Info

The Leadership Nature Podcast

The Leadership Nature Podcast features one-on-one interviews with diverse leaders from across the forestry and natural resources nation, and it is intended to spread the seeds of leadership insights, lessons learned and personal advice from experienced leaders to current and future generations of natural resource leaders. Each episode also includes a leadership tip of the week from the interviewer.
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
The Leadership Nature Podcast
2021
March
February
January


2020
December


2019
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: Page 2
Jun 5, 2019

Evette Browning is the Outreach Coordinator for the Department of Agriculture in Arkansas. She provides educational resources for African American landowners to help them get the support they need to take over their land and turn it into an asset, not a liability. On the show, Evette shares the types of barriers landowners have historically faced and how people in the community can help people just like her to get the word out.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:25] A quick intro about Evette’s background.

[3:40] How does Evette support the SFLR program?

[6:40] What are some of the things Evette can help landowners with?

[8:35] Evette shares some success stories about some people she’s worked with.

[11:15] What kinds of barriers have landowners faced?

[17:25] In the past, African American landowners would use their word as their formal document and would not use wills or estate plans.

[21;05] What advice does Evette have for landowners?

[23:30] How do landowners find Evette services?

[27:05] Where can people go to find SFLR resources?

[28:55] How can natural resource professionals help landowners?

[37:15] How can people help Evette make her job more effective?

[41:10] Landowners, take advantage of this opportunity while it’s still available!

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: Usendowment.org

More information on the SFLR Program: Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

More information on USDA NRCS: Nrcs.usda.gov

Arkforests.org

Evette on LinkedIn

Arwomeninag.org

May 29, 2019

Fahamisha Amkajinaki grew up in New Jersey but has returned back to her grandfather’s land in North Carolina to better understand and honor the tough efforts he went through to keep it. Fahamisha has leveraged resources in her community like the SFLR program to better understand the land and use it to its full potential. Find out what legacy Fahamisha wishes to build on the family land on this week’s episode.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:25] A quick intro about Fahamisha’s background.

[3:55] How did Fahamisha get reconnected to her grandfather’s land?

[7:35] What was the transition first like from going to a cement jungle to an actual jungle?

[11:35] Fahamisha didn’t realize how divorced she was from mother nature until she came to the family farm.

[13:05] Fahamisha shares a bit of the land’s history.

[16:15] What are Fahamisha’s goals for the property?

[24:35] Fahamisha wonders why schools in her rural community are not teaching children about nature-related topics like forestry and the environment that they’re constantly exposed to.

[28:45] How did Fahamisha first discover/get started in the SFLR program?

[39:35] Fahamisha completely understands why so many African Americans landowners are cautious to work with outsiders.

[44:00] How does Fahamisha educate her siblings and family members about the land?

[55:30] Fahamisha is so happy she came back to the land and was able to use the free resources and wisdom from experts in her community.

[57:15] What advice does Fahamisha have for other landowners?

[1:00:55] Don’t understand something at a workshop? Go again. There’s no shame in taking it all in once, twice, three times, or more.

[1:04:15] Your ancestors went through A LOT to keep that land, so honor them by understanding why and getting back in touch with it.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: Usendowment.org

More information on the SFLR Program: Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

More information on USDA NRCS: Nrcs.usda.gov

Owpg-inc.com

Roanokeelectric.com

May 22, 2019

Ann English is a State Conservationist for the NRCS in South Carolina. She first began her career as an agronomist and soil conservationist. With over 26 years of experience as a conservationist, she is proud to work on the SFLR program and to help landowners navigate this sometimes confusing and very new industry. On the show, Ann shares the important work NRCS is doing to help guide landowners down the right path so that their land never becomes a burden to them.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:25] A quick intro about Ann’s background.

[4:00] How did Ann first get started in agronomy?

[8:10] Ann shares how she first got introduced to SFLR.

[14:00] What other services does the NRCS provide to landowners?

[21:55] Ann shares a story of how the NRCS was able to help a landowner who recently inherited some heirs property.

[22:55] What stops a landowner from reaching out for help?

[27:35] The fourth generation doesn’t have the same connection to the land as we do because they didn’t grow up near the land. They do not have the same fond memories as we do.

[29:25] The land should never be a burden to you.

[30:00] What is Ann most proud of about the SFLR program?

[32:15] Ann shares her top three pieces of advice for landowners!

