Nathan Harless
Meally,USA
Summary
Dedicated and skilled professional with a strong work ethic in heavy equipment operation, mechanics, and biology. Thrives in physically demanding environments and excels in long workdays. Family-oriented with a passion for the outdoors and Motorsports, driven to provide for loved ones by consistently delivering top-notch performance.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Program services supervisor / Park Naturalist
Kentucky department of parks
06.2023 - Current
- Supervises, research, plans, coordinates, and executes recreational and interpretive programs.
- Supervises, researches, plans and develops interpretive and/or recreational programs to inform the public of natural history, cultural and recreational features of a state park. Coordinated staff and recommends programs which develop the full potential of the park’s resources.
- Schedules and supervises recreational staff.
- Prepares reports and maintains records of interpretive and recreational programs, activities etc.
- Maintains inventory of equipment and supplies.
- Inspects and maintains recreational equipment and facilities.
- Promotes programs, special events and park and maintains public relations.
- Preforms other duties as assigned.
- Frequently communicate in person or by other means of technology
- Trail maintenance, herbicide license N3 forest . Weedeat, spray, cut trees hand dig trails and use of excavators tractors to build trails
- Lead group hikes and interprets the natural resources of the park.
- Assist with maintenance issues when needed.
- Summer programing with youth groups, teaching and leading them in arts and crafts and activities
- Leads elk tours and interprets the history of elk in KY
- Leads groups on tours of Dewey Lake and tell about the history of the lake
- Assist in working the campground when needed.
- Assist in working the marina when needed.
- Assist with front desk and housekeeping when needed.
- Coordinates group volunteer trash clean ups like operation clean sweep
- Works with other agencies like us army corps of engineers to resolve problems at the state park
- Plans and coordinates events and programs off a set budget.
- Responsible for scheduling employees and entering accurate time and attendance.
- Chainsaw training (weekly use of chainsaw)
- Assist other state parks when needed.
- Plan and coordinate ADA mobility impairment deer hunt.
- Protect and promote the natural resources of the par
- Knowledge and handling of wildlife including venomous snakes
- Removing hazardous plants and insects from park facility’s . (Poison ivy, yellow jackets , hornets)
- Knowledge in boating, driving in hazardous conditions, and safety during inclement weather
General Contractor
Construction/carpentry/general contracting
Paintsville, KY
07.2022 - 06.2023
- Throughout the years I have prided my self in my carpentry and construction abilities, so I started working for myself and hired a few helpers and done a lot of jobs for people around east KY, until I started my current job with Kentucky state parks. I have a lot of experience with carpentry work and have been around it sense I was a young boy, being that several people in my family own construction companies.
- Visiting project sights and making appraisals with accurate measurements Knowledge in all aspects of building from start to finish (from start to turnkey finish)
- Supervising a crew of 3 people making sure everyone works hard but in a safe timely manner.
- Extensive knowledge and use of all carpentry and building tools.
- Calculating accurate estimates and reading blueprints
- Demolition work with minimum damage (use of heavy machinery like excavators, dozers, backhoes, skid steers, dump truck)
- New construction preparation (excavation work, leveling land, pouring footers, laying block, underground pipe and electrical installation, installing post for elevated builds)
- Knowledge in plumbing and plumbing repair. Installed new works and removed old .(worked with pex, copper ,iron, pvc, tubs, showers, faucets, drains, toilets, sinks, soldering ,familiar with all plumbing tools and fitting, unclogging stopped up pipes and repairing leaks , repairing frozen pipes, installing vents and traps where needed, installing electric and gas hot water heaters, septic tank work).
- Led home improvement projects and new construction projects (remodels, pole barns, built cabins, decks, complete turnkey bathrooms and kitchens)
- Extensive knowledge of relevant materials, methods, and tools as well as government policies and quality control
- Extensive knowledge in framing and erecting a strong structure (building walls, load bearing walls, floor and roof joist, knowledge in load limits, beam construction, putting the right size headers in place over doors and windows)
- Knowledge in electrical work and electrical testing (installing breaker boxes, receptacles, light fixtures, light switches running wire overhead electrical lines, wiring up appliances)
- Knowledge in running and repairing natural gas and propane lines underground and inside of homes . Pipe cutting, threading, fitting ,and sealing.
