Brandon Bal is an Area Manager for American Forest Management (AFM) and earned his B.S. at Michigan Tech. Brandon leveraged some of AFM's programs and was able to further his education online while he was still working. On the show, Brandon explains the benefits of furthering your education online, how to manage and work with older foresters, and the leadership lessons he's learned from Band of Brothers.

Key Takeaways:

[:55] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:35] A quick intro about Brandon's background.

[3:00] How did Brandon become interested in forestry?

[6;40] When Brandon was at American Forest Management (AFM), he was able to take advantage of furthering his education online.

[8:15] What has been the most fun about Brandon's career so far?

[9:45] Brandon discusses how the most challenging thing that he's had to face in his career was one of his staff members committing suicide.

[11:30] What kind of leadership lessons has Brandon learned along the way?

[18:00] Getting good at communication is the hardest thing to do, but it's by far the most important.

[19:00] What kind of mentors has Brandon had over the years?

[21:10] What advice does Brandon have for young professionals?

[23:05] Brandon has had some failures throughout his career. What did he learn about that?

[24:45] Where does Brandon see the forestry profession going in the next couple of years?

[27:15] Brandon recommends reading Band of Brothers for leadership lessons.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Americanforestmanagement.com

Brandon on LinkedIn

Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest by Stephen E. Ambrose

Laura Parker is the Manager of Forest Planning and Analysis for American Forest Management Inc., where she delivers strategic and tactical forest planning solutions for a wide range of clients. Laura has been with American Forest Management for a little over 14 years and speaks highly of the role models and company culture there. Find out more about Laura and her advice to young and aspiring foresters out there, in this week’s episode.

Key Takeaways: [:58] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:35] A quick intro about Laura’s background.

[3:10] How did Laura become interested in forestry?

[5:15] What kind of challenges has Laura experienced by being in a male-dominated field?

[7:25] Laura discusses how she originally got involved with utility forestry early in her career.

[9:45] Laura highly recommends taking an internship while you’re in school. It helps build job experience and makes you more marketable.

[10:35] What advice does Laura have for young professionals coming out of school?

[13:50] What’s it like working with American Forest Management (AFM)?

[15:50] What does Laura enjoy the most about working for AFM?

[17:25] Laura discusses what she wished she learned about leadership earlier in her career.

[21:20] Should you get an MBA as a forester? Laura thinks so!

[26:25] What kinds of mentors has Laura had over the years?

[29:45] Laura highly recommends It’s Not about the Coffee, by Howard Behar.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Americanforestmanagement.com

Laura on LinkedIn

It’s Not about the Coffee: Lessons on Putting People First from a Life at Starbucks, by Howard Behar

 Nicole Belhumeur is an ISA Certified Arborist who earned her Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Rhode Island. Nicole began her career as an Arborist at Bartlett Tree Experts and now works for them as a recruiter. If you’re interested in finding out more about what she and Bartlett does, feel free to reach out to her! On the show, Nicole talks about being a silent leader, how being passionate brings motivation to succeed, and so much more.

Key Takeaways:

[1:00] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:40] A quick intro about Nicole’s background.

[3:10] How did Nicole become interested in forestry?

[6:10] Why is the Arnold Arboretum so special?

[8:10] What was it like when Nicole worked on her first landscaping architecture job when she left college?

[9:30] How did Nicole make the switch from this job to the one she has now at Bartlett Tree Experts?

[11:15] Nicole is still in touch with her teachers from college, who have since helped her find new opportunities and jobs.

[11:45] Now that Nicole works as a recruiter, her ideal candidate is through a personal referral.

[12:10] What kind of work does Nicole do for Bartlett?

[16:55] What has been some of the rewarding as well as challenging parts of being a young professional?

[18:45] What does Nicole wish she had learned sooner?

[20:25] Nicole discusses some traits in both good and bad leaders.

[22:50] What kind of mentors has Nicole had over the years?

[25:45] What really makes a good mentor?

[28:25] Where is the future of natural resources going?

[33:20] Take risks and try new things! It will expand your opportunities.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Arboretum.harvard.edu/visit/

Stantec.com

Bartlett.com

Nicole on LinkedIn

Call Nicole: 203-388-0797.

Moneyball

Ian Fox earned a B.S. in Forest Resource Management from the University of Tennessee and he’s currently the Natural Resource Staff Officer for the Cibola National Forest and Natural Grasslands in New Mexico. On the show, Ian discusses why he loves forestry, how we’re all ‘de facto leaders’ to some degree, and why you have to take the initiative to find good talent; they don’t just come to you.

Key Takeaways:

[:45] A quick intro about Ian’s background.

[1:55] How did Ian first get started in forestry?

[3:45] When Ian left college, what kinds of jobs did he get hired for?

[6:40] Why is the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico so unique?

[9:05] What’s it like working with the tribes in the area?

[11:35] The best way in New Mexico to really do some good work is to partner/work with the local communities, who already have a longstanding tradition with nature.