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: Usendowment.org

More information on the SFLR Program: Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

More information on USDA NRCS: Nrcs.usda.gov

Nrcs.usda.gov — Ann English

May 15, 2019

Marshall Cherry is the Chief Operating Officer at Roanoke Electric Cooperative, a utility company located in northeastern North Carolina that helped launch the SFLR program and still remains as an active partner and leader of the initiative. Marshall shares his story as well as the company’s story of how they got involved in the program, the landowners they’ve worked with, and how he was able to build trust in the community.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:45] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:25] A quick intro about Marshall’s background.

[3:50] How did Marshall first get started in his career field?

[8:00] Why did the Roanoke Electric Cooperative pick and focus on the SFLR initiative?

[13:00] How does Marshall work and help landowners?

[19:45] Marshall has worked hard to build trust with a network of landowners.

[24:35] There was a learning curve for Marshall in the beginning because he didn’t quite understand all the industry jargon.

[29:15] Marshall shares some of his favorite stories about the people he’s worked with.

[34:25] What advice does Marshall have for landowners?

[37:10] What do natural resources professionals need to know to better assist and help landowners?

[37:45] The world is much bigger than us, but we have a lot going on in our industry and good partners help you stand up taller.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: Usendowment.org

More information on the SFLR Program: Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

More information on USDA NRCS: Nrcs.usda.gov

Roanokeelectric.com

Marshall on LinkedIn

May 8, 2019

Darryl Shelton is a trustee with a family farm that’s owned by himself and three other forest landowners in Macon County, Alabama. He has a background as a design engineer, but he’s determined to turn his father’s property into a family legacy. He’s a self-educated forest land manager, but his journey to get there wasn’t always easy. Find out more on this week’s show.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:00] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:40] A quick intro about Darryl’s background.

[3:10] How did Darryl first get introduced to his forest land?

[4:40] Darryl explains a bit about his family history.

[13:50] How did Darryl find the resources he needed to maintain his forest land?

[23:15] Darryl credits Alex Harvey for helping him through the process!

[29:30] What were the steps Darryl took to start putting the forest land to work?

[37:15] What has been the most rewarding part about taking on these new responsibilities?

[46:10] What’s next for Darryl?

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: Usendowment.org

More information on the SFLR Program: Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

More information on USDA NRCS: Nrcs.usda.gov

Alex’s website: Legacylandmanagement.org

Alex on LinkedIn

May 1, 2019

Chris Brown is the Community Relations Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region at Enviva Biomass. Enviva produces over three million metric tons of wood pellets annually and they export these pellets primarily to power plants in the UK and Europe, which were previously fueled by coal. Prior to this, Chris was the Senior Director of Communications for the North Carolina Forestry Association. Find out more about the work he and Enviva are doing with SFLR!

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:20] A quick intro about Chris’s background.

[3:50] How did Chris get involved with the SFLR program?

[8:50] What has been the biggest barriers for heirs and landowners?

[14:15] Enviva directly supports SFLR through sponsorship and they’ve been doing that for the last two years.

[16:15] Chris shares a little bit of background about Enviva and where they operate.

[22:45] What advice does Chris have for professional foresters and other natural resource professionals about SFLR?

[27:45] If you’re going to sell timber, talk to your county ranger or a forestry consultant.

[33:35] Chris explains what ‘certified wood’ means.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: Usendowment.org

More information on the SFLR Program: Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

More information on USDA NRCS: Nrcs.usda.gov

Envivabiomass.com

Chris on LinkedIn

Apr 24, 2019

Sequoyah Browning is a scientist and humanitarian and a creative forest landowner near Camden, Arkansas. Sequoyah has degrees in both Biology and English. Sequoyah takes a proactive approach with his forest land and has made some unique choices that best suit his needs and interest, all the while generating an income. Find out more about Sequoyah and why he decided to incorporate a silvopasture design into his property.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:20] A quick intro about Sequoyah’s background.

[3:30] Sequoyah shares a little bit of history about himself and his forest land.

[8:10] What is a ‘silvopasture design’?

[14:15] By incorporating cattle onto Sequoyah’s land, he is able to make an income yearly, as opposed to waiting 15 years for his trees to grow and get harvested.

[17:30] How does Sequoyah space out his land?

[19:50] Sequoyah really leveraged the knowledge and the resources from his local foresters.

[25:50] It’s not about having a cookie-cutter plan. It’s important to develop a custom plan that works for you and makes you feel good.

[31:20] What does Sequoyah like the most about being in touch with his land?

[32:55] Sequoyah shares some advice he has for fellow landowners.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: Usendowment.org

More information on the SFLR Program: Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

More information on USDA NRCS: Nrcs.usda.gov

Apr 17, 2019

Danielle Atkins is a Forester and Wildlife Professional who currently works for Mcintosh Seed. In her role, she works on the SFLR program for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities where she educates and directly helps landowners with their needs. Danielle also has a blog, Life + Land, where she focuses on women’s outreach and land management topics. Find out more about Danielle and the important work she does on today’s episode!

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:20] A quick intro about Danielle’s background.

[4:10] How did Danielle get involved in forestry?

[7:55] How did the grant at Mcintosh Seed get started?

[12:15] How does Danielle find landowners to help?

[15:50] Danielle shares her process and how she helps landowners.

[20:45] What kinds of challenges do landowners face when it comes to taking the next step with a forester and/or consultant?

[27:00] Danielle is in the process of documenting a model so that other landowners can use it as a template for their best practices.

[28:00] Danielle shares a couple of stories and case studies of landowners who have benefited from her service.

[34:50] Danielle stresses the importance of gender diversity in the forestry field.

[40:40] What should landowners look for when they realize they need some land management help?

[42:45] How can forestry professionals get involved?

[46:00] What is Danielle most proud of so far?

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: Usendowment.org

More information on the SFLR Program: Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

More information on USDA NRCS: Nrcs.usda.gov

Mcintosh-Sustainable-Environment-Economic-Development

Life + Land

Danielle on LinkedIn

Apr 10, 2019

Charlie “Strike Force” Williams is a veteran soil scientist and recently retired from the NRCS after more than 44 years of service! Despite being retired, there’s still a lot of work ahead that keeps Charlie going. On today’s show, Charlie talks about the Keep It In The Family program to help African American landowners retain their land and utilize it so that it is not a burden, but an amazing blessing that generates an income. Charlie provides some excellent resources today for natural resource professionals looking to help out in this field.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:25] A quick intro about Charlie’s background.

[4:40] How did Charlie get started in natural resources?

[8:10] How does Arkansas’s terrain differ from other states?

[11:45] What were some of Charlie’s first jobs like?

[13:45] How did the Keep It In The Family program get started?

[20:30] Research showed that owning land was more of a burden than a blessing for African American landowners due to having pay taxes on the land they didn’t know how to use.

[22:30] How do African Americans lose their land?

[26:15] Charlie shares what he has learned so far about developing trust with landowners.

[32:20] How do landowners find Charlie and use his services?

[35:55] Charlie offers advice to other professionals in the forest and natural resources community on how they can help.

[40:00] Where can landowners go for resources and to get help?

[43:40] How has the situation improved for African American landowners?

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: Usendowment.org

More information on the SFLR Program: Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

More information on USDA NRCS: Nrcs.usda.gov

More information on the Alabama Forestry Association: alaforestry.org

Apr 3, 2019

Charles Lowry is a forest landowner and heir that grew up in the city! He is currently engaging in forest management for the first time in his life as an absentee landowner. He is based in Washington, D.C. and his property is in Alabama! Charles shares his story on how he found out about this land, how he manages it from afar, and some things he wished he’d known before about the value of his land. Find someone you can trust locally in the area to help you make the right decisions.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:35] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:15] A quick intro about Charles’s background.

[4:05] Charles shares a little bit about the history of the land he inherited.

[9:15] Charles was lucky because his grandfather did have a will before he died.

[13:15] With the property being in Alabama and Charles being in Washington, D.C., How did Charles get re-connected with his land?

[24:30] With the wide geographical location of the heirs, every single one of them has a varying interest in the land.

[25:45] What are some of the challenges of being an absentee landowner?

[27:50] Prior podcast guest Alex Harvey has helped Charles with his land. What kind of things did he help Charles with?

[31:30] What kinds of goals does Charles have for the property?

[41:45] You really need someone on your side to help you through this process, whether it be through the NRCS, the government, or a consultant.

[45:45] Charles is excited to know more people in this industry to get a better idea of what his land can do.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Charles on LinkedIn

Website for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: Usendowment.org

More information on the SFLR Program: Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

More information on USDA NRCS services: Nrcs.usda.gov

More information on the Alabama Forestry Association: alaforestry.org

Mar 27, 2019

Alex Harvey is a consulting Forester and a Registered Professional Forester in Mississippi and Alabama. Alex has helped with the development and pilot of the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR) and will be diving into some of the work he has done to help educate landowners about the value of their land.

