This is Vince Keeler’s second guest appearance! Welcome back, Vince. Since the last time we spoke, Vince has taken on a new position as the District Ranger on the Chickasawhay District in the Mississippi National Forest for the U.S. Forest Service. On today’s show, Vince discusses his new role and responsibilities, what it means to be a trailblazer and the importance of a support system that cares for you when you are serving in rural areas.
Key Takeaways:
[:55] A message from Leadership Nature.
[1:40] A quick intro about Vince’s background.
[4:15] How did Vince get into forestry and natural resources?
[8:20] What does a District Ranger do and what kind of responsibilities do they have?
[9:20] What makes a job in forestry and natural resources so much fun?
[12:00] What kinds of places has Vince seen since taking on this new position?
[15:00] Vince has noticed that some people of color can be a bit fearful of joining a prominently all-white industry, but there’s more to people than the color of their skin.
[18:05] It’s not always about you, it’s about setting a good trail for the people behind you. Become a trailblazer!
[20:15] It can be lonely. Find a mentor or a friend to help guide you through it.
[26:45] Be open-minded when meeting new people. Find common ground and get to know the person.
[30:50] It’s a priceless experience that you can get to hike a mountain at work!
[33:25] There are so many different ways to make a career in forestry.
[38:10] What did Vince’s parents think about his choice to go into forestry?
[44:00] What’s it like being a minority leader? Vince shares some of his thoughts.
[48:55] Vince explains what he means by, “Be comfortable being uncomfortable.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Travis Perry is a Registered Forester and is currently the Market Development Manager for Weyerhaeuser. He first got introduced to this career as a young teenager in high school and went on to finish his BS in Forest Resources Management at Clemson University, and later, his MBA at East Carolina University. Travis discusses some of the difficulties of being the only African American while he attended university, leadership lessons he’s learned over the years, and the challenges of including more minorities into the forestry field.
Key Takeaways:
[:55] A message from Leadership Nature.
[1:35] A quick intro about Travis’s background.
[3:40] How did Travis get into forestry and natural resources?
[7:40] By going to camp, Travis was exposed to the importance of forestry and it introduced him to the profession at a young age.
[9:25] Travis shares his experience as the only African American at Clemson University.
[17:40] Because Travis was the only one, he had to work harder to prove his worth and capabilities due to having more eyes on him.
[20:45] The extra pressure taught Travis how to be a better leader and take situations like this as challenges to be better.
[29:10] When Travis goes back to Clemson, the talent that stands out the most are the students who really want to learn more about the profession.
[31:15] How did Travis make the transition into what he’s doing today?
[42:10] What has been the most fun about Travis’s career so far?
[50:15] Travis discusses some of the challenges of introducing more minorities to forestry.
[58:35] Why is Travis not a doctor or a lawyer or even an engineer?
[1:03:40] You gotta ask the hard questions and also be conscious of what those answers might mean.
Mentioned in This Episode:
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You,
by John C. Maxwell
Byron Hart is a Forester and Fire Expert for the U.S. Forest Service and serves as the Fire Management Officer on the Osceola National Forest in Florida. After graduating from Florida A&M University and the University of Florida, Byron got his start as a Forester Trainee in the Ocala National Forest and served in a number of fire positions. On the show, Byron discusses how he got introduced to forestry, some of the challenges of being a leader, and how to empower your staff so that they take ownership of their work.
Key Takeaways:
[:55] A message from Leadership Nature.
[1:40] A quick intro about Byron’s background.
[3:25] How did Byron get into forestry and natural resources?
[6:25] How did Byron first learn about the forest service and pick a career path?
[12:30] What does the fire management position consist of?
[15:30] Byron shares the leadership experience you get when you join the fire service.
[17:25] What other types of career position has Byron taken on over the year?
[21:20] Forest service has a lot of different avenues you can explore.
[24:00] What is Byron most proud of in his career?
