About Our Staff

MICK SCHANILEC has been the Area Manager at the Priest Lake office since July 2002. He oversees all Area operations. Mick graduated from the University of Montana in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forest Management. His experience at Priest Lake includes: Seasonal timber crew (3 years), Leaselot/Navigable Waters Resource Manager (3) years, Forest Resource Manager (11 years) and Resource Supervisor-Forestry (1 year).

Listed alphabetically by last name ...

JASON BETZ is a Resource Manger who currently manages the North Fork and Middle Fork drainages. His responsibilities include timber management, sale administration, road projects, thinnings and plantings. Jason started working for the IDL Priest Lake office in 1995 as part of the timber crew. He received his education in Natural Resource Management at Spokane Community College and Timber Harvest Resources at the University of Idaho.

DAN BROWN is a Lands Resource Supervisor (Fire Warden) for the Priest Lake Area. Dan is responsible for all phases of fire and hazard management. This includes conserving and protecting private, state and federal forest lands by preventing and/or suppressing all unwanted fires in the area. He is also responsible for using fire as a management tool to enhance state endowment lands and to help local communities better cope with wildfire through various wildfire prevention programs.

NATHAN COOK is a Resource Manager and manages the north unit (Trapper Creek drainage) on our Area. His responsibilities include timber management, sale administration, road projects, thinnings and plantings. Nathan is a graduate of the University of Montana with a Bachelor of Science in Resource Management, emphasis forestry. Nathan has been at the Priest Lake Office since January of 2002. He had previously worked for Idaho Department of Lands in St. Maries as a seasonal employee from 1998 to 2002.

RON DURHAM, Lands Resource Supervisor, Forest

ROBERT FUNK, Lands Resource Specialist, Forest

KEITH HERRINGTON is the area Mechanic and has been with the Department for 15 years. He is responsible for maintaining a fleet of 52 pieces of equipment, as well as building maintenance and remodeling. Keith has served as a ground support leader and will be a facilities unit leader trainee for the 2003 fire season.

NICOLE LEE, Office Specialist

JIM NOLEN is the Resource Supervisor - Timber. Jim is responsible for all forest management activities on the area and supervises 5 permanent foresters and 7 seasonal foresters. Jim graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management. He previously worked with the Georgia Forestry Commission as a forester from 1985 - 1989. Jim started working with IDL in 1989 as an Assistant Fire Warden at the Craigmont Fire Protection District, transferred to the IDL Kamiah office in 1990 as a Resource Manager - Timber and began working with the Priest Lake IDL office in 1991 as a Resource Manager Senior. Jim was promoted to Resource Supervisor - Timber in 2002.

CARL RITCHIE, Lands Resource Specialist, Sr - Lands

ED WINGERT is a Resource Manager Senior at the Priest Lake IDL office. Ed is a graduate of Spokane Community College and the University of Idaho with a degree in Forestry from both. Ed manages approximately 35,000 acres on the east side of Priest Lake from Camels Prairie to the north side of the Indian Creek drainage. Ed's management duties include preparing and administering timber sales, road projects, thinnings and plantings. Ed has been with the Priest Lake IDL since 1989.

KEITH ZALEWSKI is a Resource Manager - Forestry at our office. Keith graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Forest Resources and has worked with the IDL Priest Lake office since 2000. He started as a seasonal forester and was hired as a permanent Resource Manager in 2002. Keith manages Unit 2, which consists of the Two Mouth Creek, Bear Creek and Lion Creek drainages. His duties include preparing and administering timbers sales, road projects, thinnings and plantings.