West Shore Forestry LLC
About
Here at West Shore Forestry, we have one simple mission- to bring high quality forest management to the residents of western Michigan.
The west shore of Michigan is more than just where we work- it's where we're from. Forester AJ Smith was born and raised in the small town of Oshtemo, just outside of Kalamazoo. After spending his youth wandering the woods of western Michigan, AJ decided to pursue a career in forestry.
In 2007, AJ enrolled in Michigan Technological University's School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science. While attending school, AJ worked for the Hiawatha National Forest in St. Ignace, Michigan. While on the forest, AJ worked with the Timber, Silvicultural, and Hydrology departments. This experience gave him a wealth of experience managing various forest types.
In 2011, AJ graduated from Michigan Tech with his bachelor's in Forestry and a minor in Remote Sensing Technology. Upon graduation, AJ joined the Trans-Atlantic Exchange Program, enrolling at both Michigan Tech and the University of Helsinki. During his time in graduate school, AJ studied the effects of mycorrhizal fungi on out-planted seedlings, as well as Scandinavian industrial forestry.
In 2013, AJ graduated with his MS in Forest Ecology and Management from Michigan Tech, and his MS in Forest Management from the University of Helsinki. After a brief time with a remote sensing firm in Ann Arbor, MI, AJ joined the Michigan Forestry Assistant Program based out of the Oceana Conservation District. During his time at the Conservation Districts, AJ worked with private landowners in Oceana, Newaygo, and Muskegon Counties to enroll their land in federal & state level cost-share programs, locally administer the Qualified Forest Program, and manage their property for a variety of game species. The time spent at the Conservation Districts proved invaluable, as it gave AJ an intimate understanding of the challenges, current and future, that landowners in western Michigan are facing today.
In addition to his various work experience, AJ is a Society of American Forester Candidate Certified Forester, a Forest Stewardship Plan Writer, a QDMA Deer Steward, a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator, and member of the International Society of Arboriculture.