[26:45] Did Byron have any challenges while transitioning into a leadership role?
[30:15] What kind of mentors has Byron had over the years?
[31:44] How was Byron’s hotshot crew structured and what did they do?
[34:45] As a person of color, has Byron experienced any personal difficulties or challenges?
[36:50] How can the forest service be more proactive in attracting more diversity?
[39:30] Empower your employees by having them take pride and ownership in what they’re doing.
[42:00] What types of skills do people need to learn to be a good leader?
[45:45] Byron offers advice for young students looking to get into natural resources.
[49:45] Tell your story and tell people why the forest service makes you happy. It might inspire somebody to join!
[54:25] Lead from the heart and have passion for what you do.
Mentioned in This Episode:
LEAD... for God’s Sake! A Parable for Finding the Heart of Leadership, by Todd G. Gongwer
Tina Terrell has worked for the Forest Service over the last 34 years and is currently the Acting Associate Chief for Business Operations in the USDA Forest Service. She also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Forest Science from Penn State University. Growing up, Tina was actively discouraged from joining the natural resource profession. She offers advice on today’s show on how to overcome the naysayers and strive forward toward a career you’re passionate about.
Key Takeaways:
[:55] A message from Leadership Nature.
[1:35] A quick intro about Tina’s background.
[4:25] How did Tina get into forestry and natural resources?
[6:50] When she told her people she wanted to be in natural resources, they actively discouraged her from it.
[13:45] Tina discusses what determination means to her and why she has the drive that she has.
[19:00] Be a sponge. Don’t be afraid to question and learn from everything.
[22:35] What advice does Tina have for other people of color who have been actively discouraged to pursue their passion?
[29:20] Tina shares some wisdom that she had learned from one of her teachers.
[31:50] Don’t let other people put boulders in front of you. You can do it!
[32:25] Has Tina ever been the ‘first and only’ female person of color in her career path?
[39:25] Tina discusses the kind of legacy she hopes to leave behind.
[49:50] What has been the most fun about Tina’s career so far?
[59:30] Through Tina’s work with Job Corps, their facilities now have a natural resource connection at all 25 centers, which helps students get introduced to the importance of forestry and natural resources.
[1:02:55] Tina offers advice for students still on the fence about joining the forest service.
[1:10:15] Tina recommends some of her favorite forestry books.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Dr. Zakiya Leggett is a professor at North Carolina State University and College of Natural Resources. She currently teaches Introduction to Environmental Science and serves as the campus director for the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars program, which trains undergraduate students that are interested in research experiences in conservation issues as well as encouraging diversity in those fields. On the show, Zakiya shares her experiences as a sustainability scientist, her thoughts on including more diversity in the profession, and important advice to young students looking for a mentor or teacher.
Key Takeaways:
[:55] A message from Leadership Nature.
[1:35] A quick intro about Zakiya’s background.
[4:40] How did Zakiya get into natural resources?
[9:40] What does Zakiya mean when she ‘groomed herself’ for research?
[12:45] After Zakiya finished her Ph.D., she found that the Forest Service did not have any available opportunities for her at the time.
[14:40] What has been the most fun about Zakiya’s career so far?
[16:00] When does a student really ‘know’ they have a sustainable career path?
[18:45] Zakiya shares some of the ways you can shadow and learn from someone.
[21:05] What kinds of challenges has Zakiya run into?
[26:45] Is the profession making progress when it comes to diversity and more inclusion of other races and ethnicities?
[30:05] Students have options and if they see a leadership team that doesn’t reflect their values, they will look elsewhere.
[32:15] What advice does Zakiya have for young students?
[36:30] Zakiya shares her experience mentoring young students in the profession.
[41:55] It’s important to be proud of your achievements and accomplishments and to be able to articulate them into a resume, even if you only worked at a location for a week.
[47:30] Leaders know when to follow and when to lead!
Mentioned in This Episode: