A shared vision is essential.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: News - Learn from Leaders - Millson Forestry Services - Brief Article

To those contemplating dropping off a resume at Millson Forestry Services, only hardcore bush babies need apply.

"If we've done anything well," says Susan Millson, co-owner of the Val Gagne-based company now in their 25th year of operation, "it's we've been able to recognize talent."

That means selecting those probationary candidates who love the North and share their long-term, idealistic vision of silviculture.

"We've got the kind of staff that if they worked out in the bush all week, they're rushing home from work so they can go back to the bush," Millson says.

"We've surrounded ourselves with people who share our vision and that makes going to work in the morning pretty nice."

After graduating as foresters from Lakehead University in 1979, Sue and David Millson went into business for themselves. Beginning with small tree-planting contracts, they expanded into the greenhouse business and later tree planting, seed extraction, site preparation and harvesting. Today, they employ 40 full-time foresters, 120 seasonal staff, grow about 13 million trees annually and plant about three million trees for a client base, including Domtar, Tembec...