Contributed by Leon W. Ben, Jr., Member, Advisory Council, School of Forestry, NAU (SoF Class of 1994)
As part of the planning committee for the Tribal Forestry Student Summit, the decision to postpone the summit to 2021 was a difficult decision to make. Part of my thought process as we discussed the options available to us was the benefits of having an in-person summit. As this summit is not held every year, I felt if it moved to a virtual platform, the attendees would miss out on an opportunity to meet new people who have a shared passion for forestry.
I supported the planning committee’s decision to postpone the summit to the fall 2021 as I feel the students need to be afforded the opportunity to meet other forestry students from across the country. In addition, I felt that the summit would be a great way for students to meet potential employers. Being able to sit down and share a meal or take time to visit face to face is a great opportunity for attendees. It allows for meeting new people, catching up with friends and sharing new ideas.
Networking is great but requires some effort to develop and maintain professional relationships. In my professional career, I am fortunate to have the ability to pick up the phone and call folks in my network to share ideas and thoughts.
Taking the time to develop your network will pay off as you progress through your career. Networking can lead to a new job and provide references as you apply for jobs. Current college students need to develop their network while still in school and should have a good network prior to graduation.
I have been a member of the School of Forestry’s Advisory Council since 2014. I am currently a federal government employee with over 22 years of service. I know having an established network has been critical to my professional career.
I look forward to attending the summit in person on the campus of Northern Arizona University. I’m anxious to meet the latest group of future tribal forestry professionals. Please continue to stay safe.
