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Shari Downhill brings unique skills to her leadership of this company. She has used her background in adult education and workplace training to design highly successful training programs. By adapting commercial faller skills to the wildland fire and emergency incident environment, the NWTF team has created a reliable, skilled, professional faller resource for wildland fire and emergency incident agency managers. Shari’s deep understanding of issues around safe hazard tree removal in a wildland fire environment grew from her marriage to Ken Downhill, a commercial timber faller, and 23 years as a journalist focusing on wildland fire, timber harvest, land use issues and land management agencies.

NWTF’s management team has led the industry in developing minimum qualifications and equipment specifications for commercial timber fallers working in wildland fire. NWTF has encouraged land management agencies to develop a procurement program that recognizes professional, safe faller performance and fair hiring practices.

In 2002, Shari Downhill founded the Professional Timber Faller Chapter under the organizational umbrella of the National Wildfire Suppression Assn. (NWSA). This action secured organized national representation and education for commercial timber fallers working in the wildland firefighting realm.  She continues to work with private sector trade associations to incorporate faller qualifications, equipment specifications and background check confirmation using a secure, national qualifications carding system to provide faller tracking.

Her vision and focus for her company: Rapid deployment, guaranteed professional resources, ease of ordering and an uncompromising focus on safety!

Associations & Education