Warren Kruger is a Field Forester with the Bureau of Land Management, in the Roseburg, Oregon district. Warren is also the 2017 State Chair of the Oregon Society of American Foresters. Warren has a very diverse career and first got started volunteering for the Peace Corps. Through his experience, Warren firmly believes that life becomes easy when you love the work you do. Warren discusses some of the lessons he’s learned while volunteering for the Peace Corps, leadership lessons you can learn from the Hot Shot Fire Crew, and more!

Key Takeaways:

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

[1:50] How did Warren first get started in forestry?

[8:00] As our society becomes much more urbanized, more and more people have no idea what people in forestry, natural resources, and agriculture do.

[8:35] What was it like volunteering for the Peace Corps and what kind of lessons did Warren learn from it?

[14:45] What is Warren up to in Roseburg, Oregon right now?

[23:25] Warren’s career path is very diverse. What advice does Warren have for the young adults out there who are interested in getting their career started?

[25:45] Warren loves what he does. When he comes home after a hard day’s work, he still has energy because he doesn’t feel like he’s been working all day.

[32:35] What has Warren learned about good and bad leadership?

[39:45] What advice does Warren have for young professionals entering into the field?

[48:45] Warren is currently reading the book We Were Soldiers Once and Young.

[54:45] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

BLM.gov

Peacecorps.gov

We Were Soldiers Once and Young, by Hal Moore and Joseph L. Galloway

Terry Baker is the Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland in Colorado. On the show, Terry discusses a tough challenge he had to face when he had an angry community of over 100 people against what the forest service was doing. It was his job to help calm and educate these people on why, and how, the community would benefit. Terry also discusses how he was recruited into forestry and why he fell in love with it.

Key Takeaways:

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

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

[8:25] What did Terry do during his internship?

[11:20] What was Terry’s university experience like?

[19:40] What does Terry’s mother think about all of this? At first, she wasn’t too sure about it.

[21:40] Not many people are really truly exposed to forestry and what it entails. And for most parents, they want their children to become doctors, lawyers, etc, but not foresters.

[24:25] What kind of places/states has Terry worked in?

[35:00] What did Terry learn about when he worked on the Goose Project in Oregon?

[49:10] Terry discusses what kind of characteristics make for a good leader.

[55:25] Terry recommends every forester read The 8 Greatest Mistakes New Managers Make, which was written by your host Tom!

[1:07:10] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

FS.USDA.gov

Terry on LinkedIn

“The Use of the National Forests,” by Gifford Pinchot

The 8 Greatest Mistakes New Managers Make: surviving your transition to a leadership position, by Tom Davidson

Heather Slayton has a B.S. in Forestry from Virginia Tech in 2002 and is currently working on her Master’s at the University of Tennessee. After graduating, Heather worked as a forester in Virginia and North Carolina before moving to Tennessee. Right now, Heather works as the Forester Health and Sustainability Unit Leader with the Tennessee Division of Forestry. On the show, Heather discusses what is holding us back from reaching a younger audience and emphasizes the importance of getting experience while you’re still in school and why it’s important to get out of your comfort zone.

Key Takeaways:

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

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

[4:50] When Heather found out you can major in forestry, she went and changed her major from psychology to forestry right then and there!

[5:25] Heather studied abroad for a year in Australia and she highly encourages new students to do that if they can. She learned a lot about the different types of trees while she was over there.

[5:55] How did she find a study-abroad program?

[7:50] What kinds of things did Heather learn while she was overseas?

[9:55] Why does Heather love what she does?

[10:10] Heather has experience in about every sector there is in the forestry industry. She really explored a lot before settling into the position she has now.

[12:10] What kind of mentors has Heather had over the years?

[17:45] Heather’s grandmother was a very inspirational woman who did not know what a glass ceiling was. She just kept going up!

[20:45] How can young career professionals land that first job?

[24:10] Go shadow a forester one day to see the ins and outs of what they do in a typical day.

[27:05] What kinds of leadership roles has Heather had?

[30:35] How did SAF help Heather’s career?

[37:10] Where is the forestry profession headed in the next few years?

[42:30] Heather believes many foresters struggle with technology and that also hurts them from reaching out to a younger generation.

[45:35] What’s Heather’s favorite book about management?

[50:40] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

EForester.org

TN.gov

Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time, webinar by Rory Vaden

Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time, by Rory Vaden

Andy Van Dyke recently became the Chairman of Michigan Society of American Foresters in January of 2017. Prior to being the state chair, Andy served as the Upper Peninsula Chapter Chair for the Michigan Society of American Foresters. Andy is also currently employed at J.M. Longyear as Forest Operations Supervisor. On this week’s show, Andy discusses the subtle differences between working with an older generation, vs. working with millennials. He also discusses some of the top qualities in what makes a great leader.

