have a flexible work schedule with her son. We talk about local forestry and what it is like to work in the woods as a woman. She accepts the challenge and loves working with her clients. The personal touch has been her favorite so far like getting hand written letters and gifts.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FreeRangeForestryLLC/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/freerangeforestryllc/

Anna Yarbrough, grew up in rural Oregon with family in the timber and farming industries. She is an Oregon State University College of Forestry graduate and has worked as a forester in the private timber industry since 2013. In 2019 she started her own forestry consulting business—Free Range Forestry LLC. Her business works with both large industrial and small forest landowners on all aspects of forestry. From harvest planning and reforestation to writing custom forest management plans and meeting state forest law requirements. Another huge part of her business is forest management advocacy and social media management for natural resource professionals. Forestry is not just a career path for her, it is her passion. She currently lives in Lane County with her husband Garrett, son Sawyer, and black labrador Timber. When she’s not busy working in the woods, you can find her and her family hunting, backpacking, fishing, or camping. You can follow her forestry adventures on Instagram and Facebook at Free Range Forestry LLC.

Want to be featured? Schedule your interview with Talking Forests on this link: www.calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier  www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/ 

Spring by Ikson  www.soundcloud.com/ikson 

Music promoted by Audio Library  www.youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

My name is Krause, I am currently a Master of Forestry Student at Michigan Technological University where I am an office assistant working on recruiting and retention in the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science and an intern at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion working on diversity initiatives for the campus. I got my bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University in Criminal Justice with a minor in Wildland Firefighting. I am from Freeland, Michigan and spent my entire childhood there until I moved to the Upper Peninsula in 2014. While taking criminal justice and wildland fire courses at NMU, I quickly realized that wildland fire and natural resource management was something I am extremely passionate about, and in the summer of 2016 began my wildland firefighting journey with the US Forest Service in Munising, Michigan. I travelled all over the U.P. my first summer doing prescribed burns, fighting wildfires on hand crews, and managing the land while on an engine crew. The following summer I got out west to Colorado and Idaho for severity on engine crews. Summer of 2018 I joined the DNR as a keyman while also working a bunch of odd jobs. After all the experience I got from fire, my career goals were pretty unclear but I decided to finish my CJ degree. My ultimate career goal when I complete my MF in December is to be a forester in the Upper Peninsula for quite a while, eventually get my PhD, then become a professor where I can educate others about fire and natural resources, as well as promote diversity in all of my places of employment in that time.

My name is Andi. I am a third year Forestry student at Michigan Tech. I served as President of Women in Natural Resources this year and have been an active member of the Student Chapter of the Society of American Foresters and Women in Natural Resources for the past 2 years. I am a huge tree nerd, my favorite way to de-stress is to saunter through the woods so I can catch glimpses of wildlife and quiz myself on tree identification (see, told you I was a nerd!) I am a non-traditional student. I come from a customer service and office work background, so I consider myself extremely fortunate to have discovered forestry. I am very passionate about our natural resources and love to encourage others to seek and follow their own passions.

My name is Claudia and since May 2019 I am a PhD student in foresty science at Michigan Tech. I am from northern Germany and grew up in a small town close to the city of Hamburg where I used to work as a vet assistant. In 2010 I decided to go back to school and moved to the city of Kiel (close to the Baltic sea) and graduated with a Master's degree in Biology from the Christian-Albrechts-University. I am particularly interested in the ecophysiology of plants and how harvest regimes affect forest biodiversity. Not only professional but also in my free time, I like to be outdoors, preferably hiking, horseback riding or scuba diving. And since last winter, downhill and cross-country skiing are definitely among my favourite recreational activities as well!

Want to be featured? Schedule your interview with Talking Forests on this link: www.calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier  www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/ 

Spring by Ikson  www.soundcloud.com/ikson 

Music promoted by Audio Library  www.youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo

Joseph Vaughn has worked in the natural resource profession since 2011. He has experience in wildland fire management, political and environmental advocacy, and most recently the forest products industry working at Interfor, one of the world’s largest lumber providers, as a Procurement Forester. He has earned an Associate of Science in Pre-Forestry from the University of North Georgia (UNG), a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources (UGA) and is currently working on an Associate Certificate in Industrial Wood Processing at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). One of his most notable achievements is becoming an alumnus of the National Park Service (NPS) Academy, a partnership with the Student Conservation Association (SCA). The goal of the program is to enhance professional and organizational excellence in the next century by recruiting and retaining a workforce that reflects the diversity of the nation. He is also proud to hold membership in AGHON, a honor society founded in 1920 at UGA, which seeks to recognize individuals with outstanding leadership, character and a passion for agriculture. His current projects include becoming a licensed Registered Forester and operating a forestry & natural resource specific twitter account, Joe Talks Timber. Joseph lives in Athens, GA with his wife Samantha and dog Toby.

Reach Joe at:

Want to be featured? Schedule your interview with Talking Forests on this link: www.calendly.com/talkingforests

Voice by Gordon Collier  www.linkedin.com/in/jgordoncollier/ 

Spring by Ikson  www.soundcloud.com/ikson 

Music promoted by Audio Library  www.youtu.be/5WPnrvEMIdo