On today’s episode, Alex lists some challenges he has had in his line of work and some of the reasons why a landowner would benefit from working with a consulting forester. There’s a lot of bad apples that spoil it for the rest of us and it takes time to build up the trust that you’re one of the good guys.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:20] A quick intro about Alex’s background.

[4:30] How did Alex come up with the name ‘Legacy Land Management’ for his company?

[7:40] Alex gives a quick recap on what is Heirs property.

[12:55] How did Alex first get into this line of work?

[21:50] What are some of the reasons why a landowner would want to work with Alex?

[24:55] Alex shares a horror story about what happened to an elderly lady’s land and timber.

[32:15] It took Alex about three years to help landowners make small steps towards the proper use of their land.

[34:45] What resources can landowners tap into to get the help that they need?

[38:25] What kinds of challenges does Alex run into and why does he love his job?

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Alex’s website: Legacylandmanagement.org

Alex’s first interview on the show: June 2018

Alex on LinkedIn

Website for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: Usendowment.org

More information on the SFLR Program: Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

More information on USDA NRCS services: Nrcs.usda.gov

Mar 20, 2019

Alex Singleton is a Fiber Specialist at International Paper in Port Wentworth, Georgia and he played an instrumental part in Founding the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR) in Charleston, South Carolina. Previously, he founded a conservation curriculum for underserved youth. This career camp helped shape the minds of our students and gave them a sturdy introduction into the forestry and natural resources field! Find out more about Alex and his incredible work on today’s episode. Landowners have trust issues when it comes to working with others, and they have every reason to be skeptical.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:20] A quick intro about Alex’s background.

[4:10] How did Alex first get started in forestry?

[8:40] Ms. Balkman was a scary Spanish teacher, but Alex credits her for making the connections necessary to get him introduced to forestry.

[13:40] Alex shares what his experience at Mead Westvaco Paper was like.

[18:00] Alex started a career camp for minority students in Charleston. The camp was active from 1993 to 2006 and a lot of students were exposed to the natural resource industry during that time!

[23:30] How did Alex get introduced to the SFLR program?

[26:45] If you’re not familiar with how the timber markets work, landowners can get poached by buyers and really lose out on the worth of their timber.

[33:45] As Alex was trying to put a program in place for rural African American landowners, the U.S. Endowment gave him a call and was offering a $500,000 grant.

[39:35] Once they started the program, the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation had phones ringing off the hook from curious landowners.

[46:10] Landowners definitely have trust issues when it comes to working with others, and they have every reason to be skeptical.

[51:35] What advice does Alex have for landowners?

[55:20] What advice does Alex have for fellow resource professionals?

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Internationalpaper.com

Alex on LinkedIn

Heirsproperty.org

Usendowment.org

Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

Nrcs.usda.gov

Mar 13, 2019

Dr. Jennie Stephens is the Executive Director for the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation. At the center, she’s responsible for overall strategic planning, revenue generation, financial & staff management, and program operations. Dr. Stephens has dedicated more than 25 years in the non-profit industry and is very passionate about building relationships with people who have experienced a history of abuse when it comes to their land and their rights. Find out more about the important work she does on this week’s episode! Landowners are skeptical (and rightfully so) to work with organizations. It takes time to build a good reputation.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:25] A quick intro about Dr. Stephens’s background.

[4:20] How did the Center For Heirs Property Preservation first get started?

[7:45] How has the Center evolved since its creation in 2005?

[12:00] The Center was one of the first three to be funded. We are now up to eight new legal centers throughout the U.S.

[14:10] How does Dr. Stephens help her clients?

[15:50] What kind of barriers do clients typically face that prevents them from moving forward?

[17:55] A lot of times, you’re asking heirs to make a business decision when they don’t even know who the other shareholders are.

[19:35] Dr. Stephens shares a couple of examples of how they were able to get over hurdles and build a good reputation for their center.

[21:50] Dr. Stephens and her team have resolved over 216 cases since the creation of the Center.

[23:25] When land gets lost, it doesn’t just impact the family, it impacts the community fundamentally.

[24:40] Dr. Stephens shares both a legal and a forestry case that was resolved at the Center.

[29:35] What kinds of partners have supported and helped the Center?

[34:30] What advice does Dr. Stephens have to include more diversity within the forestry community?

