1. THE FOREST INDUSTRY… An Educational Perspective Eric Easton – Forestry Faculty – Pennsylvania College of Technology

2. Are there trends toward or away from particular areas within the forest industry? - Technicians Public vs. Private sector - Forest Products workforce Stigma associated with certain positions Logger, mill worker, etc. Our Current Situation

3. What gaps are evident within the industry and how can education help fill those gaps? Present and future workforce gaps are and will be seen in the areas of logging, mill workers, kiln operators, sawyers, etc. Education needs to tailor our curriculums to better align with the needs of our job market. (not abandon what we already offer, but add valuable courses that speak directly to the products realm) Our Current Situation

4. Public Sector – DCNR hires our graduates each year as positions are available. The technicians that we train are capable of conducting and overseeing the “boots on the ground” forestry that is needed to effectively manage out timber resource. Private Sector – Our graduates leave our program fully equipped to fill a forest technician role, but jobs in that particular area can be hard to find. We do not prepare them enough for the specific areas in which the job market is more favorable. Are employers satisfied with the quality of graduates from our forestry program?

5. What investments should be made to help develop better forest industry workers? Job specific courses as electives within curriculum Sawyer Kiln operator Lumber grader Lumber sales Logger Assistance from industry in offering short courses on various topics led by trained professionals in that discipline. Investments in the future

6. Long Term Forest Management Consistent forest products industry We have a viable industry producing wood products that can be harvested and utilized in both a profitable and sustainable manner The task at hand is to market our industry to young people as one that has opportunity in a wide range of disciplines, and then train them to function well within a small part of the whole Final Thought