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