As a PMF with the Forest Service you will have opportunities to work in many areas at different levels within the Agency. The PMF alumni featured below, while a small sampling of the over 200 PMFs the Agency has hosted, represent the diversity of educational backgrounds and career paths of our fellows.

Anthony V. Scardina (2004) PMF Position: Budget Analyst, Program and Budget Analysis Staff,W ashington Office:W ashington, DC Current Position: Forest Supervisor, Wayne National Forest Previous Positions: Forest Supervisor, Ottawa National Forest District Ranger, Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District Deputy District Ranger, Eldorado National Forest Travel Management coordinator, Eldorado National Forest Degrees: MS Forestry, Master of Public Administration (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg VA) BS Forest Resources Management, BS Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (West Virginia University, Morgantown WV)

Alex Dunn (2004) PMF Position: Public Participation and Planning Specialist, San Bernardino National Forest, Supervisor’s Office, Pacific Southwest Region 5 Current Position: Environmental Coordinator, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Dillon, MT Previous Position: Program Manager, Western Forestry Leadership Coalition; State and Private Forestry; Rocky Mountain Region; Lakewood, Colorado Degrees: MS Environmental Studies, Natural Resource/Fire Policy and Public Participation/Collab- oration Focus (University of Montana, Missoula MT) BS Environmental Studies and Fine Arts (University of Oregon, Eugene OR)

Brad Tait (2006) PMF Position: Program Manager, Hood Canal Ranger District, Olympic National Forest, Quilcene, WA Current Position: Regional Litigation Specialist, Pacific Northwest Region (R6), Portland, OR Degrees: JD with a certificate in environmental, urban and land use law (University of Missouri School of Law, Kansas City MO) BA Communications (University of Missouri, Columbia MO)

Peter Taylor (2006) PMF Position: Natural Resource Specialist, Aviation and Fire Management, Eastern Region, Milwaukee, WI Current Position: Forest Environmental Coordinator, Superior National Forest, Duluth, MN Degrees: Master of Forestry and Master of Environmental Management ( Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham NC) BS Biology ( College of William & Mary, Williamsburg VA)

Dana Coelho (2007) PMF Position: Natural Resource Specialist, Urban & Community Forestry/Cooperative Forestry, Washington DC Current Position: Program Manager, Urban and Community Forestry, Rocky Mountain Region Previous Position: Program Manager, Western Forestry Leadership Coalition Degrees: MS Sustainable Development & Conservation Biology (University of Maryland, College Park MD) Master of Public Policy, Environmental Policy (University of Maryland, College Park MD) Bachelors of Urban & Environmental Planning, dual minor in Architecture and Environ- mental Science (University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA)

Sarah LaPlante (2007) PMF Position: Biological Scientist, Research and Development/Quantitative Sciences, Rosslyn, VA/ Washington, DC Current Position: Deputy District Ranger, Sierra National Forest, High Sierra Ranger District Previous Position: Assistant Recreation & Wilderness Program Manager, White Mountain National Forest Degrees: Master of Forestry (Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke Uni- versity, Durham NC) Master of Environmental Management (Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham NC) BA Environmental Biology (Dartmouth College, Hanover NH) Jason E. Nedlo (2007) PMF Position: Natural Resource Specialist (Recreation), Recreation Travel Management Implementation Coordinator, Eldorado National Forest, Placerville, California Current Position: District Ranger, Daniel Boone National Forest Previous Position: Deputy District Ranger, Allegheny National Forest Resource Planning Specialist Degrees: PhD Environmental Physiology (Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Uni- versity of Georgia, Athens GA) BS Forestry (University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana IL)

Aaron Pratt (2008) PMF Position: Budget Analyst, Program and Budget Analysis Staff, Washington Office, Washington, DC Current Position: Program Specialist, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, USDA Natural Resourc- es Conservation Service (NRCS) in Washington DC Previous Positions: NRCS Soil Conservationist in Vermont Travel Management Planning Team Leader on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Degrees: MS in Forestry with Forest Biology emphasis and certificate in Watershed Management (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg VA) BA in Geological Science (Brown University, Providence RI)

Brandon W. Schulze (2008) PMF Position: Public Affairs Specialist, Olympic National Forest, Olympia, WA Current Position: Information Technology Specialist, Pacific Southwest Research Station Previous Position: Public Affairs Specialist, Northern Region Degrees: MA Communication (University of Oklahoma, Norman OK) BS Mass Communication & Journalism (City University of Seattle, Seattle WA)

Kristin Merony (2013) PMF Position: Environmental Coordinator, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Delta, Colorado Current Position: Special Assistant to the Director of Forest Management, National Forest System, Washing- ton DC Previous Positions: National Partnership Coordinator, National Partnership Office, National Forest System, Washington DC Strategic Communication Specialist, Cooperative Forestry, State and Private Forestry, Washington DC Degrees: Master of Environmental Management, Concentration in Water Science, Management and Policy (Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, New Haven CT) Bachelors of Environmental Biology & Zoology, minor in Science, Technology, Environ- ment & Public Policy (Michigan State University, East Lansing MI)

Steve Beri (2013) PMF Position: Natural Resource Specialist, Recreation and Trails Supervisor, Sierra National Forest, (Region 5) Current Position: Recreation Program Manager, North River Ranger District, George Washington and Jef- ferson National Forest, Region 8 Rotation Position: Assistant Wildlife Biologist, Yuba River Ranger District, Tahoe National Forest, Region 5 Degrees: Masters of Science, Ecology (Penn State University, State College, PA) Bachelors of Science, Ecology (Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA)

Ginelle Heller (2013) PMF Position: Natural Resources Specialist, Region 8, Fire & Aviation Management Current Position: Workforce Development & Program Integration Manager, Region 8, Fire & Aviation Management Rotation Position: Natural Resources Specialist- Recreation, Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District, Deschutes National Forest Degrees: Master’s of Science in Environmental Science and Master’s of Public Affairs, Indiana Uni- versity, School of Public and Environmental Affairs Bachelor’s of Arts in Environmental Studies, Warren Wilson College What We Do As a PMF with the Forest Service you will have opportunities to work in many areas at different levels within the Agency. The PMF alumni featured below, while a small sampling of the over 200 PMFs the Agency has hosted, represent the diversity of educational backgrounds and career paths of our fellows.

Lesley Yen (2010) District Ranger- Shasta Lake Ranger District, Shasta-Trinity NF PMF Position: Management Specialist- Collaboration Detail Position: Deputy District Ranger Conversion Position: District Resource/Recreation Staff Officer Degrees: MA International Relations (Yale Graduate School); Masters of Environmental Management (Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies); BA Economics (Wellesley College) Most memorable projects as a PMF: Meadow and stream monitoring in the Golden Trout Wilderness; organizing a grazing collaborative and serving as the IDT lead for a grazing EIS Most impactful training opportunities:Congressional Briefing Conference; Environmental Conflict Resolution How did your experience gained as a PMF help guide your career track towards your current position?I was exposed to a wide variety of departments and program areas during my time as a PMF and then in my conversion position. I also had two details as a deputy district ranger and found I really enjoyed being a line officer. This led me to my current position as a district ranger, where I get to interact with and influence all of the multiple uses that the agency is charged with managing every day.

Mike Dechter (2003) NEPA Coordinator- Coconino NF PMF Position: Natural Resource Specialist, Cooperative Forestry, Washington Office Detail Positions: Tonto National Forest; Urban and Community Forestry Program, Washington Office; Budget Analyst for State and Private Forestry at the Washington Office; NEPA Coordinator on the Santa Fe National Forest Conversion Position: Zoned district NEPA coordinator on the Santa Fe National Forest Degrees: Masters of Environmental Management (Duke University); BS (University of San Diego) Most memorable projects as a PMF: Worked with other PMFs to establish the inner organizational structure for managing the PMF network and for growing the fellowship as a leadership program within the agency. I was also the lead for the agency PMF recruitment effort, which is where I first met a PMF finalist, who eventually became my wife. I developed and led a multi-stakeholder group to review ‘grassbanking’ as a management technique and determine its potential applications for resource managment under current policy and regulations. Most impactful training opportunities:Forest Service Orientation; NEPA training; Congressional Briefing Conference How did your experience gained as a PMF help guide your career track towards your current position?The PMF experience helped me understand the Forest Service a bit better and how my interests fit in with the organization. Due to the fellowship, I was able to take a detail to practice NEPA on the Santa Fe, which ultimately led to my conversion and current position as a Forest NEPA coordinator on the Coconino National Forest. Sonja Lin (2010) Strategic Planner- Ecosystem Planning, Pacific Southwest Regional Office PMF Position: Program Specialist with Strategic Planning, Budget and Accountability at the Washington Office Detail Positions: Science Communication, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO; Science Partnerships, International Institute for Tropical Forestry, San Juan, Puerto Rico Conversion Position: Social Scientist, Plan Revision Team, Region 5 Regional Office, Vallejo, CA Degrees: MS, School of Forest Resources; Master of Public Administration, Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs (University of Washington, Seattle); BS, College of Natural Resources (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities) Most memorable projects as a PMF: Working with the Chief on preparing for Congressional budget hearings and going to Capitol Hill for hearings. Developing a land management plan and meeting with potential partners for Estate Thomas Experimental Forest in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Most impactful training opportunities:Congressional Briefing Conference through the Woods Institute; The Effective Facilitator through Leadership Strategies How did your experience gained as a PMF help guide your career track towards your current position?I am currently a Strategic Planner with the Region 5 Regional Office. My experience detailing and eventually converting with the Ecosystem Planning staff helped position me for the Strategic Planner role. Some of the specific PMF experiences that helped guide me towards my current position include: agency strategic planning, land management planning and associated public meetings for the Estate Thomas Experimental Forest, communications and partnerships work, understanding the different branches of the Forest Service through my various PMF expe- riences, and coordination of complex processes and high-level meetings during my Congressional budget hearing preparation work.

