Episode 40: Forestry with Mike Harrell

Forestry is an age old profession that should be attractive to people who have a knack for business (managing resources, purchasing, marketing, selling, accounting, and running a money making operation) and like to be surrounded by nature.  

You may get dirty, be surrounded by some amazing machinery and even have a few run-ins with the wildlife that calls the trees and the brush their home.

Mike is the VP of Stuckey Timberland. His world is the forest. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Forestry program. Forestry is a life career that is in his family lineage.

You will hear Mike reflect on his career and his desire to be in the outdoors. He talks about the business and the misconceptions that those looking in often have about the business of growing trees for wood products.

I think that you will find this interview interesting as well as it might make you a little envious about Mike’s ability to be outside many of his work days.

If you know a young person who is thinking about future careers, ask them to take a look into forestry. It has a definite place in our future world, trained foresters are needed, and the profession offers opportunities to be engaged outside of a typical corporate office!

Here are some links that can provide you further information:

Sustainable Forestry Initiative

Stuckey Timberland

Logger Education

University of Georgia: Forestry

ABAC Forestry (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College-Forestry)

Georgia Forests

Georgia Forestry Association

Enjoy!

Length: 50:21

Episode 38: Protecting the Performing Arts

Episode 37: Experience Education

Episode 36: Growing Up in Poverty and Lessons Learned with Dr. Hayward Cordy

Dr. Hayward Cordy is the Executive Director of the Oconee RESA.

Hayward grew up in Wrightsville, Ga-Johnson County…the son of sharecroppers. As you listen to Hayward talk, think about the ultimate lessons that his family taught him. He could have complained and wanted someone to save him. He could have bemoaned his station in life. Instead, he focused on succeeding. He didn't let others derail his focus, he stayed the course and earned college degrees and eventually became the superintendent of the same school system where he had once attended class.

Listen for Hayward to explain … Damaged Goods, Choices and Consequences, The Greatest Lesson Taught to him by His Family, and An Improbable Dream Became Reality.

There are many lessons to be gleaned from Hayward’s memories.

I hope that you will come back and listen, again and again and share with others.

In a world where it is easy to be negative about all of life experiences…Hayward’s recollections make you realize that hard work and determination do pay off!

Thanks for listening! I hope that you will take his words to heart!

To discover more about the Oconee RESA or to connect with Dr. Cordy use the link or address blow.

http://www.ciclt.net/sn/clt/oconee/default.aspx?ClientCode=oconee

Dr. Hayward Cordy

Executive Director

Oconee RESA

206 South Main Street

Tennille, Georgia 31089

Phone: 478-552-5178

Length: 52:12

Episode 26: Mike Buck and Public Education in Georgia

Join us as Mike talks with me about education in Georgia and tells us some things about what makes Mike…Mike.

Mike has served the families of Georgia through public education over 31 years.

He has been a teacher, administrator, high school principal, assistant superintendent and now the Chief Academic Officer for the State of Georgia.

We talked about the responsibilities of the Chief Academic Officer (basically, I asked him what he does…)

Listen to hear Mike explain that his greatest lesson learned as the Chief Academic Officer was... “I didn’t know... what I didn’t know.”

Mike reflected on the initiative called Career Pathways and the positive role it will play for the children of Georgia in their future planning.

I asked Mike what challenges he thought teachers faced today that are different than from when he was a high school principal…

One of his comments was …Time. Check out where we go with this topic.

Mike is the child of a soldier who moved with his career. This meant that Mike had to learn to make friends and to get along with others who were different than him. Mike talks about his love for diversity.

Mike is running for the State Superintendent of Schools of Georgia. He shared his thoughts about the race and what he would bring to the role if he was elected.

Mike is a fan of Jim Collins and John Maxwell as leadership writers and the lessons of life found in the Bible. Currently, he is reading a book called Praying Circles around Your Children by Mark Batterson. He says that he sees the greatest leadership challenge as that of being a parent and raising children.  He reflected on a couple of thoughts from the book that have had a huge impact on his interactions with his children and how he lives his life:

·         Teaching your own kids how to say and mean…please, thank you, and I’m sorry.

·         I try to live my life in such a way that those who know me best respect me the most.

You can find out more about Mike at his website www.buckforsuperintendent.com

Thanks for listening. Please share with your friends, family, and colleagues!

Enjoy!

Length: 26:29