Joshua Wurtz

• Effective team lead member on a crew that designs, builds, and maintains numerous landscape procedures including soil erosion techniques, surface water mitigation, landscape construction (swales, runoff mitigation, rock walls, demolition), and vegetation seeding. I regularly assess job sites with project managers and developed plans to effectively achieve tasks. In addition, I fill supervisory positions and lead a crew of four landscape laborers to achieve the project.
• Delivered effective troubleshoot solutions for various soil, lawn, water, and landscape challenges in commercial and residential settings. Applied best management practices to achieve desired outcomes.
• Collaborated and coordinated with customers and project managers to ensure timely project completion.
• Inspect projects after installation to ensure quality standards were met.
• Demonstrated proficiency in operating construction equipment such as skid loaders, tractors, hydroseeders, chainsaws, and concrete saws on a regular basis.

Supervisor: Dale Larson. Contact Supervisor: Yes

Dale Larson: 785-770-7818

• Implemented effective environmental management principles while instructing two laboratory courses at Kansas State University for a combined total of 45 undergraduate students. Covered topics such as soil management, grassland preservation, and woodland conservation. Courses are titled 1) Advanced Wildlife Habitat Management (WOEM 562) and 2) Big Game Management (WOEM 555).
• My teaching appointment included weekly outdoor lab sections where I led sessions covering soil erosion technique, mapping, plant and wildlife species identification, land use management techniques, and habitat requirements for various species.
• Taught equipment operations for tractors, skid-steers and attachment's, and chainsaws, as well as prescribed burning operations.
• Communicated, coordinated, and planned with professors for lab activity content by discussing most effective teaching techniques and timeline for lab sections
• Developed online quizzes and other assessments to evaluate student understanding of course material.

Supervisors: Dr. Drew Ricketts and Dr. Joe Gerkin

Contact Supervisors: Yes

Dr. Drew RIcketts: 785-307-3831

Dr. Joe Gerkin: 785-477-41560

• Graduate research assistant using project and environmental management, statistical analysis, and research skills for an an ongoing 10-year ecological restoration project on Kansas State University's property to restore a 145 acre woodland using common forestry treatments, and assessed vegetation responses post and pre treatment.
• Responsibilities included leading four technicians in procedures for collecting field and site data and statistical analysis on 10 years of ecological data. Field data collection entailed identification of plant species for two years as a graduate student and using statical methods to analyze data for publication.
• Prepared a 90-page peer reviewed thesis document that encompassed my research regarding environmental management which was accepted an published into Kansas State University's Research and Extension publication journal.
• Assisted in water quality and macroinvertebrates research projects for Kansas State University on government properties to reduce streambank erosion and improve water quality by installing revetments and monitoring erosion and water quality.
• Presented all findings at three state conferences and one national conference.
• Currently in the process of preparing two publications documents in two journals.

Supervisors: Dr. Drew Ricketts and Dr. Charles Barden

Contact Supervisors: Yes

Dr. Drew Ricketts: 785-307-3831

Dr. Charles Barden: 785-770-0069

• Executed successful natural resource management on government-owned grasslands, wetlands, and woodlands covering an extensive area of 6,000 acres following the guidelines outlined in the National Environmental Policy Act.
• Gathered project's water samples from varying depths to conduct tests
• Followed and enforced safety procedures at the project by public communication
• Patrolled government properties for public safety by performing on site evaluations of waste materials to confirm compliance with federal environmental regulations
• Collected and analyzed data for visitor use to ensure compliance with government rules and regulations and communicated with law enforcement when needed
• Communicated and educated the public to ensure resources were being managed properly to provide a safe public environment
• Used mapping procedures to maintain trail and landscape features on government properties.

Supervisor: Brad Cox. Contact Supervisor: Yes

Brad Cox: 785-817-1400

• Provided natural resource and environmental management on state, public, and private properties funded by the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) during a winter break position.
• Reviewed resource management plans and effectively implemented them using natural resource management techniques
• Coordinated with landowners and state biologists to ensure project goals were being achieved effectively and on time.

Supervisor: Luke Terry. Contact Supervisor: Yes

Luke Terry: 785-547-7777

• Assisted in residential demolition and remodeling on interior and exterior projects. I regularly cleaned and prepared construction sites by removing debris and hazards. In addition, I built forms for pouring concrete foundations and slabs.
• Loaded and unloaded building materials for new construction builds.
• Led small crews on flooring and decking projects on residential houses.

Supervisor: Jed Swicegood. Contact Supervisor: Yes

Jed Swicegood: 785-313-6295

• Efficiently provided proper land management for a diverse range of 1,200 acres including row crops, native grass, and brome. Proficiently operated tractors, bailers, swathers, and rakes to efficiently mow and store round bales for cattle feeding.
• Contributed to the execution of cow/calf management procedures.
• Contributed to the implementation of prescribed burns across over 1,000 acres of grassland, resulting in improved forage quality for grazing purposes.
• Pulled and maneuvered dual axle trailers for the transportation of cattle and round bales.

Supervisor: Winston Amick. Contact Supervisor: Yes

Winston Amick: 785-410-0052