Curriculum Vitae
Kelsie N. Sibbald, 23
906-440-0184
465 N 7th St. #4, Laramie, WY 82072 ksibbald@uwyo.edu, ksnoelle17@gmail.com
Education
University of Wyoming, Expected Graduation May 2025
M.S. Environment, Natural Resources & Society, Haub School of Natural Resources
Graduate Research Assistantship:
Working under Dr. Curt Davidson on projects related to expanding outdoor recreation at the University of Wyoming and across the state. Conducting social science and human dimensions research by taking part in stakeholder outreach, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
Research:
In progress of designing a project on observing the role of outdoor recreation in influencing environmental attitudes and behaviors. Specifically exploring how place attachment and theory of planned behavior can be applied to recreation-conservation land management models.
Northern Michigan University, May 2022, GPA 3.81, Magna Cum Laude
B.S. Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management, School of Health and Human Performance
Minor in Environmental Studies
Research:
Quantitative research project assessing recreation preferences and perceived barriers to recreation between residents and non-residents in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Internship:
Worked with a fire module in NW Montana to focus on leadership growth and contributed by conducting study on mental health of the fire employees on the district.
NMU Track and Field: Competed in NCAA Division II GLIAC Conference in the Women’s Heptathlon both indoor and outdoor seasons.
Organization for Outdoor Recreation Professionals (OORP): I was president of OORP my senior year, which is a club dedicated to students who want to improve facilitation, leadership and outdoor skills while building a network of outdoor enthusiasts. I instructed skill-building workshops, lead day hikes, XC skiing, mountain biking, and backpacking trips, and organized paddling events.
NMU Firecats: I was president of Firecats my senior year. It is a club that includes wildland firefighters on campus and those interested in finding a job in wildland fire. Our focus was to help students through the government hiring process to land themselves a job in fire.
Honors and Awards
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– NMU School of Health and Human Performance Outstanding Graduating Senior, 2022
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– AAW- Marquette Martha Griffiths Award Nominee, 2022
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– Nancy and Kim Strawe Endowed Scholarship, 2021
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– Dr. Jean L. Kinnear Outstanding Student Interpreter Award, 2021
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– Track and Field Athletic Scholarship, 2019
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– GLIAC Track and Field Championships, 4th place Heptathlon finish, 2019
Sault Area High School, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, 2018, GPA: 3.91
High School Diploma and Career Center Certificate Leadership and Involvement
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– Junior Rotarians
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– SHACC Advisory Council
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– Varsity Volleyball Team Captain
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– Track and Field Team Captain
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– U.S. Marine Corps Warrior Training Leader
Honors and Awards:
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– NMU Bowl Scholarship
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– Principal’s Purchase Award
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– 2x VFW Creative Patriotic Art State Finalist, 2nd place, 4th place
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– Emerging Artists Honorable Mention
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– Volleyball Most Improved and Most Valuable Player
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– Track and Field Most Valuable Player
Work Experience
Forestry Technician (Fire Apprentice), U.S. Forest Service, Sheridan, WY
January 2023- August 2023, Full-time GS-5
Supervisor: Janos Czaban, Captain, Engine 611, janos.czaban@usda.gov
I worked on a wildland fire engine module in north central Wyoming’s Bighorn National Forest. I was a part of the Wildland Fire Apprenticeship Program (WFAP) which is a 12 to 48-month work/training program designed to expose upcoming fire leaders to a wide variety of experiences in fire, including aviation, heavy equipment operation, fire dispatch, as well as basic and advanced apprentice academies. I chose to move on from my apprenticeship position to pursue graduate education.Apprenticeship
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– Successfully complete both basic and advanced apprentice academies and all required on the job learning
hours.
