My passion for forestry began long before I became a professional forester. Growing up in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, I spent much of my time hunting, fishing, exploring the woods, planting native trees from seed, and tending to a large garden. I earned a bachelor's degree in business from Hope College in 2020, but quickly realized that my true passion was in the woods. I returned to school and earned a Master of Science in Forestry from Michigan State University in 2023.

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Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to gain experience on both sides of forest management; collecting forest data for management plans as well as putting prescriptions into practice on the ground. During my time at Michigan State University, I worked as a teaching assistant for a graduate level forestry field course and assisted with research projects involving agencies such as the Michigan DNR and the U.S. Forest Service. This research included studying jack pine regeneration throughout northern Michigan and Ontario following different disturbance treatments, including fire, mastication, and discing.

 

Healthy forests provide benefits that extend beyond timber value, including wildlife habitat, clean air, clean water, biological diversity, and recreation. I have been fortunate to manage my own 80 acre property while also working with landowners throughout Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio.

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I currently serve as a Technical Service Provider (TSP) for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and am qualified in Michigan to develop plans for the Qualified Forest Program and Forest Stewardship Program. In Ohio, I am qualified to develop plans for the Ohio Forest Tax Law program. I am also pursuing full membership in the Association of Consulting Foresters and Certified Forester status through the Society of American Foresters.

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I founded Thomas Consulting Forestry with a simple goal: to provide professional forestry guidance that helps landowners understand the resources they own so they can make informed decisions and leave their forests in better condition for the next generation.