Podcasts

Season 6 | Forestry Consultants | Episode 8

#93 | Be proud of what you’re doing in the woods; dirt forestry needs to make a return

January 2, 2019 | Matt Dowdy, ACF

Matt Dowdy, ACF, is a forestry consultant who started his own company, Dowdy’s Forest & Land Management, a full-service forest consulting firm based in Louisa, Virginia, in 2007. A graduate of Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Forest Business, Matt has 26 years of forestry consulting experience, and he remains an active leader and lynchpin in many forestry and natural resource associations, including the Association of Consulting Foresters, the Society of American Foresters, the Virginia Forestry Association, the Quality Deer Management Association, and the American Tree Farm System. Not only does he help others practice good forestry, his family owns almost 580 acres of timberland near his home that they actively manage for timber, wildlife, and recreation. Listen to this episode now and find out what’s it like to be your own boss, lessons Matt wished he’d learned sooner, and where the future of forestry is headed.

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:45] A quick intro about Matt’s background.

[3:10] How did Matt get into forestry?

[4:45] What was Matt’s first job like?

[7:10] Matt shares what he likes about being a forestry consultant.

[8:35] What kinds of lessons has Matt learned along the way that surprised him?

[9:25] As a forestry consultant, you’re pretty much a middleman, working on behalf of your client.

[10:55] How does Matt work with clients who don’t know what they want?

[12:25] What kinds of challenges has Matt faced so far?

[13:25] Matt shares some of his first leadership experiences and the lessons he learned.

[16:00] Even though Matt is the owner of his own business, his clients are really his boss!

[19:40] What kinds of mentors has Matt had over the years?

[21:20] What makes a good forestry consultant?

[22:45] Matt shares some of his wisdom for aspiring forestry consultants.

[23:05] Where is the future of forestry headed for the younger generation?

[29:25] What has Matt’s experience at ACF been like?

[34:35] Once you realize you’re wasting your time, move on!

Mentioned in This Episode:
Matt’s Website: wwwDowdysforest.com
ACF’s Website: ACF-foresters.org
SAF’s Website: Eforester.org
Resources Mentioned: The Movie, Gladiator (2000)