[37:20] Dr. Stephens shares some final words of wisdom about land retention.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Heirsproperty.org

Dr. Stephens on LinkedIn

Stateforesters.org

NRCS.USDA.gov

Feb 28, 2019

Tyrone and Edna Williams are forest landowners at Fourtee Acres, which is located in Enfield, North Carolina. The family farm includes 195 acres total of woodland, farmland, and rental property. Tyrone and Edna own about 62 of those acres. The family farm has been in Tyrone’s family for close to 100 years and they host monthly conference calls with the heirs to keep everyone up to date. Not originally from a forestry background, Tyrone credits foresters and community members in their ability to help him fully understand the scope and worth of his land.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:20] A quick intro about Tyrone and Edna’s background.

[5:10] Tyrone shares a little bit about his family’s history and how they’ve managed to keep their land for over 100 years in the family.

[7:10] Up until five to six years ago, Tyrone was not able to say this. What happened back then?

[10:15] Tyrone shares the type of help and support he has received to help him keep his land.

[17:00] What kinds of barriers have Tyrone and Edna faced along the way?

[18:55] What role have partnerships and networking played in managing Tyrone’s land?

[25:15] How have Tyrone’s sons gotten involved in the family land?

[30:20] Tyrone has conference calls with heirs from out of state to help them get familiar with the process.

[32:15] Tyrone has a large family! During Thanksgiving and family reunions, they have about 20 to 40 family members that attend.

[35:00] What kinds of surprises has the Williams family had along the way?

[42:15] Tyrone explains what discretionary grants are and what that can mean for landowners.

[44:55] What advice does Tyrone have for other landowners?

[48:35] What advice does Tyrone have for foresters and other educators?

[50:40] Final thoughts: The goal isn’t to live forever, but to create something that will.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Fourtee Acres

Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program (SFLR)

FS.fed.us

Feb 20, 2019

Thomas Mitchell is a Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Real Estate and Community Development Law Program at Texas A&M University. An amazing thing has happened in modern history and that’s the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act. Thomas has been working for over 15 years to get a real estate partitions law updated with regards to heirs property. For decades, rightful landowners have lost their land due to unfair practices, but that has all changed now. Find out more on today’s episode.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.

[2:25] A quick intro about Thomas’s background.

[3:40] How did Thomas first get started in land retention and land rights?

[8:55] What was the process Thomas went through to change the direction of what law he wanted to practice in?

[11:55] When Thomas described to his colleague what he wanted to do, his colleague said it was career suicide.

[13:25] Thomas is so glad he didn’t listen to him because he knows he made the right decision.

[16:00] What kinds of issues do people face with heirs’ properties?

[24:25] When people have inherited property over the generations, a lot of times the property lacks clear ownership titles and that ends up creating a murky lens for the courts on who owns what.

[28:00] Real estate developers will often contact a distant relative that owns possibly 1% of the land and try to convince them to do a partition by sale agreement, and by doing this, heirs can lose their entire share.

[30:40] On top of this, the courts are using the wrong analysis to determine the worth of the land.

[38:10] What has the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act has accomplished?

[43:55] When Thomas received word his proposal was being selected, he almost fell out of his chair!

[47:25] What parts of the partition law will be changed due to this act?

[55:20] Many Americans do not make wills for their family. For African American families specifically, only 15% of them have a will.

[1:03:40] What results has Thomas seen so far?

[1:10:50] Thomas did not do this alone! He credits the network of people who have helped make this possible.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Law.tamu.edu

Thomas on LinkedIn

Feb 13, 2019

Candra Burns is the voice for introverted scientists everywhere and the owner of Talking Forests. She is a natural resource professional and unique resource for anyone in the field who wants to build their social media chops. On today’s episode, Candra talks about the importance of social media, the benefits of each social media platform, and how to find the time for it all!

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:40] A quick intro about Candra’s background.

[3:40] How did Candra first get started in natural resources?

[10:20] During every school lesson, Candra would learn about a new subject but it was just the tip of the iceberg.

[14:35] What were Candra’s first few jobs like?

[20:00] Candra explains what her business, Talking Forests, is all about.

[23:40] What do foresters and natural resource professionals think about social media?

[25:40] How do young people use social media?

[27:45] How are foresters missing opportunities by not engaging with their audience online?

[30:45] What results has Candra seen so far?

[33:50] What are some of the pros and cons of each social media platform?

[41:00] If you don’t know how to use Facebook or Instagram, that’s okay, but if you’re not using LinkedIn, you’re really missing out.

[47:00] Candra explains the power of hashtags.

[50:30] How much time does all this social media stuff take?!

