ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM
We have a diverse group of environmental specialists with TimberNorth Consulting. With such a large team holding a diverse skill set, we are confident in getting the job done efficiently and fluently.
Mike Pozniak, RPFT
Field Services Consultant
Mike has a varied background in forestry, land use, fire, oil and gas, and sand and gravel dating back to 1968. His considerable field experience encompasses firefighting as a sector boss on over 400 fires, silviculture (planting supervision, site prep), timber cruising, permanent sample plot establishment (PSP) and re-measurement, temporary sample plot measurements, logging and road building foreman, land-use specialist in sand and gravel (Surface Material Exploration -SME, Surface Material Lease -SML, Conservation and Reclamation Business Plan - CRBP, Site Information Form - SIF, Environmental Field Report - EFR), reclamation, cut block layout, road engineering, trapper (nuisance wildlife removal) and ice bridge construction.
Mike is currently co-owner of TimberNorth and has been a consultant to the forestry and energy sector industry for the past 40 years. Recently Mike has been consulting to the sand and gravel industry as well as government PSP re-measurement contracts.
Erin Wilde, BSc Bio, PBiol
Environmental Technician
Erin has her biology from the University of Regina as well as her diploma (with honours) in Biological Sciences in Renewable Resources from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). Erin is a member in good standing with the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists. As both a professional and a member of the community, Erin belongs to a variety of local conservation and land management associations and has spent her professional career working for both provincial and private clients. With an academic and professional focus on natural resource management, Erin has been involved in a suite of both terrestrial and aquatic projects including fisheries operations, wetland assessments, and wildlife surveys. Currently, she works for TimberNorth as a senior field technologist and is heavily involved in both harvest layout operations and re-measurement and maintenance of survey plots for both the provincial government and private clients.
Brandon Wentzell, RPFT
Field Services Coordinator
Brandon is the Field Services Coordinator for TimberNorth. His duties include the quality control and coordination of the field crew, workload and supplies needed to carry out our field services.
Brandon graduated from the Maritime College of Forest Technology in 2008 where he received his Forest Technology Diploma.
After graduation, Brandon launched his career in northern Alberta working in the natural resource sector and has since gained a wealth of knowledge. His skills include project management, supervision, quality control and data collection. Brandon is a registered member of the College of Alberta Professional Forest Technologists where he holds an excellent standing in continuing education and professional enhancement. He has attended a wide variety of courses during his tenure with TimberNorth to further his skills including safety courses and environmental training courses. Brandon is an active member of TimberNorth's safety committee and works hard to promote and maintain a safe workplace.
Laressa Gauthier, RPFT
Senior Harvest Planner
Laressa has a Technician Diploma in Forestry and Biological Science (Renewable Resources) from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She has over 10 years of experience in the natural resource sector working for both private consulting firms and provincial government agencies. Her field-based accomplishments include Permanent Sample Plot (PSP) establishment and re-measurements, Temporary Sample Plot (TSP) measurements, understorey plot re-measurements, Alberta regeneration surveys transitioning to PSPs (ATP) establishment/measurements, and quality control of each of these. Laressa has also gained extensive skills in ecosite classification, vegetation surveys, and electofishing surveys.
Currently Laressa is a senior harvest planner at TimberNorth and her technological experience comprises a spectrum of areas including map development using ArcMap, data management for sample plots, harvest planning preparation and reporting and understorey block protection development. As an active member of the safety committee, she also has background in safety incident investigation and is a WHMIS instructor.