I grew up in a family involved in ranching, farming, hunting, fishing, and logging. These experiences were pivotal in steering my education and career toward wildlife and range management. After earning double degrees in Wildlife Management and Range Management from Oregon State University, I began a 40-year career with the US Forest Service in the Northern Rocky Mountains of Montana and Idaho. USFS-sponsored post-graduate education at the University of Montana, Washington State University, and the University of Idaho focused on Forest Ecology and Silviculture. I was recognized in 1982 by The Wildlife Society as a Certified Wildlife Biologist.
Throughout my career, I have held important positions on five Ranger Districts within three national forests. I have honed my expertise through direct field and office work alongside seasoned professionals in forestry, firefighting, biology, hydrology, recreation, soil science, and road engineering. In addition to my natural resource management roles, I also served as a seasonal wildland firefighter for 46 years, including 22 seasons as a lead Safety Officer on local and national Incident Management Teams. I am presently certified by the Natural Resource Conservation Service as a Technical Services Provider, to assist landowners in Idaho, Montana, and Oregon with planning and designing forest management practices.
Over the span of my career, I had responsibilities for budgets, staffing, and supervision for wildlife, fisheries, range, watershed, forest recreation, and trail programs and projects. I also planned, directed, and supervised prescribed fires to enhance elk habitat. I have planned and supervised heavy equipment to improve fish habitat diversity, remove unneeded forest roads, and stabilize landslide-prone slopes. Fish habitat management included monitoring trends in spawning gravel, aquatic biota, summer water temperatures, and fish populations in critical habitats. I planned and administered USFS cattle grazing practices on permanent and transitory rangelands for several decades. Duties included planning/monitoring seasonal cattle grazing distribution and locating/supervising fencing and water development construction. Forest trail management responsibilities included supervising and monitoring trail maintenance crew priorities and practices.
Beyond my professional pursuits, I was actively engaged for 25 years as an Idaho Certified EMT and 20 years as a water and sewer district board member/president. Through my professional and public service roles, I have extensive experience navigating the nuances of natural resource management and landscapes, addressing wildfire threats, and working with local public entities. I am truly grateful for the uniquely diverse skills that God has given me to help rural landowners realize their vision through ecologically integrated long-term planning.
