Working as a wildlife biologist is a fulfilling career that aligns with my lifelong passion for the natural world. My curiosity began as a child in the Oregon wilderness, exploring the rivers and mountains with my family. These childhood experiences led to young adult adventures which inspired me to pursue a job working in the great outdoors. I chose to seek a higher education at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2002. While at college, I participated in a yearlong internship that explored the interplay of natural and anthropogenic influences on ecosystem function, specifically fish population response to woody debris input in streams located on managed forests. It was at Evergreen that my passion for sustainable forestry and wildlife interactions evolved.
Combining forest management activities with protecting fish and wildlife resources is the principal function of a forest products industry biologist. I have had the opportunity to work in the private, state
and federal sectors of managed forestlands and am currently employed with Port Blakely, a family-owned forest products company committed to stewardship and sustainability. My primary responsibility is to provide technical support to foresters to ensure operational procedures are in compliance with federal, state and internal standards regarding the location and protection of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. I have also recently taken on the role as the company’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative® certification coordinator. It is rewarding to be on a team that ensures our forest ecosystems are managed as intentionally as possible.