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– Engage conversation with communities on wildland fire safety, prevention, and the benefits of fire
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– Explored diverse fire career paths by becoming a Resource Advisor Trainee and taking GIS training
courses
Fuels Management
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– Conducting pile burns with drip torches in the winter
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– Participating in prescribed broadcast burns with drip torches and holding operation
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– Operating chainsaws to complete thinning and other specific fuels projects to work towards reaching fuels
management objectives
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– Collecting fine fuel moistures to assist in determining fire danger during fire season on forest
Leadership
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– Became a qualified Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1)
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– Direct operations on low-complexity wildfires as an ICT5
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– Lead squads with up to 10 people in fireline tactics such as constructing handline, mop-up, and mobile
attack
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– Earned my B-Faller certification to fall complex trees on an active fireline
Administrative
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– Record and keep track of all hours allocated to specific work categories to comply with Apprenticeship
standards
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– Submitting travel vouchers for flying or driving to/from/during work details
Forestry Technician (Trails), U.S. Forest Service, Sheridan, WY
May 2022- December 2022, Full-time, GS-5
Supervisor: Justin Reimer, Forest Trails Coordinator, justin.reimer@usda.gov
I worked as a crew member on a US Forest Service trail crew in north central Wyoming. The crew lead position is vacant, so I had taken the initiative to fill roles and responsibilities of that person to ensure consistent risk management and smart work practices were in place, as well as to grow my skills as an outdoor professional. The crew is responsible for the maintenance of hundreds of miles of trails within the Bighorn National Forest and Cloud Peak Wilderness.Trail Maintenance
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– Constructing trail features such as check dams, water bars, puncheon bridges, turnpikes, and cairns.
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– Utilizing trail-building handbook
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– Using hand tools to remove vegetation and improve tread of trail.
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– Operating chainsaw to eliminate hazardous tree hang ups and logs, regularly cleaning and repairing saws.
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– Documenting information daily such as trail maintained, work completed, additional work needed
weather conditions, and identifying potential project sites. Safety
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– Coordinating groups of volunteers on volunteer trail days and briefing them on safety protocols and work plans.
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– Maintaining communications with dispatch center through radios when we are changing locations throughout the day.
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– Using risk management practices and decision-making skills to carry out safe and smart work missions. Backpacking
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– Being an expert in packing, foot care, nutrition, thermoregulation, LNT, and land navigation, in a backcountry setting during multi-day work hitches.
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– Carried bear spray and possessed knowledge in reducing risk during grizzly bear, black bear, moose and mountain lion encounters.
Awards
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– Recipient of Forest Service Safety Award for demonstrating preparedness while responding to a
mountain bike crash
Ranger, Rippling River Resort, Marquette, MI
September 2021- April 2022, Part-time
Supervisor: Jay Kennedy, 206-707-1520
I was a ranger at a campground in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My duties were based in maintaining the campground and ensuring guests receive exemplary experience.Ranger Duties
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– Enforce campground rules with guests.
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– Possessing a great amount of knowledge on nearby mountain bike trails, cross country and downhill skiing
opportunities, hiking trails, fishing sites and regulations, and
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– Assist guests by answering questions, assisting with any specific tasks, and recommending trails, local sites
and activities. Groundskeeping
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– Operating a chainsaw to remove dead trees, unwanted branches, and cutting logs used for building trail corduroy.
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– Operating a diesel Bobcat to move dirt, ash, firewood, and snow.
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– Driving plow truck to clear parking areas and pathways of snow during the winter season.
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– Testing pH and chlorine content of the pool and adding chlorine based on the test results to maintain safe
chemical levels.
Outdoor Equipment Employee, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI
February 2021- October 2021, Part-time
Supervisor: Ryan Hines, 478-456-2891
I was a student employee working for Northern Michigan University’s Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management program. The program owns an equipment room which houses the supplies that instructors and students use for their outdoor courses.Duties
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– Organize and label packs, tents, paddles, and outdoor clothing, sleeping bags
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– Repairing torn or burned gear with patches, replace broken or worn parts in whisperlite and dragonfly
camp stoves
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– Store equipment in a way that will preserve condition for future use
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– Securing kayaks and canoes to boat trailers and safely hitching them to vehicles
Forestry Technician (Fire Suppression), U.S. Forest Service, Bigfork, MT
May 2021-August 2021, Full-time, GS-4
Supervisor: Jason Keister, Engine Captain 611, Jason.keister@usda.gov
I served as a crewmember on a Type 6 engine module in northwestern Montana. My firefighting job was combined with an internship requirement for my Bachelor’s Degree. I spent most of my time fulfilling fire preparedness tasks including equipment maintenance and trainings when not on an active fireline.
Fire Suppression
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– Proficiency in starting, operating, and troubleshooting Mark III pumps, building hoselays, extinguishing
flames with hoses, and digging fireline in rugged terrain for hours at a time.
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– Felling snags, solving tree hang-ups, and bucking trees to manageable lengths after felling with chainsaw.
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– Performing holding and burning operations on prescribed burn units as well as mop-up operations.
