Forest Worker Spotlight: Will Tullos

Have you ever dreamed of turning your love for the outdoors and helping others into a fulfilling career? See how Will Tullos is serving landowners as a one-stop shop for land management.

Will Tulloss was born and raised in Wilson, NC, and he earned his Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from North Carolina State University. Forestry did not run in Will’s family, but he grew up surrounded by many people who worked in forestry, from timber buyers to logging families. As a consulting forester, Will helps landowners manage their land and timber tracts, ensuring the land is healthy and aesthetically pleasing. He also includes wildlife management in his services, which is something not all consulting foresters choose to do. On an average day, Will creates and carries out forest management plans for his clients, which include managing trees, like loblolly pine, from cradle to grave, meaning as soon as they are planted in the ground until they get cut. He treats the trees with herbicides and conducts strategic commercial thinning on his clients’ land. Since Will is a sole proprietor, he utilizes contracts for some of the work within his clients’ forest management plans, which can include lining up ditching contracts, getting roads built, laying pipe under roads, etc. Will also signs his clients up for the American Tree Farm Program, which focuses on forest stewardship. He describes himself as a “one-stop-shop” forestry representative. At the end of the day, his goal is to ensure landowners are maximizing their land for future use and keeping it healthy. 

Will’s biggest piece of advice for young people who might be interested in a career in forestry: “Find something you like to do – something you can still enjoy in 100-degree heat. It takes a passionate person to do what we do. I get a lot of joy out of helping and educating landowners and the public. If this is your passion, forestry is an extremely satisfying industry to be in.”