BCC student lands ‘dream job’ in Colorado

A Buckeye Career Center student is preparing to travel west to begin what he calls his “dream job” in Colorado.

Reese Salyers, 17, has accepted a position with Colorado Parks and Wildlife as a seasonal technician at Pearl Lake and Steamboat Lake. He will work in the role for three months before transitioning into a full-time forester position after turning 18. He begins work May 15.

The opportunity presented itself while Salyers was researching job openings on the National Park Service website. Soon after, emails from interested park managers began filling his inbox, many noting his credentials, including OSHA 10 and 30 certifications, NCCER and the highly sought-after Chainsaw Safety Awareness at Work credential.

“I was just seeing what was out there, and what was out there just kind of came to me once I put my name out there,” Salyers said.

After starting in Project Lead the Way/Engineering at BCC during his junior year, Salyers chose to “double lab” in Natural Resources as a senior to gain additional credentials and hands-on experience. That training will allow him to bypass Colorado’s standard four-month chainsaw certification program and begin work immediately.

“It feels amazing,” he said. “When I was getting the emails from different parks, I realized that my resume was what was drawing them in.”

His first offer came from North Dakota before he interviewed with representatives from Colorado. Salyers said the state’s scenery helped seal his decision, along with benefits that include housing and a company vehicle.

“This isn’t where I saw myself last year. I saw myself working locally. This is definitely more than a foot in the door now,” he said.

Salyers hopes to eventually return to Ohio to become a game warden or wildlife officer. For now, he is focused on gaining experience.

“Anybody can do it with the right amount of work,” Salyers said. “I’ve put a lot of effort into grinding out this lab. I want to do it. I’m not just trying to find a job to kill time.”

Salyers is the son of Jenna and Dustin Long of Dennison. He attends BCC from Claymont.