UMLMWS
PRESS RELEASE
Matthew
D. Watkeys Receives Commercial Pesticide License
Matthew D. Watkeys, Staff Forester with Upper Michigan Land Management
& Wildlife Services, Inc. received his State of
Michigan Commercial Pesticide License
, Category 2 (Forestry) in April of 2008.
To become a Certified Commercial
Pesticide applicator within the State of Michigan, a person or business must be
18 years of age or older and must pass a minimum of two exams; 1. The general
standard exam (CORE); and 2. A minimum of one category and/or subcategory
exam in the applicant’s area of pesticide application. In addition, the
person shall annually complete Commercial Core Credits and Subcatagory Credits
of Continuing Education.
The Commercial Pesticide License Category 2 (Forestry) allows the
application of herbicides on forestry lands.
The herbicides applied are specific to site conditions and land
management goals. Herbicides can be
applied for site preparation prior to tree planting and applied over the top of
established plantations to release from competing unwanted woody and non-woody
vegetation.
Matt was born and raised in suburban
Detroit
,
Michigan
and later moved to
Traverse City
,
Michigan
. Upon his graduation from
Traverse City
Senior High School
, Matt moved to
Indiana
where he met is future wife, Tina in addition to purchasing and running a
landscaping business. In 1999, Matt graduated Cum Laude from
Vincennes
University
with an Associates Degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources. In 2001, Matt
graduated from
Michigan
State
University
with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry. From there, Matt and his wife,
Tina traveled to the Ozarks of Missouri where he worked as a subcontractor for
the United States Forest Service. In 2002, Matt and his wife, Tina moved to the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan where Matt continued subcontracting work for the
Ottawa
National Forest
. From 2003-2006, Matt worked as a Substitute Teacher for the Ishpeming Area
Public Schools. In 2006, Matt began working as a Chemistry Lab Instructor for
Northern
Michigan
University
where is still finds time to teach evening classes. In 2007, Matt was hired as
Staff Forester for Upper Michigan Land Management & Wildlife Services, Inc.
of Escanaba, Michigan where he is responsible for forest planning, timber sale
administration, timber cruising, EAB data collection, tree planting and wildlife
habitat improvement. Matt, his wife Tina and their dogs, Floyd and Charlie
currently reside in Ishpeming.
1705 4th Avenue North
,
Escanaba
,
Michigan
49829
Phone: (906)
786-3488 Fax:
(906) 233-9548 Cell:
(906) 235-0369 (906) 235-0131
Dean R. Francis: dean@michiganforesters.com
James T. Green:
todd@michiganforesters.com
Matthew D.
Watkeys:
matt@michiganforesters.com
Website:
www.michiganforesters.com