After a Career in the Military, Stan Villiers Found His Home at ACRT

After a Career in the Military, Villiers Found His Home at ACRT

Stan Villiers’ interest in the outdoors and a BS in Environmental Science eventually led him to ACRT in 2019. After retiring from the military, Stan said he was looking for a company with a strong culture of taking care of its people. “After experiencing a few jobs that weren’t a great fit, I decided to apply to be a utility forester in Knoxville, Tenn. After only a few weeks, I knew that ACRT was exactly what I was searching for, from the like-minded people who care about their brothers and sisters to the management that took a direct interest in me as a person and my development.”

Stan has excelled in his role, earning his ISA Certified Arborist certification and Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ). He was promoted to operations manager in 2021. He enjoys interacting with people in the utility vegetation management industry. “Having the opportunity to regularly train and mentor our present and future foresters is a passion of mine, and this position allows me to do that.” Stan was mentored by leadership that was personally connected to their team. He strives to emulate this in his leadership style.

Every day is different, according to Stan. His work has taken him from coast to coast, working in the swamps of North Carolina to wildfires in Oregon. His daily work includes onboarding new foresters, spending time with them in the field, and working with utilities to meet their needs.

Stan encourages people entering vegetation management at ACRT not to be afraid to start in an entry-level position regardless of their previous position.  “You will quickly be surrounded by people who will teach and mentor you. The knowledge and confidence you obtain in the first year will be instrumental in your development and advancement.”

He is married and has two children. In 2021, Stan and his wife Amanda thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, fulfilling a lifetime dream.