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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 O C T O B E R 2 , 2 0 1 7 buncher, to run the program. "It's like licorice — you either really like it or you don't. You won't know until you try it. So a contractor might have $100,000 invested in you and you might not like it. To put that money into someone only to fi nd out this isn't for them — they've lost a lot of money." e program off ers a good alterna- tive that acquaints students with the industry, without the risk for contrac- tors, says Burr. Students who continue on to jobs have a good foundation of knowledge and experience that will give them a jumpstart on a new job. Professional pathway In addition to risk mitigation, PLC Executive Director Dana Doran cites other reasons for the program: ¡ Today's highly mechanized equipment has transformed the formerly labor-intensive chainsaw- and-skidder industry. As a result, a diff erent degree of technology training is needed. ¡ With the average age of loggers in Maine at 55-plus, a retirement cliff is looming. ¡ Signifi cant market decline in recent years has resulted in many employees leaving the industry permanently, leaving many contractors with- out qualifi ed people. Logging also competes with other industries for employees. " is is a way that we can fi nd the next generation of opera- tors, motivate them to look at this pathway, get the training and step into a meaningful career opportunity even if they have no experience with logging whatsoever," says Doran. ¡ Other than four remaining high school logging education programs that feed graduates to on-the-job training, Maine hasn't had a professional pathway for training. e new program provides a path into the industry through community college, both for young adults and for older adults seeking a career change. Burr says the pluses of the work are many. "You're independent and you're run- ning big equipment in the woods, being entrusted to make decisions," says Burr. "It's exciting and challenging and you learn something new every day. You don't have someone every day peek- ing over your cubicle. We're out in the woods. We work in the dark, the snow, the rain. We see bear and moose and all kinds of cool stuff . It's just that way." e six students under his wing range in age from 18 to 27 and come from all over Maine. He's had numerous calls and visits from contractors, ready to recruit. By mid-September, four students had jobs lined up, and Burr expected the other two to receive off ers shortly. No wonder. It's diffi cult to say how many open positions there are today, but anecdotally, Doran estimates upward of 100. "Our membership says all the time that they're trying to fi nd operators," Doran says. e workforce shortage aff ects the industry's ability to produce to capacity, says Doran. " ere are many contrac- tors throughout the state who could be harvesting and trucking more wood than they probably are," he says. " ey can't fi nd harvesters to harvest it, or truck drivers to move it." Entry-level pays well, says Doran — averaging $43,000 the fi rst year, based on $15 to $16 per hour, plus overtime, and benefi ts. "In rural Maine, these are good- paying jobs," he says. L S , a s e n i o r w r i t e r a t M a i n e b i z , c a n b e r e a c h e d a t @ . BUY TICKETS: 207.774.0465 www.portlandstage.org 25A Forest Ave, Portland ME F O C U S N O R T H E R N M A I N E It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you It's exciting and challenging and you learn something new every day. You learn something new every day. You learn something new every day. You learn something new every day. You learn something new every day. You learn something new every day. You learn something new every day. You learn something new every day. You learn something new every day. You learn something new every day. You learn something new every day. You learn something new every day. You learn something new every day. You don't have someone every day peeking over your cubicle. — Donald Burr Mechanized Logging Operations Program

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