- Extensive knowledge in all types of interior and exterior wall finish work (drywall, tongue and grove, ship lap siding, paneling, tile work, masonry stone, m-rock, vinal siding, brick/block masonry work, Hardie board)
- Extensive knowledge of installing insulation and insulating homes and structures (faced fiberglass, blow in attic insulation, panel insulation, closed and open cell spray in insulation, knowledge on how to make a home energy efficient)
- Expert in Finish carpentry work (trim work, installing cabinets and vanities, back splash, tilework, fixing dry wall, painting)
- Extensive knowledge in flooring and installing all types of flooring and subfloor (lvt, carpet, tile, hardwood, linoleum, concrete)
- Extensive knowledge and experience of roofing (making sure the pitch is correct for the build, installing shingles, tin, rubber roofs, vents, vent pipes, soffit work and repair, installing gutters).
- Extensive knowledge and experience in building decks, porches, and overhangs.
- Knowledge in masonry and concrete work (block brick, rock, concrete, concrete epoxy coating, cutting stone and concrete finish work)
- Extensive knowledge and great at painting interior and exterior.
- Extensive knowledge in installing drainages systems (culverts, sub drains, gutter drains)
- Extensive knowledge in solving issues with rodent and pest issues (removed bats, mice, rats, raccoons)
- Knowledge in installing hvac systems electric and gas. (Installing and repairing duct work and insulating duct).
- Knowledge in complete wood burning stove installs.
- Extensive knowledge and experience of installation of doors and windows.
- Installation of hot tubs and pools
- Installation of sump pumps in basements
- Installation of complete tile showers
- Installation of garage doors
- Extensive knowledge and experience in landscaping and landscaping equipment
- Extensive knowledge and experience in building steps and stairs along with handicap accessible ramps
- Extensive knowledge and experience working with old homes with water damage and termite damage.
- Experience in safely removing hazardous material from homes that have been damaged from flooding, fire, mold, and asbestos removal.
- Always an advocate of the proper PPE for the job under osha standards and I believe in a safe and friendly workplace.
Wildlife specialist/Biological Science Technician GS0404-5
USDA WILDLIFE SERVICE APHIS
08.2016 - 09.2022
- Worked extensively in Kentucky and Tennessee and occasionally in Virginia and Ohio
- Trapping of feral swine in eastern KY Protecting agriculture from wildlife damage (hundreds removed)
- Trapping and handling of live raccoons, foxes, bobcat, coyotes, opossums, rats, squirrels, beaver, mink, muskrats, feral cats, geese, ducks, pigeons, doves, starlings, snakes, turtles, lizards, salamanders and many other mammals, birds, reptiles, fish.
- Certification in wildlife chemical Immobilization and Euthanasia, worked with drugs such as Xylazine, Ketamine, Telazol, Carfentanil, Butorphanol, Azaperone, Medetomidine, Pentobarbital.
- Removed animals and tested for various human health and safety concerns (rabies, histoplasmosis, E.coli, brucellosis, African swine fever, tularemia, avian influenzas, Epizootic Hemorrhagic disease and Chronic wasting disease in deer and many others)
- Goose round ups in Kentucky and Tennessee for human health safety concerns and nuisance geese and other waterfowl
- Use of medical syringes to pull blood samples from live and deceased animals
- Animal sampling or disease testing (brain stem, blood, DNA, spleen, nasal swabs, tooth pulls)
- Tested animals for rabies in drip lab.
- Use of firearms (pistol, rifle, and shotgun). NRA trained as a marksman with all the following, great knowledge of firearms and firearm safety.
- Use of atvs and boats and proper safety training
- Use of trailers and hauling supplies, atvs, boats, and live animals on the highway
- Used chainsaws, axes, machete, brush cutting tools, shovels, and other tools to clear trails in the woods and around traffic.
- Built corral traps for feral swine used tools such as pliers, drills, saws, hammers, post drivers, and other hand tools.
- Use of gps devices and maps to mark trails, animals, traps, locations.
- Map making using arch gis, google earth, and topo style maps
- Held responsibilities of government credit cards and budgets for purchase of equipment, supplies and work-related travel
- Record keeping of receipts, vehicle mileage, and a variety of work documents on computer and paper files.
- Maintained computer files and entering data on computer systems and websites. (Microsoft word, excel, web TA, Management information center/MIS,)
- Responsibly of accurate time keeping and monthly reports
- Documentation of field work through mobile device applications
- Trail camera and security camera management
- Technical Assistance to the public on wildlife damage complaints and questions
- Public speaking to groups about USDA and their mission and about wildlife damage and disease concerns at farm field days and events.