Safety
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– Used and maintained personal protection equipment, to include hard hats, ear protection, chaps, gloves, and
eye protection to maintain safety for myself and my crew.
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– Reported any changes in fire behavior, weather, or hazardous conditions to my supervisor.
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– Applied risk management checklists from the IRPG when faced with decisions on the fireline and during
training simulations. Internship
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– Contributing to the fire program by conducting a study of firefighter mental health by gathering data from all fire personnel on my district, analyzing data and creating a report to submit to the agency and to fulfill my bachelor’s degree internship requirement.
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– Set weekly goals that work toward long-term internship goals.
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– Seek out additional training opportunities to highlight my season as a firefighter
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– Submit detailed and thoughtful weekly reflections to advisor, showing which goals I had worked towards.
Forestry Aid (Fire Suppression), Bureau of Land Management, Burley, ID
May 2020- August 2020, Full-time, GS-3
Supervisor: Jeff Bedke, Fire Operations Supervisor, 208-677-6715
I served as a crewmember on an engine in south central Idaho. Throughout the season, I filled in as an FFT2 on five different engines to include Type 4’s and a Type 3 Super Heavy. My main duty was to suppress wildfires on or threatening BLM land while also maintaining fire equipment and facilities. Fuels commonly worked in were sagebrush/grassland.Fire Suppression
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– Performed wildland fire duties including suppression, preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and
mopup.
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– Dug handline to secure and contain the fire perimeter.
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– Used pumps and assisted other crew members in pump and roll and operations.
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– Used standard firefighting tools to include Pulaskis, shovels, McLeod’s, chainsaws, drip torches, and
fusees to perform suppression duties. Equipment Maintenance
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– Performed daily engine and equipment checks.
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– Performed preventative maintenance on engine apparatus, as well as equipment and tools used in fire
suppression.
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Teamwork
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– Reported all accidents and injuries to my supervisor, showing competency with the reporting process.
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– Filled in as an FFT2 on a Type 2IA crew.
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– I demonstrated leadership values and principles by providing positive influence and emphasizing teamwork
through actions, encouraging words, and being proficient in all my duties.
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– Ensured compliance with all safety practices and procedures for myself and those around me so that no
incidents would occur.
Grounds Crew Member, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI
May 2019- November 2020, Full-time
Supervisor: Andy Smith, Operations Manager, 906-227-1328
My primary duty is to mow campus lawns and ensure that the equipment used in the job is in proper working order. It is required that we work in all types of temperatures and weather throughout the year. A typical day’s duties vary but I carry out duties independently at times as well as in groups of coworkers.
Groundskeeping
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– Using a variety of tools to complete grounds maintenance, such as hard rakes, shovels, brooms and hand
rakes.
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– Knowing and using proper PPE according to each task.
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– Operating lawn mower and maintaining mechanical parts to ensure proper working order.
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– Working with high attention to detail to fulfill goals for the grounds determined by my supervisor. Some
duties included turning mulch, pulling weeds from flower beds and rock gardens, and pruning branches.
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– Carrying out extensive spring clean-up duties which include raking leaves, picking up litter, and shoveling
sand out of parking lots.
Maple Farm Technician, Mackinac Bluffs Maple, Pickford, MI
December 2019- May 2020, Part-time
Supervisor: Lindy Hunt, Production Manager, 231-833-0296
I performed the unique duties related to the production of maple syrup. The types of work changes between seasons, so in the winter I worked in bottling and packaging of syrup, and in the spring I took part in the de-tapping process in preparation for the following syrup season.Field Work
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– Performed end of season cleaning and maintenance procedures specific to hardwood maple farming.
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– Conduct thorough walkthrough of maple bush, navigating harsh terrain to inspect every tree.
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– Remove all taps in trees and cleaning the sap lines with peroxide in preparation for the following maple
season.
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– Driving ATV’s and UTVs through trail system and having to navigate through rocks, mud, fallen trees, and
steep slopes.
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– Working outdoors in all types of weather.
Bottling Operations
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– Preparing for a day of bottling syrup by sanitizing all surfaces with diluted bleach solution.
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– Pumping syrup from barrels to electric steam kettle to prepare for the bottling process and taking
temperatures of the syrup to determine if it is ready for the next step.
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– Carefully transferring hot syrup to individual bottles in a quick and organized fashion.
