Randy grew up in northern California with the Sierra Nevada Range being central to my upbringing and love for the outdoors. Registered member of Central Sierra Miwok Tribe (Calaveras Band). Educational background includes an A.S. in forestry and wildlife biology, a B.S. in wildlife management from Humboldt State University, and several graduate-level Continuing Education courses in various ecological studies.  Spent several seasons working as a seasonal fire fighter while in college, also worked for private logging companies. Continued to be involved in fire management through most of my career with a high interest in post-fire environments and disturbance ecology. Retired in 2018 after a 33 year career as a wildlife biologist and habitat ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service that spanned 5 different national forests in three different regions.  My experience in the pacific states from the late 80's through early 2000s included unique landscape-level opportunities such as the Northwest Forest Plan, Columbia Basin Assessment, Ecosystem Analysis at the Watershed Scale, and others. Helped develop and implement initial monitoring and management programs involving snag creation and management and specialized species groups such as migratory birds, bats, furbearers and others. Spent the last 16 years of my career on the Rio Grande National Forest (RGNF) as a Fire Ecology Biologist, Regional Enterprise Biologist, and Wildlife Program Manager that also overseen fisheries, ecology and botany programs.  Unique experience on the RGNF includes several years as the regional Center of Excellence for Bats and the primary core biologist on the first forest in Region 2 to revise a forest plan under the 2012 Planning Rule. However, the highlight of my time of the RGNF was the development of a collaborative study on Canada lynx response to our spruce beetle outbreak that involved the Rocky Mountain Research Station, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Montana State University, and University of Wyoming.  In retirement, Randy continues with many outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, camping and pursuing his passion with birds and other wildlife.