PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE: Representing private, State and Federal forest landowners with all aspects of forest management and stewardship contracting.
EDUCATION: B.S. in Resource Management, 1979, School of Forestry, University of Montana
WORK EXPERIENCE:
7/95 to present- President of Ottman Forestry Consultant’s Inc., Missoula, MT.
2/93 to 7/95- Timber Manager, Missoula White Pine Sash Company, Missoula, MT.
1/80 to 2/93- Champion International, Missoula, MT.
-Forester, Potomac District 100,000 acre region, Blackfoot River unit: harvest 80MMBF/year
-Forester, Clark Fork District, east and west of Missoula 115,000 acre region: harvest 75MMBF/year
-Forester, Hellgate District, Garnet Range: 95,000 acre region: Harvest 85MMBF/year
-Logging Supervisor, Twin Creeks Logging Camp Lower Blackfoot region.
7/95 to present: Ottman Forestry Consultant’s Inc.
-The mission of Ottman Forestry Consultant’s Inc. (OFCI) is to represent non industrial private forest landowners (NIPF), with knowledge, science, technology and practice of resource use to achieve landowners stewardship objectives as well as benefit all of society; to establish professional excellence; and, to use a conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the continued health and use of forest ecosystems for future generations.
-OFCI was established in July of 1995 from ground zero. Since conception, approximately 165,000 acres of forest land, along with a total land base of over 400,000 acres have been represented in Montana and Idaho. These acres represent over 45 large landowners along with 100 plus small landowners. The business employs over 100 independent contractors to perform all types of land stewardship tasks.
-OFCI responsibilities to my clients include the following; writing silvicultural prescriptions, log marketing, road development and maintenance, tree planting, prescribe burns on large landscapes, all methods of harvesting, brush disposal, timber cruising, stand exams, all types of appraisal work, land trades, road r/w agreements, stream crossings permitting. Until the year 2009, the annual harvest for Montana was 26MMBF of saw logs, 25,000 tons of pulp wood, 4,000 tons of post and pole material and 2,000 tons of house logs. Approximately 40% of the volume was harvested with the cut to length system, 35% with conventional systems, with the remaining 25% either helicopter or skyline harvested. All projects meet State of Montana BMP and SMZ planning and a minimum of 2 projects per year were randomly audited through out the State. Over the last 10 years, all projects were within 98% compliance, with the remaining 2% as a minor deviation without any resource impact. Logging systems and designs were developed by OFCI to meet the objectives of the landowners.
My silvicultural prescriptions of, uneven aged management, with low impact harvesting and log marketing direct to the mills, has allowed OFCI to build this great company.
STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS COMPLETED AND OR IN PROGRESS
-Marks Ranch & Lumber was awarded the 10 year BLM Stewardship WUI Restoration Contract in the Helena area. OFCI was hired to assist Marks in all areas of the contract. OFCI has completed the first 2 years and is starting its third this year 2012. If project is fully funded over 10 years, it will treat over 30,000 acres.
-Awarded and completed the Montana DNRC Jump Start 1 (Missoula Area) Urban Interface Fuels reduction (700 acres). Grant $200,000
-Awarded and completed the Montana DNRC Jump Start 2 (Helena Area) Urban Interface Fuels reduction (850 acres). Grant $350,000
-On going range and timber stand improvement grants with the NRCS offices in Deer Lodge, Missoula, Lewis & Clark and Jefferson Counties within Montana. All Montana landowners within these counties.
-Completed in 2007, a 5 year NRCS range land restoration project in Lincoln Montana on the Sieben Ranch: owners John and Nina Baucus. This grant was with the NRCS out of Lewis & Clark County. 1,200 acres
-Completed in 2009, the Montana FWP project on the Grady Ranch to improve Aspen, timber and range land. 1,000 acres plus
-Completed stewardship contracts with the Dutton Hereford Ranch and Ottman Family Trust (3,800 acres): Once completed, a conservation easement with the RMEF was placed on both properties. This provided key elk winter range and travel corridor for all wildlife to move from the Blackfoot area to the Clark Fork region during a heavy snow year.
-Represent my clients across the State of Montana and Idaho, with exchanges/easements such as: land, road right of way, 1031 land exchange with the private individuals, USFS, State of Montana DNRC & FWP, BLM, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and The Nature Conservancy.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
-Certified Forester (CF #2642) through Society of American Foresters. SAF requires continued education in forestry to obtain credits to maintain the CF Status. Member of SAF since 1979.
-Negotiation Skills, Missoula Montana: Advanced Negotiation Skills, Eugene OR.
-Confrontation Skills, Libby MT.
-Managing Fire Effects, Northern Training Center Missoula, MT.
-Team Building and Participative Management courses over a 3 year period. One course on employee/supervisor relationships and the other for salaried staff/senior management relations.
-State of Montana BMP and SMZ workshops. Every year/on going
-Fire Training, First Aid through the Montana Logging Association.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
-Society of American Foresters member for over 30 years
-Advisory Board for the U of M College of Forestry and Conservation 2010-2013.
-State Chairman for Montana State Society of American Foresters. 2003-2005
-Chairman for the Missoula Chapter of SAF in 2001.
-Member of the Montana Wood Products, Montana Logging Associations and Intermountain Logging Conference. On going.
-Board of Director for Bitterroot Valley Bank: As the Family of Banks 2005 to present.
-Life member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and North American Wild Sheep Federation.
-Member of the Swan Ecosystem Center. On going.
RECENT AWARDS & RECOGNITION
-District IV - Society of American Foresters (SAF) Presidential Field Forester 2006
-Montana State SAF Field Forester of the Year 2006
-2004 state of Montana Chairman for the National non-profit organization Society of American Foresters (SAF)
-Montana Wood Products Association's one-time Presidential Award- A True Friend of the Industry. John was the first recipient of this award in 2002.
-Certificate Foresters Classification from the Society of American Foresters
-"Devil's Kitchen" wildlife habitat improvement work was recognized in a Fair Chase article, the Boone and Crockett Club's quarterly magazine.