 August 09, 2005
Mark Hummel, a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Forest Service's Eastern Region in Milwaukee, Wisc., was recently selected as Wrangell's new ranger. He is slated to report to his new job Sept. 6.
Hummel said "it feels great" to be chosen as the new ranger. "The community of Wrangell and the District employees have a reputation for friendly attitudes and hard work," he said. "I can't imagine a finer place or finer people to work with." Hummel, a native of Rochester, Mich., has served in the Forest Service for 18 years. During his career, he has worked as a video and publications producer on the Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada; a public affairs officer on the Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests in Arkansas; and a teams and public involvement specialist in the Eastern Region Office. "We're pleased to have Mark on the Tongass team," said Tongass National Forest Supervisor Forrest Cole. "He's going to be a solid leader for the District and a great supporter of the local community." Hummel is not new to southeast Alaska. He served as an environmental coordinator for the Tongass National Forest in Petersburg from 1989 to 1997. "It feels like coming home," he said. "My wife and I worked in Petersburg for many years. Every day felt like an adventure to us. After we left, we often said that we left our hearts in southeast Alaska. It's a special place, like no other, and we're delighted to be coming back." Hummel said his most important responsibilities as the new ranger will be "inspiring teamwork, vision, performance, and accountability with employees; and working with the community of Wrangell and the Native Alaska community on economic opportunities, quality of life and management of the forest." Hummel earned a bachelor's in natural resources with emphasis on aquatic ecology in 1978 from the University of Michigan. He also earned a master's in natural resource policy and management in 1987 from Michigan. He recently completed the Forest Service's year-long Executive Leadership Program. Hummel and his wife, Gail, have a 9-yearold son; Rudy, and a 6-year-old daughter; Heidi. The Wrangell District is one of 10 ranger districts located on the 17-million acre Tongass National Forest. The ranger districts on the Tongass are responsible for managing the national forest for multiple uses to meet the diverse needs of people, including special-use permits, watershed protection, recreation, fish, wildlife, subsistence, timber and wilderness areas.
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