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Talkingforests.com

Candra on LinkedIn

Email: Candra@Talkingforests.com

Eforester.org

Feb 6, 2019

John Magruder is the Owner of Three Rivers Forestry and has been a consulting forester for 21 years. John earned his B.S. in Forest Science from Penn State University in 1986. Before going into private practice, John served at the Virginia Department of Forestry as the Area Forester in Essex County, for nearly 12 years. On today’s episode, John shares why it’s so important to be an involved member of the community and help educate your local representative about the importance of the work you do.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:45] A quick intro about John’s background.

[3:40] How did John get started in forestry?

[5:50] John wanted to be a chemical engineer at first, but after shadowing someone in the field, he decided he’d rather be a forester, instead.

[8:55] What was John’s first job in forestry like?

[12:10] When John was a junior in college, he and his team had to fight a forest fire for ten days.

[14:45] John highly recommends you join the forestry club at your school.

[16:15] Why did John switch from the Department of Forestry to his own consultancy firm?

[22:50] John is an active participant in political matters and has gotten involved in legislative issues related to forestry. The public needs to be educated in the importance of the work we do.

[28:25] What kinds of mentors has John had over the years?

[33:40] What types of challenges do new forestry consultants tend to face?

[41:40] John shares his thoughts about ACF and some of its benefits.

[48:15] Good leadership means you know you’re going to make mistakes, but you also know you’re going to be learning from them.

[48:45] What skills do people in the forestry profession need to be better at?

[53:50] What kinds of challenges has John personally run into as a forestry consultant?

[56:40] What leadership lessons has John learned over the years?
[1:00:40] If you’re a young forester, get involved! As older foresters retire, that knowledge will disappear.

[1:03:05] The toughest of challenges can be solved. You’ve just got to work with it.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Trfva.com

ACF-foresters.org

Eforester.org

Vaforestry.org

Remember the Titans (2000)

Jan 30, 2019

Amy McFadden is the Owner of White Oak Forest Management, Inc., which is based in Georgetown, South Carolina. Amy started her forest career with International Paper Company in 1994. Amy also taught at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in the Forest Technician Program and was the department head for four years! On today’s show, Amy highlights the importance of getting to know each person on an individual level, the surprising aspects of forestry consulting, and so much more!

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:45] A quick intro about Amy’s background.

[3:25] How did Amy get started in forestry?

[6:20] What was Amy’s forestry school experience like?

[9:00] What was Amy’s first job at International Paper like?

[13:40] Amy shares a little bit about her job history and what she did after IP.

[20:10] What made Amy decide to take a full-time leap into forestry consulting?

[22:55] What does Amy’s business look like today?

[25:55] Amy shares what she wishes she had learned sooner as a forestry consultant.

[28:25] Amy is incredibly proud of her team.

[30:25] What is the most surprising part about being a forestry consultant?

[31:45] Amy shares some of the challenges forestry consultants will face.

[33:45] What type of leadership lessons has Amy learned about over the years?

[35:25] It’s important to have goals for yourself and for your team to help everybody move in the right direction.

[36:40] Amy shares why she joined ACF.

[39:50] What advice does Amy have for aspiring business owners?

[46:40] “Don’t let your alligator mouth overload your hummingbird behind.”

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Whiteoakforestrysc.com

Amy on LinkedIn

ACF-foresters.org

Eforester.org

Leading with Honor, by Lee Ellis

Jan 22, 2019

Jerry Tugwell is a Forestry Consultant and the President of Tugwell Consulting Forestry in Asheboro, North Carolina. Jerry has over 38 years of forestry experience and is an active member of the ACF community. At ACF, Jerry has served in many roles including Southern Director Chairman of the Ethics Committee, Vice President, and President of the national branch. On today’s episode, Jerry shares what skills he wishes every aspiring forestry consultant knew, timeless leadership lessons, and important resources that’ll help foresters with their continued education.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:45] A quick intro about Jerry’s background.

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

[4:20] What was Jerry’s first job like?

[7:25] Jerry describes the wide variety of work you can do as a forestry consultant.

[10:00] What does it take to be a forestry consultant?

[13:30] What are some of the best ways consulting foresters can continue their education?

[16:20] Why is public speaking so important for a forestry consultant?

[17:45] Jerry shares why being a consulting forester is so rewarding.

[19:05] What types of challenges will forestry consultants most often face?

[23:15] What kinds of mentors has Jerry had over the years?

[27:40] Jerry shares what his first leadership position was like.

[36:35] Where are forestry and natural resources headed as professions?