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– Capped, labeled, and tamper-proofed bottles so they are ready for packaging and storing.
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– Following food safety procedures and organic compliance to meet high product standard.
Student Manager, Northern Michigan University Concessions, Marquette, MI
September 2018-April 2020, Part-time
Supervisor: Randy Keough, Operations Manager, 906-362-3675
As a student manager, I had a I was to arrive my concessions stand before others, sanitize surfaces, prepare food items and organize merchandise. I had the duty of training all workers in my stand.Managerial tasks
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– Delegating tasks among workers in my stand when preparing to open the stand and clean-up after closing
the stand.
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– Practicing integrity in difficult situations involving incompetent customers and misbehaving employees.
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– Training new employees on how to operate grill, cash register, anf other machines and expressing the
importance of customer interactions.
Current Qualifications
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Qualified Firefighter Type 1, FFT1(Q), August 2023
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Qualified Intermediate Faller (FAL2), August 2023
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American Heart Association Basic Life Support, May 2023
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Wilderness First Responder, December 2021
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National Association for Interpretation Certified Guide (CIG) 2021
Additional Training
First Aid and Safety:
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Behavioral First Responder, April 2020
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ATV Safety Institute ATV/UTV course, May 2022
Fire & Aviation:
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Incident Commander Type 5 Trainee, ICT5(T), July 2022
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Resource Advisor Trainee, READ(T), June 2023
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Helicopter Crewmember Trainee, HECM(T), June 2023
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S-130 Firefighter Training, May 2020
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S-131 Firefighter Type 1 Training, June 2021
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S-190 Intro Wildland Fire Behavior, May 2020
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S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws, May 2021
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S-215 Fire Ops in Urban Interface, June 2023
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S-260 Interagency Business Management, February 2023
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S-270 Basic Air Operations, June 2023
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S-271 Helicopter Crewmember, June 2023
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S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior, April 2023
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L-180 Human Factors in Wildland Fire Service, May 2020
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L-280 Fellowship to Leadership, May 2021
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ICS-100 Intro to Incident Command System, May 2020
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IS-200 Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response,
September 2022
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IS-700 Intro to National Incident Management System, April 2020
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A-100 Basic Aviation Safety, February 2023
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A-109 Aviation Radio Use, February 2023
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A-115 Automated Flight Following, February 2023
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A-218 Aircraft Pre-Use Inspection, March 2023
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N-9042 Resource Advisor, June 2023
Other:
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Geospatial Technology and Applications Center (GTAC)
Training, 2023
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ArcGIS Online, Field Maps, Survey 123, 2023
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NMU Belay Certified, October 2021
Memberships
USA Powerlifting (USAPL), 2023
Buffalo Wyoming Community Ice Rink, 2022 Bowhunters of Wyoming, 2022
Wilderness Education Association (WEA), 2021 National Association for Interpretation (NAI), 2021
Other
Presentations and Publications
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– Guest lecture on wildland and prescribed fire for undergraduate Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management course, University of Wyoming, November 2023
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– Presentation on professional experience working with government agencies, Northern Michigan University, Internship Preparation and Professional Awareness Class, November 2022
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– Article published in UP200 Magazine, volunteer dogsledding experience, March 2022
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– Designing a new trail map for Noquemanon Trail Network Saux Head Ski Trail system Additional Education
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– Design Thinking Workshop, 2022
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– Wilderness Education Association Virtual Conference, 2021
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– Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative Webinar Series, 2020
Continued Athletic Achievements
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– Wyoming State Deadlift record, Junior Raw 67.5kg weight class, USAPL, November 2023
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– 2023 USA Powerlifting Wyoming State Championships 1st place women’s 67.5kg weight class
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– 2023 USA Powerlifting Wyoming State Championships 3rd place women’s overall by formula
References
Dr. Ryan K. Hines, Assistant Professor, Northern Michigan University, 478-456-2891, rhines@nmu.edu Dr. Jacquie Medina, Professor, Northern Michigan University, 906-227-1615, jamedina@nmu.edu Janos Czaban, Engine Captain, Bighorn National Forest, USFS, 307-259-4075, janos.czaban@usda.gov Dr. Scott Jordan, Associate Professor, Northern Michigan University, 906-227-1136, scjordan@nmu.edu Michael Delleman, Coach, Northern Michigan University, 715-340-8169, mdellema@nmu.edu