March 29, 2004 - Union Democrat: Ghana RPCV Jerry Perez will be the next deputy supervisor of the Stanislaus National Forest

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Ghana: Peace Corps Ghana : The Peace Corps in Ghana: March 29, 2004 - Union Democrat: Ghana RPCV Jerry Perez will be the next deputy supervisor of the Stanislaus National Forest

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-178-137.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.178.137) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 7:47 pm: Edit Post

Ghana RPCV Jerry Perez will be the next deputy supervisor of the Stanislaus National Forest

Ghana RPCV  Jerry Perez will be the next deputy supervisor of the Stanislaus National Forest

Ghana RPCV Jerry Perez will be the next deputy supervisor of the Stanislaus National Forest

D.C. official tapped for forest

Published: March 29, 2004

By JOSHUA WOLFSON

The national litigation coordinator at the U.S. Forest Service's Washington, D.C., headquarters will be the next deputy supervisor of the Stanislaus National Forest.

Jerry Perez replaces Glenn Gottschall, who retired from the post in January. When he reports for duty later this spring, Perez will assist forest Supervisor Tom Quinn in managing the Stanislaus.

Perez will help Quinn review projects and documents and relay information between Washington and the foothills. He will also act on Quinn's behalf when necessary.

"Coming in behind Glenn Gottschall, there are some big shoes to fill," Perez said of his predecessor, a well-respected 40-year Forest Service veteran. "I hope that my contribution, while not as legendary, will further those efforts by all on the national forest."

Perez, with the Forest Service off and on since 1985, said he and his wife, Rita, look forward to living in the Mother Lode.

"Both my wife and I are really excited," he said from his Washington, D.C. office. "I'm hoping I can work with people and I hope I can provide the leadership people are looking for."

As litigation coordinator, Perez serves as a liaison between Forest Service headquarters and the regional offices on legal matters. The job demands good communication skills — something Perez will bring to his new position.

"I think I've been able to work with a lot of folks through a lot of complex problems," he said.

Perez was chosen from among a dozen or so applicants, said Stanislaus spokesman Jerry Snyder.

Perez, 42, attended West Virginia University and graduated with a degree in forest resources management in 1985. After several temporary assignments with the Forest Service, Perez headed to Ghana, Africa with the Peace Corps.

There he established a community nursery and met his wife, who was also a Peace Corps volunteer. The couple have been married for 10 years.

After he returned to the states, Perez served with the Forest Service in Vermont, first as Rochester Ranger District forester on the Green Mountain National Forest and then as the National Environmental Policy Act coordinator for two Vermont forests.

He has also spent time as a public affairs specialist and writer working in Walla Walla, Wash., and provided guidance on litigation to 17 national forests from his office in Milwaukee.

"Having served in the field as a forester and following that up with extensive experience in various regional and national assignments, Jerry brings a unique insight to the job and has a lot of offer the forest and surrounding communities," Stanislaus Supervisor Quinn said in a written statement.

Jack Blackwell, Pacific Southwest regional forester, commended Perez's communication skills and solid experience in a written statement.

"Jerry has an impressive history of improving customer service and program performance through coordinated efforts with many different agencies, communities of interest and Forest Service employees," Blackwell said.

A self-described "outdoor-oriented" person, Perez said he enjoys hiking, fishing and golfing. Although he has never lived in the Mother Lode, Perez has traveled through the Gold Country and Yosemite areas.

"From a personal perspective, it (the Sonora area) is just beautiful and I look forward to that," he said. "Being able to work at the national forest level again will be great. From a career perspective, this is a personal goal of mine."

Contact Joshua Wolfson at jwolfson@uniondemocrat.com.




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Story Source: Union Democrat

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Ghana; Forestry; Parks

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