This 'Guy' is Milwaukee County's first Trails Coordinator
Recreation Resources Management graduate, Guy Smith, finds his new position challenging and exciting.

Guy Smith scouts out a new hiking trail in Kohl Park, located in northwestern Milwaukee County.

Guy Smith's (B.S. 2003) employment path has led him to Milwaukee, where he is Trails Coordinator for the Milwaukee County Park System. In fact, he is the first person in that park system's history to hold this position. Guy's job responsibilities break down into two broad categories-planning and operations. The planning portion of his job includes work with landscape architects and engineers in preparation for current and upcoming bike trail construction projects. Just as in Madison, interest in biking in Milwaukee is growing. He also prepares grant proposals to fund projects and maps out long-term planning and maintenance for all types of trails in the county.

On the operations side, he cosupervises a trails/natural areas crew that maintains nature trails, bike trails, and natural areas; propagates native plants; and monitors Conservation Reserve Program properties. Says Guy, "This position can be very exciting and I definitely keep myself busy; plus I work with some great people." He adds that it can also at times be frustrating wading through the required protocol and procedures, but understands the reasons they are in place.

Thinking back to his days at the UW-Madison, Guy says he recalls a lot of good experiences that helped shape the direction of his career, including his involvement with the Forestry Club, the personal attention from his professors in all of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) departments, and his exposure to various ownerships, forests, and parks during the department's "Spring Trip" to the southern U.S. He also distributes kudos to Dane County Parks, where he had an internship as well as subsequent positions. Guy attributes the UW Madison's connections with Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Tennessee and Kentucky to helping him obtain an apprenticeship there following graduation.

Guy suggests current students take advantage of all the expertise available to them in CALS. "Remember, you are not a number in CALS... the faculty and staff know your name, want you to be successful, and want strong, contributing graduates and alumni," says Guy. He also suggests students take summer jobs in their area of interest. "Do not work at a fast food restaurant or similar job because you think the money is better or the job is easier. A student with real world experience in his or her field is way ahead of the game," says Guy. He also feels that students who are active in clubs and associations like the Society of American Foresters and Wisconsin Parks and Recreation Association will have a career advantage by staying abreast of new developments in their field as well as reaping networking benefits. Guy is speaking from experience when he makes these suggestions; these are the actions that have directed his career path to a place he wants to be.