Key Takeaways:

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

[3:35] How did Andy first get started in forestry?

[4:10] Although both Andy’s parents were foresters, they told Andy not to pursue the career.

[5:35] What was Andy’s very first field forestry position like?

[7:45] What has been the most fun/interesting thing Andy had done so far in his career?

[9:00] What was it like making the transition from forester to supervisor?

[10:30] What advice did Andy wish he had received when he first became a supervisor?

[11:35] What kinds of mentors has Andy had over the years?

[15:00] What makes a good leader? Being positive! Sounds obvious but it can be hard to do while under stress.

[18:25] What advice does Andy have for young professionals just getting started?

[21:25] What can the industry do better to attract more young professionals into the field?

[24:00] Andy likes working at SAF because he gets to learn from an older generation that tends to have a very different perspective from the Millennial generation.

[25:45] What kinds of differences has Andy spotted when it comes to working with millennials? What makes them different compared to other generations?

[27:55] Andy recommends everybody read the Boy Scout Handbook.

[31:30] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

MichiganSAF.org

JMLongyear.com

Andy on LinkedIn

Boy Scout Handbook

Jeremy Douse is a certified Forester at Tanana Chiefs Conference in Anchorage, Alaska. Jeremy provides consulting services for Native land owners, corporations, villages, tribal entities, and municipal governments in Alaska. Jeremy first started his career as a seasonal firefighter on the Pike National Forest in Colorado. On today’s show, Jeremy discusses why he loves the tribal work he does in Alaska, how he first got started in this industry and shares some key examples of what makes a good leader.

Key Takeaways:

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

[2:40] How did Jeremy first get started in forestry?

[7:00] How did Jeremy find himself in Alaska?

[8:25] What does Tanana Chiefs Conference do and whom do they serve?

[11:40] How does someone find work at a tribal council?

[12:45] What has been the best part, and the most challenging parts, of working for a tribal council?

[15:20] What does Jeremy wish he learned sooner in his career?

[17:10] What kind of leadership lessons has Jeremy learned over the years?

[21:15] Don’t get stuck on trying to collect the data. Good leaders have to make decisions with imperfect data.
[22:00] What kind of mentors has Jeremy had over the years?

[27:00] Why are states not doing more certification programs?

[28:45] What kinds of books is Jeremy reading right now?

[33:20] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

TananaChiefs.org

BIA.gov

ITCnet.org

Jeremy on LinkedIn

We Were Soldiers Once... and Young: Ia Drang — The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam, by Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway

Whitney Schimke is a graduate of Humboldt State University and currently works for CD Lumber in Southern Oregon. Whitney’s parents were both foresters, but growing up, she wanted nothing to do with the profession! Overtime, the forest kept calling her back, and now in her adult years she believes she has the perfect dream job. On the show, Whitney discusses her experience as a young forester, the types of relationships she’s built (good and bad), and why you should always be open minded to new opportunities that cross your path!

Key Takeaways:

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

[2:55] How did Whitney first get started in forestry?

[7:35] Whitney is working her dream job right now and loves it!

[8:00] What has been the most fun aspect of Whitney’s career so far?

[10:35] What has Whitney learned about the workplace, working as a team, and leadership?

[12:30] If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough!

[14:30] What kind of volunteer work has Whitney been apart of?

[17:20] How welcoming is the forestry industry to young professionals?

[20:20] How did Whitney find her mentors?

[25:40] Always say yes to new opportunities! Fantastic things can happen in your career!

[26:35] What advice does Whitney have for young forestry professionals?

[30:15] Whitney shares her favorite quote about leadership!

[32:15] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

CDLumber.com

From Receptionist to Boss: Real-Life Advice for Getting Ahead at Work, by Nicole Smartt

Anthony Rynish is the owner of Rynish Forestry, his own private consultancy company. He is also a full-time faculty member at Fox Valley Technical College in Wisconsin. On the show, Anthony discusses why he decided to get into teaching, offers advice for young professionals out there who are not quite sure what they want to do yet, and so much more! Anthony also offers some great leadership advice and discusses what he teaches his students still trying to put their best foot forward. You do not want to miss this episode!

Key Takeaways:

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

[3:05] How did Anthony first get started in forestry?

[5:15] Early in Anthony’s career, he headed to Alaska. What was that experience like?

[7:30] How long would Anthony spend at each site?

[8:25] How did Anthony get started in teaching at Fox Valley Technical College? You can thank his wife for that!

[12:15] What has been the most rewarding experience in Anthony’s career so far?

[18:25] The forestry part is easy compared to the rest of Anthony’s duties!

[18:45] What lessons does Anthony wish he learned about sooner?

[22:05] What has Anthony learned the most about leading volunteers?

[25:40] How can forestry as a profession bring more value to younger people?

[29:30] What kind of mentors has Anthony had throughout his career?