[38:15] You have to be open to change as you advance in your career.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Tugwellforestry.com

ACF-foresters.org

Eforester.org

Leadership Lessons of Robert E. Lee: Tips, Tactics, and Strategies for Leaders and Managers,
by Bil Holton

Jan 16, 2019

Richard “Carbo” Carbonetti is the Owner and Senior Vice President at Land Vest, a brokerage, consulting, and timberland services firm. The firm oversees and manages 1.7 million acres in the Northeast U.S. Carbo is a licensed forester in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. On today’s episode, Carbo discusses the benefits of working in consulting forestry, how the industry can improve as a whole, and why foresters need to get better at communicating their value to the community.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:50] A quick intro about Carbo’s background.

[4:20] How did Carbo get into forestry?

[9:40] What does Carbo love about being a forester?

[12:45] Carbo didn’t know anything about running a business when he started.

[17:10] Carbo used to drive his classmates crazy because he asked ‘too many’ questions.

[20:15] You gotta embrace change in your life. Carbo knows so many people who are paralyzed with fear because of change.

[25:30] What advice does Carbo have for aspiring forestry consultants?

[28:20] It’s important to remember that people think differently than you do.

[39:45] Carbo shares an example of ‘bad actors’ in the industry.

[43:40] Carbo has been an ACF member for the last 40 years. What are some of the benefits of joining?

[49:40] What kinds of mentors has Carbo had over the years?

[54:30] Forestry programs have changed greatly since Carbo was last in school and compensation rates have not kept up either.

[1:04:50] A lot of foresters actually undercharge for their services.

[1:11:15] What’s one thing about leadership that Carbo wished he’d learned sooner?

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Landvest.com

ACF-foresters.org

Eforester.org

Jan 9, 2019

Mike Warner is the Owner of ArborTerra Consulting, which is located in Lizton, Indiana. With over 40 years of experiences and always being an entrepreneur at heart, Mike lists some of the benefits and challenges of owning your own business. Mike details the importance of writing your dreams and goals on paper early on in your career so you always have an idea of what to aspire to! Find out more about Mike and his expertise on this week’s show!

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:45] A quick intro about Mike’s background.

[4:20] How did Mike get into forestry?

[7:40] What was Mike’s first job like?

[8:40] Mike was inspired by his first boss, Fred Woods, and he helped Mike along the way with his sage advice.

[11:00] Mike remembers another mentor, Jim Akers, who helped him set firm career goals early on.

[13:45] What kind of transition did Mike go through to successfully start two businesses (at the same time).

[16:15] What kind of skills do people need in order to be considered a good forestry consultant?

[20:10] Mike knew the Latin names of trees but he didn’t know how to run a business until he got his feet wet.

[20:25] What does Mike wish he’d learned sooner about managing people?

[23:50] What is Mike most proud of, so far?

[25:20] How does Mike find his talent?

[27:15] What makes ArborTerra different compared to other consulting companies?

[29:30] What kinds of surprises has Mike discovered along the way?

[31:05] Where is the future of forestry headed for the younger generation?

[33:15] How has being a member of ACF helped Mike’s career?

[40:30] Don’t be afraid to try some new directions, especially if the current one isn’t working!

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

ArborTerra.com

ACF-foresters.org

Eforester.org

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You,
by John C. Maxwell and Steven R. Covey

Jan 2, 2019

Phil Sneed is the owner of Blackwell Creek Forestry as well as a Senior Forester. He has over 20 years of experience in managing forests and wildlife habitat and has worked with hundreds of landowners and organizations over the years. In addition, Phil has spent the last 15 years on wildland firefighting assignments in the Western U.S., serving as a Crew Boss and Public Information Officer.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:45] A quick intro about Phil’s background.

[3:45] How did Phil get into forestry?

[8:50] What was Phil’s first job like after coming back from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait?

[17:00] It took some time for Phil to really find his place in forestry.

[22:10] What skills do you need to have to get into wildland fire management?

[27:15] Phil is really grateful he keeps up-to-date on his wildland firefighting education.

[29:00] What has contributed to Phil’s early success?

[33:35] What kinds of mentors has Phil had over the years?

[37:00] Phil shares some of the challenges a forestry consultant faces.

[41:00] What was Phil’s first leadership position like?

[48:15] Where is the future of forestry headed for the younger generation?

