I have been a Right of Way Agent with Peak Land Services for almost a year now after a decade in the arborcultural field. As a Certified Arborist, I’ve worked a multitude of projects including being involved with the Vegetation Management department for a very large utility. To my surprise, a lot of the skills I gained as a Vegetation Management Inspector have translated to my work as a Right of Way Agent. Speaking to new people, explaining complex scopes of work, navigating the multiple departments within my current project, among others. It really shows how individuals from a diverse background can feel right at home as a Right of Way Agent.
One of the best things about my new role is being able to save trees instead of marking them for removal. With the project I am currently working on, the amount of trees that will need to be removed or trimmed over time will decrease drastically. These residents move to rural communities for a lot of reasons – one of them being their trees! It feels great to be able to address the issues that high wildfire risk communities face from a perspective that will still maintain the natural beauty of their properties.
-R. Johnson