[31:55] Not sure where you want to go in life/what to do? Anthony recommends trying different types of jobs to see what works for you.

[33:15] Do not be afraid to put yourself out there.

[35:30] Don’t judge Anthony, but he loves the Kung Fu Panda series (and so does his kid!).

[40:20] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

FVTC.edu

WISAF.org

Jamie Dahl is a Forester currently serving as an Assistant Director for Career & Leadership Development Center for Hospitality, Merchandising, and Recreation at Ohio University. On the show, Jamie discusses why the forestry industry needs to be better with diversity inclusion, and how it’s on all of us, no matter what your position in forestry is, to educate the public about the importance of the environment.

Key Takeaways:

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

[3:15] How did Jamie first get started in forestry?

[6:05] At first, Jamie didn’t really know what forestry meant, and it took her some time to learn all the ins and outs of it.

[7:20] When undergoing graduate school, did Jamie’s class have a lot of diversity?

[9:35] Jamie’s interest in diversity has propelled her into taking up more advanced degrees. Jamie discusses what her Ph.D. is about, and why she needed to get more involved in the community.

[13:00] What was Jamie’s role at Colorado State University?

[17:45] Tom admits he didn’t have his first female boss in the industry until he was 38 years old. Before that, he was pretty naive to some of the struggles women and other ethnic backgrounds faced.

[18:30] What is Jamie’s opinion about the forestry industry as a whole — the good, the bad, and the ugly?

[23:335] Building self-awareness throughout your career is a very important trait, and something Jamie wished she learned earlier in her career.

[27:10] Do your forestry professionals rely on their mentors for guidance, or do they tend to go solo? Has there been a shift in the way the younger generation sees, and uses, mentors?

[32:45] What are some things the forestry profession should start doing better, or even stopping?

[37:35] The younger generation is much more concerned about what kind of work culture they’re going into. If they don’t feel welcomed, they will look elsewhere. This is one of the reasons why diversity is so important.

[40:40] What is Jamie most proud of in her career?

[4:30] Our environment should be a priority. All of us need to be doing our part in environmental education, no matter what forestry position you’re in.

[50:05] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Ohio.edu

CSFS.colostate.edu

Jamie on LinkedIn

Lee Mueller is the Project Developer and Forestry Specialist for The Davey Tree Expert Company. He is also a Certified Arborist and Registered Forester. On today’s episode, Lee discusses why it’s important to develop your personal brand, the benefits of being curious and exploring different paths in the forestry industry, why he prefers colleagues to mentors, and so much more!

Key Takeaways:

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

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

[8:00] Lee loves working in forestry because he cares about people. Why is this so important in this line of work?

[13:10] In addition to forestry, what else does Lee like to do?

[14:44] What kinds of lessons has Lee learned that he wished he learned sooner?

[17:20] Developing a personal brand is important. Think a bit about what you want people to know you for.

[20:20] What lessons has Lee learned about leadership?

[23:25] It’s important to learn how to let go and delegate tasks to someone who may be a bit more qualified than you. Remember, you can’t do it all!

[25:35] Lee discusses the importance of colleagues, vs. mentors, and the difference between the two, in your life.

[28:35] What are some of the ways we can make the forestry profession better for future generations?

[35:20] Why are you passionate about forestry? What makes you interested in it? There are a lot of options and paths you can explore in this field!

[40:25] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Davey.com

Lee on LinkedIn

Grandrapids.org/talent-development/ccl/

Getting Things Done by David Allen

Allison Ginn is Utah’s National Conservation Lands Program Lead for BLM (Bureau of Land Management). She provides statewide support for issues related to designated wilderness, wilderness study areas, national monuments, and more. As a young professional, Allison shares her personal experience on what it was like to finally land a job in this amazing profession.

Key Takeaways:

[1:00] A quick intro about Allison’s background.

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

[5:25] Allison’s mother works for Delta airlines, which means Allison grew up with an intense love for travel, and was able to see a lot of the world.

[5:55] What is BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and what do they do?

[8:40] What has Allison’s experience been like as a young professional in forestry?

[12:10] Allison applied for 65 different jobs, and was only offered three interviews.

[14:15] There are some great intern programs out that can help give you a leg up in your career.

[15:25] Allison offers some advice for those currently seeking for a job.

[16:05] What has been the best part of Allison’s career so far?

[20:25] What does Allison wish she learned sooner in her career?

[28:55] What kinds of leadership lessons has Allison learned, so far?

[33:00] Has Allison personally experienced any challenges as a woman while being in this profession?

[38:25] Allison shares a bit more information about BLM and how they can help young professionals!

[45:50] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

BLM.gov/careers/students-and-grads/direct-hire-program

BLM.gov/careers/students-and-grads/public-lands-corps

BLM.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah

Bossypants, by Tina Fey