Benjamin Buffa
Casper
Summary
Professional leader with experience guiding teams to achieve outstanding results. Skilled in team collaboration, problem-solving, and adapting to changing needs. Strong focus on operational efficiency, project management, and effective communication. Known for reliability, flexibility, and fostering productive work environment.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Timber Stand Improvement Crew Lead
The Great Basin Institute
03.2025 - 10.2025
- Performed contract inspection on reforestation efforts totaling over 3000 acres of post fire plantation
- Trained and mentored new crew members on various forestry operations including USFS radio protocols, use of Avenza, Plot collections for herbicide coverage, stand density, conifer regeneration and harvestable seed trees, fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Supervised daily operations, ensuring adherence to safety protocols and organizational standards.
- Use of Chainsaws to fell and buck hazard trees at the B feller level of complexity
- Coordinated reforestation projects, ensuring compliance with environmental regulation
- Use of heavy duty 4x4 2500 truck with utility bed for transportation of crew and equipment to and from project sites on and off road..
- Use of various vehicle rigging techniques in conjunction with chainsaws and heavy duty trucks to clear over 15 miles of fire damaged USFS roads
- Marked over 1000 acres of units for a timber sale
- Acted as a Visual Observer (VO) in the operation and experimentation of USFS Unmanned Ariel System's to map out post fire treatments and survey for efficacy
FUELS CREW MEMBER
Great Basin Institute
03.2024 - 02.2025
- Successfully burned 300+ acres
- Use of chainsaw to buck and fell trees and clear thick brush
- Monitor and chunks burn piles
- Use of drip torches to ignite burn piles
- Use of hand tools, hose lays and backpack pumps to mop up understory and pile burns
- Digging handline in various terrain
- Use of variety of hand tools including a Mcleod, Chingadera, Pulaski and Ax
- Constructed hoselays to wrap burn units up to 50 acres
- Use of MK3 waterpump
SNOWMAKER I
Steamboat Ski Resort
10.2023 - 01.2024
- Use of various snowmaking cannons
- Constructed hose lays of 2” hose
- Worked in extreme environments including whiteout conditions, below zero temperatures, steep icy hills and chest deep snow
- Rode Snowmobiles on extreme terrain in less than ideal conditions
- Worked with and around 2” hoses with pressures upwards of 800lbs and 2” water hoses with pressures upwards of 300lbs
- Made snow on 173 ski runs
MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
Let'er Buck Car Wash
08.2021 - 05.2023
- Operate POS system
- Enroll monthly memberships
- Load cars onto Carwash while maintaining a safe environment in the car wash tunnel at all times
- Scheduled Maintenance on equipment
- Repairs, Installation and Rebuilding equipment including but not limited to brushes, blowers, 110v and 220v motors, hydraulic systems, air compressors, electrical, Vacuums, pumps, and HVAC
- Welding
- Electrical Work
- Operate and pull 700 gallon vacuum trailer
- Maintained safe working environment utilizing personal protective equipment.
- Prioritized work orders for service maintenance requests.
- Documented maintenance activities and results in accordance with company standards.
CREW LEADER
Idaho Conservation Corps
03.2022 - 09.2022
- Coordinate with project partners to assure project get done within a timeframe with acceptable quality of work
- Assure crew members maintain high morale and good mental health
- Assure crew is getting good healthy meals within the given budget
- Teach crew members how to do maintenance on variety of tools
- Track hours worked and amount of work completed daily
- Inventory of tools and equipment in the field
- Applied first aid skills for injuries in the field and coordinated with field staff on the next steps to be taken
- Complete conservation projects throughout Idaho and Oregon including front country and backcountry projects
- Participate in crew lifestyle including cooking, water treatment, and tool maintenance
- Tread and Corridor trail work
- Invasive Fuels Reduction on private and commercial property
MANAGER/ SKI AND BIKE TECHNICIAN
Play It Again Sports
05.2020 - 08.2021
- Opened and closed store
- Ensured tills were accurate and made daily deposit
- Counted and received inventory
- Assured customer satisfaction at all times
- Assisted customers with rental forums
- Help customers find gear that fit properly and suited their needs best
- Operated POS system
- Priced and bought used sports gear and insured it was all in good working order
SERVERS ASSISTANT
Red Lobster
09.2019 - 10.2020
- Greet incoming and departing Guests warmly with a genuine smile and eye contact; escort them to assigned dining area; present menus; announce waiter's name
- Use visual cues to seat Guests in either the bar or dining area depending on their preference
- Inform Guest of current promotion and who will be serving them to ensure a smooth handoff to the service staff
- Answer incoming calls to the restaurant and provide appropriate service
- Manage the flow of Guests into the Dining and Bar areas, provide accurate wait times to incoming Guests if appropriate
- Tend to special Guest needs and requests
- Observant to Guests’ needs throughout dining experience to ensure they receive high quality service (i.e Notice a drink refill is needed while seating another Guest and ensuring the drink is refilled prior to getting back to the door)
- Protect establishment and patrons by adhering to sanitation, safety and alcohol control policies
- Help dining room staff by setting and clearing tables; replenishing water; serving beverages
MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR
Camp Buffalo Bill
06.2019 - 08.2019
- Instructed multiple classes including emergency preparedness, wilderness survival and first aid
- Guided a new troop of scouts around camp every week
- Assisted in the prep and serving of food while maintaining a safe clean environment
- Lead new class of students on overnight wilderness survival camp out weekly to practice skills learned in class
Education
High School Diploma -
Kelly Walsh High School
Skills
- Ski at advanced-expert level
- GPS navigation
- Herbicide application
- Reforestation techniques
- Prescribed burning
- Tree identification
- Chainsaw operation
- Timber cruise methods
- Mechanical troubleshooting
Certification
- Driver's License
- USFS B Sawyer Bucking/Felling
- S-130
- IS-700.B
- L180
- Wilderness First Aid
- Red Card
- S-190
- IS-100.C
Timeline
Timber Stand Improvement Crew Lead
The Great Basin Institute
03.2025 - 10.2025
FUELS CREW MEMBER
Great Basin Institute
03.2024 - 02.2025
SNOWMAKER I
Steamboat Ski Resort
10.2023 - 01.2024
CREW LEADER
Idaho Conservation Corps
03.2022 - 09.2022
MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
Let'er Buck Car Wash
08.2021 - 05.2023
MANAGER/ SKI AND BIKE TECHNICIAN
Play It Again Sports
05.2020 - 08.2021
SERVERS ASSISTANT
Red Lobster
09.2019 - 10.2020
MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR
Camp Buffalo Bill
06.2019 - 08.2019
High School Diploma -
Kelly Walsh High School