[12:10] It all boils down to relationship building, listening, understanding, and respect.

[16:20] What is Ian most proud of in his career so far?

[18:40] What has Ian learned about leadership and working with other people?

[20:25] As a forester, regardless of what field you might have picked, you have to be a jack of all trades. You have to know what resources are available to you.

[24:50] What do the good leaders get right in their management style?

[27:55] Did Ian ever have mentors throughout his career?

[32:00] What is Ian's advice for young professionals?

[34:10] You need around six years to really see the true outcome of a project.

[34:20] Where does Ian see the profession going in the next couple of years?

[40:25] You gotta work for your talent pool. You have to get yourself out there and find the talent.

[41:30] Ian highly recommends The Art of War, by Sun Tzu.

[44:45] Ian wishes he was more open to accepting challenges when he was new in his career.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Fs.usda.gov/cibola

The Art of War, by Sun Tzu

The USDA Forest Service: The First Century, by Gerald W. Williams

Nathan Lojewski is a Forest Manager for Chugachmiut, a non-profit organization that represents the Chugachmiut tribe and provides technical assistance to Alaskan Tribal Councils, Village, and Regional Corporations. Nathan joined the Peace Corps after graduating college and did volunteer work for remote villagers in The Gambia. On the show, Nathan discusses his Peace Corps experience, how he builds trust as an outsider, and what makes a person really thrive in a leadership role.

Key Takeaways:

[:45] A quick intro about Nathan’s background.

[2:15] How did Nathan first get started in forestry?

[5:35] What was it like volunteering for the Peace Corps?

[7:20] How did Nathan learn the language while in The Gambia?

[8:35] Nathan discusses what his time was like in The Gambia and how he helped improve the villager’s lives.

[13:50] How did Nathan build trust as a foreigner and a stranger in this village?

[17:30] Nathan discusses another fun project he did for this village where he taught a woman how to write.

[22:00] Did Nathan have culture shock when he came back to the U.S.?

[23:55] What does Nathan do for Chugachmiut?

[31:10] What has Nathan learned along the way about leadership?

[35:15] What’s the difference between being an informal leader vs. a formal leader?

[41:05] What advice does Nathan have for young professionals?

[44:05] When Nathan first joined the profession and SAF, he did not understand how valuable networking was for him.

[48:40] Nathan highly recommends you watch Only the Brave.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Chugachmiut.org

Nathan on LinkedIn

Only the Brave — Movie

Laurie Raskin is a 2013 Graduate of the State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry, where she earned a B.S. in Forest Management and Forest Resources Management. Laurie has since worked for the U.S. Forest Service, Finch Paper, and Wagner Hardwoods before going on her own path and opening her own consulting business. On this week’s show, Laurie explains why she loves being a consultant and the rewarding work she does as a forester.

Key Takeaways:

[1:10] A quick intro about Laurie’s background.

[3:00] How did Laurie first get started in forestry?

[6:45] What was Laurie’s first forestry job like after college?

[7:40] What kinds of things did Laurie learn as an intern?

[13:55] Even though Laurie had a great job at the time, she really, really wanted to get in procurement forestry.

[19:30] When Laurie found herself moving back to her hometown, she decided it was time to start her own business.

[20:55] Laurie is in the very early stages of her business; what’s it been like so far?

[21:45] Even though Laurie is still doing a lot of things she used to do while at her previous jobs, she still finds herself second-guessing herself because it’s still all so new.

[24:00] What kinds of role models has Laurie had?

[29:40] What can the profession do better to attract younger talent?

[36:10] Laurie recommends the book The Servant, by James C. Hunter.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Dhwforestconsulting.com

The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership Book, by James C. Hunter

Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson

Jenny Knoth is the Director of Environmental Affairs at Green Crow Corporation in Washington. She splits her time between fieldwork and forest policy committee meetings. Green Crow is a family-owned timber production investment enterprise with over 50,000 acres of land holdings. On the show, Jenny discusses why we can’t all be generalists in this field, the important mentors she’s had in her life, and why she decided to get her Ph.D. in Forest Resources.

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A quick intro about Jenny’s background.

[2:45] How did Jenny first get started in forestry?

[5:05] What was Jenny’s work experience like in the very beginning?

[8:30] Jenny shares her views on choosing a specificity for the forestry industry.

[9:50] What kind of work does Green Crow do?

[11:45] What has been the most fun part of Jenny’s career so far?

[14:05] What kind of leadership lessons has Jenny picked up along the way? Jenny is fortunate that she’s been around a lot of good leaders!

[15:55] What kinds of mentors has Jenny had in her life?

[21:10] When Jenny was getting her Ph.D. program, she had the mindset that this program was a job for her and every day she was one step closer to achieving her goal.

[25:35] You learn a lot by doing work you didn’t expect to do.

[27:35] What can the profession as a whole do to attract more young professionals into the field?