- Event and project planning for future work
- Helicopter and fixed wing work flights (rabies bait drop vaccination, feral swine damage observation and reporting)
- Ground and field work for feral swine Helicopter shooting
- Meeting and talking with landowners about wildlife damage.
- Working for private and commercial landowners to resolve their wildlife issues
- Built partnerships with other local and government agency’s
- Trained in IT security and maintenance
- No FEAR Act training (workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation protection)
- Defensive driving training
- Maintained cooperative agreements with local health departments and Ag extension offices
- Trained in CPR and First aid
- Teaching kids at farm field days about wildlife and showing them different types of animal’s furs, bones, antlers, etc..
- Emergency response official
- Ensuring USDA programs are delivered Efficiently and Effectively.
- Safeguarding American agriculture
- Bringing new techniques and ideas forward to make the job more Effective (New anima trap designs, new outreach ideas, custom built tools for the job)
- Outreach to the public to inform about usda services
- Reason for leaving: Federal budget decrease. loss of funding for my position.
- Supervisor: Keith Blanton (2016-2020) / Erin Patrick (2020-2022)
Welder/Metal Fabricator/Automotive Painter
Logan Corporation
Martin, KY
03.2016 - 08.2016
- Use of welder to construct heavy equipment parts and dump truck beds and chassis components
- Paint and finish Dump Truck beds/Equipment
- Clean and Maintain Work Area
- Safely use welding equipment/paint guns
- Metal fabrication cutting/bending/ pipe threading/ pipe fitting /air break install
- Loading trucks
- Driving big trucks around the compound
- Steam cleaning trucks
- Forklift operator
- Use of plasma cutter and cutting torch
- Reason for leaving, started work for USDA as a wildlife specialist.
- Supervisor: Kevin Bishop
Wildlife Management Tech I
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
03.2015 - 11.2015
- Plant food plots
- Operated farm implements and heavy equipment
- Worked WMA quota hunts
- Forest management duties
- Cultivation of wildlife food plots
- Habitat management
- Captured/euthanized infected and nuisance species in State Park/ WMA and private land areas using firearms (deer, elk, raccoons)
- USDA Pesticide/herbicide license
- Wild land fire training
- Wild land Chainsaw training (S212)
- Hunter safety card
- Knowledge in handguns, shot guns and rifles
- First aid/CPR training
- ATV safety training
- Deer quota hunts
- Collection of specimens for research
- Construction of gates/bridges/forest wetlands
- Experience in using various trapping techniques (snare, foothold, conibear, rocket netting, corral)
- Created and maintained roads and walking trails
- Educated the public on wildlife and wildlife management
- Tree cutting
- Tractor and skid steer operation
- Controlled Burning
- Reason for leaving: Seasonal position.
- 37.5 hours per week for length of term
- Supervisor: Zach Slinker
Fisheries Creel Clerk (buckhorn lake)
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
03.2014 - 10.2014
- Creel survey on Buckhorn Lake
- Assist biologist in habitat work
- Fish sampling
- Electrofishing-compile data on fish growth
- Gill netting
- Habitat work for the entire eastern fisheries district
- Conduct public surveys on fish creel
- Reason for leaving: Seasonal Position
- 37.5 hours per week for length of term
- Supervisor: Kevin Frey
Ground Crew/Equipment operator
Mayo Resources/Booth Energy
Martin Co Ky
10.2011 - 02.2013
- operation of High Wall miner
- Repair and Maintenance of heavy equipment
- Maintenance of Hydraulic equipment
- Removal of rock and debris
- Operated heavy equipment including high wall miner, conveyor belt, loader, dozer, excavator, and rock trucks.