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Blackwellcreekforestry.com

ACF-foresters.org

Eforester.org

Glory (1989)

Deep Survival, by Laurence Gonzales

Dec 26, 2018

Matt Dowdy started his own company, Dowdy’s Forest & Land Management, in 2007 and it’s a full-service forest consulting firm in the state of Virginia. With slightly over 26 years of forestry consulting experience, Matt has a lot of wisdom to share on today’s podcast! Find out what’s it like being your own boss, lessons Matt wished he’d learned sooner, and where the future of forestry is headed!

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:45] A quick intro about Matt’s background.

[3:10] How did Matt get into forestry?

[4:45] What was Matt’s first job like?

[7:10] Matt shares what he likes about being a forestry consultant.

[8:35] What kinds of lessons has Matt learned along the way, that surprised him?

[9:25] As a forestry consultant, you’re pretty much a middleman, working on behalf of your client.

[10:55] How does Matt work with clients who don’t know what they want?

[12:25] What kinds of challenges has Matt faced so far?

[13:25] Matt shares some of his first leadership experiences and the lessons he learned.

[16:00] Even though Matt is the owner of his own business, his clients are really his boss.

[19:40] What kinds of mentors has Matt had, over the years?

[21:20] What makes a good forestry consultant?

[22:45] Matt shares some of his wisdom for those aspiring forestry consultants out there!

[23:05] Where is the future of forestry headed for the younger generation?

[29:25] What has Matt’s experience at ACF been like?

[34:35] Once you realize you’re wasting your time, move on!

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Dowdysforest.com

ACF-foresters.org

Eforester.org

Gladiator (2000)

Dec 19, 2018

David Henderson is the owner of Henderson Forestry Consultants and has been serving landowners in the North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia area for over 30 years. David says it took him a good eight years to get the hang of owning his own business and another 20 years to get a good hang on consulting! David is a wise soul with lots of wisdom about consulting, owning a business, and what he wishes he’d learned sooner!

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:40] A quick intro about Davids background.

[3:05] How did David get into forestry?

[5:40] What was David’s first job like?

[9:25] How did David become a forestry consultant?

[11:30] It took David eight years to get his business off the ground and another 20 years before he felt like he was a consultant.

[13:10] What does David wish he learned sooner?

[17:10] What does David’s team look like today?

[19:45] Working with new technology is a struggle for older foresters, which is why it’s important to bring in new and young talent into the mix.

[23:40] What is David most proud of so far?

[27:05] What does David wish he’d learned sooner in his career?

[29:00] David offers some words of wisdom for young foresters looking to excel in their career.

[30:40] David dives into ACF and how they’ve helped him in his career.

[33:30] Where does David think the forestry industry is headed?

[38:25] What kinds of mentors has David had over the years?

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

HFCforestry.com

ACF-foresters.org

Eforester.org

American Canopy: Trees, Forests, and the Making of a Nation, by Eric Rutkow

Dec 12, 2018

Justin Miller is the Founder and President of Green Timber Consulting Foresters. Established in 2001, Green Timber currently staffs 8 foresters and serves clients throughout the upper great lakes region in Michigan. In 2017, Justin was recognized at the School of Forest Resource Environmental Sciences as Outstanding Aluminist for his contributions in the forestry industry and students at MTU. On today’s show, Justin explains how you don’t need to have a ‘traditional’ path to get into forestry and offers key advice for aspiring forestry consulting students.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:50] A quick intro about Justin’s background.

[4:25] How did Justin get into forestry and natural resources?

[6:10] What types of jobs did Justin when he first got out of college?

[7:50] How do people typically get into forestry consulting?

[9:00] You can get started in consulting through other ways. You don’t have to join a big firm in order to be a consulting forester.

[10:25] What types of clients does Justin have at Green Timber?

[11:30] What kind of problems does the average client have when they first come to Green Timber?

[13:55] Justin shares a little bit about the differences in environment and silvicultural characteristics of his area.

[16:00] What’s fun about being a forester and a forestry consultant?

[19:40] Justin explains the ACF vetting process and what you need to do to join.

[21:55] Justin has learned so much material through ACF that wasn’t available at his university.

[24:35] What did Justin wished he learned sooner about the industry?

[26:55] What do people ought to know about becoming a supervisor?

[32:15] What makes a good leader?

[33:05] What advice does Justin have for aspiring forest professionals?

[36:55] Justin talks about some of the exciting projects he’s worked on in the past.

[41:00] What kind of mentors has Justin had over the years?

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Greentimberforestry.com

Justin on LinkedIn

ACF-foresters.org

Eforester.org

Miracle (2004)

1 « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next » 7