[30:55] In Jenny’s line of work, she used a couple of drones to help her with her research. What did she learn from that experience?

[32:40] What’s the fire situation like out there in Washington?

[35:30] Adaptation works in nature, so it should also work in leadership as well!

[37:15] Jenny really likes the movie Hidden Figures and the leadership lessons in that show.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Greencrow.com

Hidden Figures

Peter Dieser is the Public Lands Coordinator for American Bird Conservancy and is currently stationed in Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in Rochert, Minnesota. Peter switched his careers while in school a couple of times before landing as a forester. He studied everything from literature, astrophysics, and even archaeology. He believes if you bust your butt, work hard, even if you’re just studying, it’s going to change your life for the better. You might not always love what you’re studying, but you can always learn from it.

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A quick intro about Peter’s background.

[2:45] How did Peter first get started in forestry?

[8:05] Peter had an illness throughout high school and college that was misdiagnosed as cancer and it had him reevaluate his life and his goals.

[11:15] Although it might sound weird, Peter wouldn’t change his past because those early experiences and medical scares really made him the person he is today.

[14:55] What lessons did Peter learn while he was trying to discover his true call and passion in life?

[18:25] What kinds of mentors did Peter have while growing up?

[21:45] Since we serve so many diverse people, it’s important that our skillsets and perspectives are diverse, too.

[22:10] What do young professionals want in a career?

[26:50] What’s the most fun part of Peter’s job?

[29:15] What’s been difficult about working on the people side of forestry?

[36:30] Peter offers some advice for those young professionals out there getting started.

[39:10] What does the forestry profession need to improve upon?

[41:40] How can the profession attract and retain more of the younger generation?

[45:40] Peter shares some of his favorite books!

[51:25] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

ABCBirds.org

Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

Ishmael: A Novel, by Daniel Quinn

The Story of B, by Daniel Quinn

Tim Ackerman is a graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Forest Ecosystems Management. Tim is now a Service Forester for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry in Erie County. On today’s show, Tim discusses how he was introduced to forestry and some of the leadership lessons he learned while he was in the Marines. Tim also gives advice to young aspiring foresters on how to get an internship and both the soft and hard skills needed to thrive in this industry.

Key Takeaways:

[:40] A quick intro about Tim’s background.

[2:00] How did Tim first get started in forestry?

[4:30] How did Tim get his first internship?

[7:30] When Tim was in the Marines, what kind of leadership lessons did he learn?

[11:10] Tom believes military personnel make for some of the best employees!

[11:20] What was Tim’s experience as a student leader like?

[15:30] Forestry is a small community and everyone really wants to help each other succeed.

[18:55] What kind of soft skills do aspiring forestry professionals need to learn before they start applying for positions?

[22:20] What kinds of surprises did Tim experience first-hand when he entered into the forestry profession?

[24:45] Tim has helped mentor a couple of forestry professionals in the past and explains what that experience was like.

[31:55] Tim does have to regularly explain to people that he’s not a forest ranger and that the profession is much more diverse than that!

[33:10] Tim offers some final words of advice to the young foresters out there.

[37:35] Tim recommends reading The Wilderness Warrior! It is a biography about Theodore Roosevelt.

[43:20] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry

The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America, by Douglas Brinkley

SmarterEveryday on Youtube

Tera King is a Forester for Northwest Management, a forest land, and environmental management consulting firm based in Idaho, Montana, and Washington. Tera earned her B.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Idaho, in 2003. She also completed her MBA at Norwich University in Vermont, in 2013. On the show, Tera discusses why she went back to school to complete her MBA nearly 10 years later and some of the important skills young forestry professionals need to have in order to be a more prepared professional.

Key Takeaways:

[1:15] A quick intro about Tera’s background.

[2:25] How did Tera first get started in forestry?

[4:40] Tera had some work experience in college; how did that help her land a job in forestry?

[5:45] What other piece of advice can Tera give young forestry professionals who are about to enter the workforce?

[7:05] How did Tera first get started at Northwest Management?

[8:15] What’s it like working for Northwest Management?

[9:15] Why did Tera go back to school for her MBA?

[12:25] What are some of the challenges young professionals today face?

[13:20] There are a lot of social issues now in the forestry industry and we need good communicators to help discuss some of these issues.

[15:45] What kinds of people do Tera and her team look for when they’re about to hire?

[17:55] Your company can teach you anything, but they can’t teach you how to have a good work ethic and a good attitude.

[21:30] What kind of mentors has Tera had along the way?

[27:00] What’s required from a leadership standpoint when you reach different levels, or different positions, of a job?

[32:25] Sometimes technology fails and we need to know how to use the ‘old school’ methods to get the right information. Relying too heavily on your GPS will get you lost!

[37:50] What is Tera most proud of in her career?

[42:40] There is going to be change in the industry, whether we like it or not! Things will always be changing and you’re going to have to get used to that.

[48:00] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Thenmiway.com

Tera on LinkedIn

Lord of the Rings