Kelly Balcarczyk (2014) Nature-based Tourism and Economic Development Specialist- Southern Regional Office PMF Position: Nature-based Tourism and Economic Development Specialist Detail Position: Recreation Specialist/Special Projects Coordinator Conversion Position: Community Engagement Specialist Degrees: PhD Forest Science (West Virginia University); MS Biology (University of Alaska Fairbanks); BS Biology (Rochester Institute of Technology) Most memorable projects as a PMF: Projects involving partners are always the most fun. One of my favorite accomplishments was helping to establish a new Children’s Forest with the Munford Schools and Talladega National Forest. Over 20 partners committed to help educate and engage the next generation of public land stewards. Most impactful training opportunities:Fire training and assignments have been some of the most memorable aspects of my work with the Forest Service. Working on a fire crew gave me insight into a valuable part of the USFS mission, bonded me to my coworkers, and connected me to the community. How did your experience gained as a PMF help guide your career track towards your current position?Without my experience as a PMF, I would never be in my current position. The PMF experience gave me access to training, mentors, and assignments that boosted my career to higher levels.

Matthews Smith (2014) Management Analyst- Chief Financial Officer-Washington Office PMF Position: Administrative Management Specialist, Washington Office CFO Detail Position: Public Affairs Specialist, Washington Office FAM Conversion Position: Management Analyst, Washington Office CFO Degrees: MS Community and Regional Planning (Temple University); BA American Studies and Political Science (Pennsylvania State University) Most memorable projects as a PMF: The national safety boot reimbursement program and meetings management Most impactful training opportunities:The George Washington Leadership Institute and wildland firefighter trainings How did your experience gained as a PMF help guide your career track towards your current position?Exposure to the PMF network was very beneficial in understanding how my staff area impacts the mission. Tommie Herbert (2014) Natural Resources Specialist- Cooperative Forestry, State & Private Forestry, Washington Office PMF Position: Natural Resources Specialist, Ecosystem Services and Markets Detail Positions: Collaboration Coordinator, Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests; Growth Rate and Carbon Analyst, The Forestland Group; Partnership Coordinator, National Partnership Office; Lands and Mitigation Associate, Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests Conversion Position: Natural Resources Specialist, Ecosystem Services and Markets Degrees: Master of Forestry (Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies); Human and Organizational Development (Vanderbilt University) Most memorable projects as a PMF: At the National Partnership Office I supported a cross deputy initiative to synthesize Forest Service programs, projects, and investments in Urban Natural Resources Stewardship. The team produced a map and thematic graphic to represent the agency’s work. I learned a lot from Forest Service experts about the importance of connecting people to land across the rural and urban continuum. Another memorable project was helping to organize the 2015 Forest Service PMF orientation. Most impactful training opportunities:“The Effective Facilitator” with Leadership Strategies is a training opportunity that was immediately applicable. The best practices shared at this training are helpful to hosting productive weekly team meetings, delivering informational webinars, or facilitating collaborative planning discussions. How did your experience gained as a PMF help guide your career track towards your current position?My PMF experience highlighted the multiple innovative approaches our colleagues are leading to build social and financial support for sustainable management of forests and grass- lands across all ownerships. This helped me understand how our National Ecosystem Services Strategy Team (NESST) and Ecoystem Services and Markets Team can be a better and more acces- sible resource for these initiatives.