- Surface mining card
- Supervisor: Paul Bryan Horn
Fish and Wildlife Tech
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
10.2010 - 06.2011
- Assisted Biologist in tracking and monitoring elk movement (Telemetry)
- Knowledge in control and removal/ euthanizing of nuisance wildlife
- Maintain company vehicles and equipment
- Field operations in elk/bear/Wild hog studies (darting/trapping/collaring/relocation)
- Assisted fisheries in electro-fishing
- Deer quota hunt operations
- Assisted with Elk Quota Hunts
- Assisted Biologists with capture and banding of various bird species (dove/wood duck/geese)
- Construct habitat for wildlife/fish
- Use of agricultural implements
- Assisted fisheries biologists with Gill Net survey
- Assisted fisheries with creel clerk survey
- Experience in habitat construction
- Use of lawn/heavy equipment
- Operation of chainsaws, and winches
- Operation of motorboats
- Experience in Transport of trailers/ boats (trailering)
- Operation of 4-wheeldrive vehicles/ATV's
- Have had ATV Safety Training
- Construction of Management area Gates (some welding required)
- Construction of Wildlife Cages (Welding required)
- Construction of Elk transport cages
- Repair of Elk Transport trailers
- Experience in Metal fabrication
- Cutting torches
- MIG and ARC welding
- Grinders
- Hand tools
- Computer Skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe, Power Director, Web Logging, Email)
- Knowledge of varied government boundary lines
- Knowledge in using GPS and tracking devices
- 37.5 hours per week for length of term
- Supervisor: Jayson Plaxico
Fish and Wildlife Tech
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
10.2009 - 06.2010
- I worked as a seasonal employee. My duties included the following:
- Assisted Biologist in tracking and monitoring elk movement (Elk Telemetry)
- Maintain company vehicles and equipment
- Field operations in elk/bear/wild hog studies (darting/trapping/collaring/relocation)
- Assisted fisheries in electro-fishing
- Deer quota hunt operations
- Assisted with Elk Quota Hunts
- Constructed habitat for wildlife/fish
- Use of agricultural implements-experience in habitat construction
- Use of lawn equipment
- Operation of chainsaws, and winches
- Operation of motorboats
- Experience in Transport of trailers/ boats (trailering)
- Operation of 4-wheeldrive vehicles/ATV's
- Have had ATV Safety Training
- Construction of Management area Gates (some welding required)
- Construction of Wildlife Cages (Welding required)
- Construction of Elk transport cages
- Rocket Netting
- Corral Trapping
- Banding of various bird species (Dove, Wood Duck, Geese)
- Repair of Elk Transport trailers
- Experience in Metal fabrication
- Cutting torches
- MIG and ARC welding
- Grinders
- Hand tools
- Computer Skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe, Power Director, Web Logging, Email)
- Knowledge of varied government boundary lines
- Knowledge in using GPS and tracking devices
- Knowledge in reading Topographical Maps
- Use of firearms and dart guns
- Reason for leaving: Seasonal Position
- 37.5 hours per week for length of term
- Supervisor: Charlie Logsdon
Laborer
05.2005 - 06.2007
- I worked part-time after school and on weekends. My duties included the following:
- Wash and detail vehicles
- Change tires on vehicles
- Change Brake pads on vehicles
- Oil change and lube of vehicles
- Cleaning and maintenance of tools and work area
- O Experience in using various tools (wrenches, air wrench, socket wrenches, and tire changer/balancer)
- Reason for leaving position-Owner became ill and shut down
- Supervisor: J.P. Short
Education
General Degree - Vocational/Agricultural Studies-Wildlife Biology/Agriculture
Paintsville, KYSkills
- Training and mentoring
- Goal oriented
- Staff management
- Customer service
- Attention to detail
- Perfectionist
- Equipment operator
- Extensive knowledge of the outdoors
- Mechanics knowledge
- Jack of all trades
- Employee motivation
- Decision-making
- Complex Problem-solving
- Strategic planning
- Staff development
- Staff discipline
- Team building
- Operations management
- Project management
- Safety protocols
- Quality control
- Problem-solving
Timeline
Program services supervisor / Park Naturalist
Kentucky department of parks
06.2023 - Current
General Contractor
Construction/carpentry/general contracting
07.2022 - 06.2023
Wildlife specialist/Biological Science Technician GS0404-5
USDA WILDLIFE SERVICE APHIS
08.2016 - 09.2022
Welder/Metal Fabricator/Automotive Painter
Logan Corporation
03.2016 - 08.2016
Wildlife Management Tech I
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
03.2015 - 11.2015
Fisheries Creel Clerk (buckhorn lake)
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
03.2014 - 10.2014
Ground Crew/Equipment operator
Mayo Resources/Booth Energy
10.2011 - 02.2013
Fish and Wildlife Tech
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
10.2010 - 06.2011
Fish and Wildlife Tech
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
10.2009 - 06.2010
Laborer
05.2005 - 06.2007