Our Core
Bret Hilliard has been with Steigerwaldt for 4 years. He currently holds the title of Project Forester.
What do you specialize in?
I specialize in timber sale setup and administration, timber cruising, and carbon cruising.
What does a day in your role look like?
An average day in my job includes emails with coworkers and clients. I spend a fair amount of time communicating with DNR foresters for clients that are enrolled in the Managed Forest Law program. I will prepare for any work that needs to be done in the field, so make or download maps for a property that I can use for timber setup, recon, or cruising. Once I arrive to the property I am working at, I then either paint property lines, harvest boundaries, and/or trees for a harvest.
What initially drew you to your field?
I grew up on the water and in the woods and knew I didn’t want to spend my working life constantly in an office. Forestry was the route I chose because I saw an opportunity to be in the woods and make an impact on the forests that I was always curious about as a kid.
What energizes you and keeps your passion going?
I love the process of what I do being able to be a part of the steps of a timber harvest or monitoring of a forest. I enjoy looking at records of past harvests and being able to administer my own and see how they unfold. Seeing old harvests from 5 to 10 to 20 years ago and how the forest looks now after them is interesting. It’s always fun to see how the forests can change based on how they are managed and what transformations different management plans can cause all while maintaining a healthy forest system.
What is your favorite part of your role or favorite thing about working at Steigerwaldt?
My favorite part of my role is the broad scope of it. I am a part of so many steps, and being able to follow something from the beginning to end is a very satisfying experience.
What are three attributes that describe your team?
One of the best things about my job is the group of people I get to work with. They are a gritty group that can get the job done and focus on the task at hand while still having a good time. Everybody is flexible and versatile which allows for a great roster that can be utilized on so many different types of projects.