Matt McCombs (2009) District Ranger- Appalachian Ranger District, Pisgah NF PMF Position: Partnership Coordinator, Olympic National Forest Detail Positions: Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Administrator (Region 6); Recreation Program Manager (Olympic NF); Deputy District Ranger (Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District, White River NF) Conversion Position: Deputy District Ranger, Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District, White River NF Degrees: Masters in Public Administration (University of Colorado); BA History (University of Montana) Most memorable projects as a PMF: The most memorable project was on the Olympic NF working with two Student Conservation Association interns. We developed a student outreach program that targeted diverse populations for outreach and employment. The program reached over 800 high school and college age students in primarily urban communities to raise awareness of recreation and employment opportunities on the Olympic NF. Program participants were recruited to serve on seasonal trail crews made up of candidates from across the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area. Most impactful training opportunities:I was the first in the agency to participate in the USFS Middle Leader Program as a PMF. The growth and development I experienced alongside many other GS-11/12 aspiring leaders still serves me today. Many of my friendships in the agency were born from that three week intensive training experience. We’ve enjoyed staying close, networking and cheering each other on as many have taken on greater roles and responsibilities over the years. How did your experience gained as a PMF help guide your career track towards your current position?As a District Ranger the leadership development and mentoring I enjoyed as a PMF have been invaluable. The broad suite of experiences and ooportunities made available to me as well as the dedicated coaching and support I received from agency leaders and skilled professionals at all levels of the Forest Service have been fundamental to my success as a line officer. Lara Buluc (2009) Sustainable Operations & Co-Climate Change Coordinator- Pacific Southwest Regional Office PMF Position: Natural Resources Specialist, Regional Invasive Species Coordinator Detail Positions: WO Sustainable Operations Program Assistant; Shasta-Trinity NF Special Projects Coordinator Conversion Position: Sustainable Operations & Co-Climate Change Coordinator, R5 RO Degrees: Masters of Environmental Science and Management (University of California, Santa Barbara); BS Biology and Ecosystem Science & Policy (University of Miami, FL) Most memorable projects as a PMF: My most memorable project was to lead the agency’s first greenhouse gas inventory for business operations, per Executive Order 13514. The project exposed me to numerous internal and external partners, the agency’s data systems, and provided an opportunity to break new ground while advocating the agency’s conservation- oriented mission. Most impactful training opportunities:The Congressional Briefing Conference for PMFs was a wonderful opportunity, both to learn how the executive branch can most effectively engage with the legislative branch and to network with PMFs from other agencies at a similar point in their careers. The experience helped me understand the value in high-quality reporting and datasets. How did your experience gained as a PMF help guide your career track towards your cur- rent position?As a PMF, I had an opportunity to work at all major organizational levels of the agency: National Forest, Regional Office, and Washington Office. As a result, I not only fostered connections across the agency but also converted into my permanent position with a more in-depth understanding of the daily workings and priorities at each level. Since converting into my permanent, full-time position in August 2011, I’ve held three temporary positions at the WO and also served as the Rim Fire Issues Manager on the Stanislaus National Forest (R5) for a short period. These experiences, well into my career, were available due to perspective gained during my PMF tenure.

Aaron Mayville (2012) District Ranger- Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District, White River NF PMF Position: Budget Hearing Coordinator, SPBA, Washington Office Detail Positions: Deputy District Ranger, Bozeman Ranger District, Gallatin NF; Deputy District Ranger, Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District, White River NF Conversion Position: Deputy District Ranger, Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District, White River NF Degrees: Masters in Environmental Policy (University of Melbourne); Bachelors in Geology (Boston University) Most memorable projects as a PMF: Staffing the budget hearings during two budget cycles Most impactful training opportunities:All of the field time during my details on districts- ain’t nothing better! How did your experience gained as a PMF help guide your career track towards your current position?The PMF program gave me the avenue and the space to seek out developmental opportunities on Ranger districts, which allowed me to learn how the Forest Service works at that level. The mentoring and support to do those details was invaluable in guiding me into my current position as Acting District Ranger.