Ricky Slaven Celebrates 10 Years with ACRT
This month, ACRT is proud to recognize Ricky Slaven for an important milestone: 10 years of service with ACRT. Ricky has supported Idaho Power since 1977, building a career that spans nearly 50 years in utility vegetation management. Over the years, he’s seen the industry evolve from manila rope and minimal safety standards to today’s strong safety programs and fire mitigation priorities, while staying focused on what matters most: doing the job right, treating customers with respect, and making sure everyone goes home safe.
A Career Rooted in Safety, Service, and the Outdoors
How did you get your start in the industry?
I started in the fall of 1977 with Davey as a groundman, then moved to Wright as a foreman in 1980. In the early ’90s, while working for Utility Tree Service, I earned my arborist certification and later became an ISA Utility Arborist. I also spent time with Davey Tree Resource Group and completed the Davey Institute of Tree Science in 1998. After many years with Washington Forestry as a notifier, I joined the best company I’ve ever worked for (ACRT) in 2016.
So, this whole time, you’ve been working on the Idaho Power system?
Correct. I’ve been working with Idaho Power since 1977. I had kids here and I really didn’t want to transfer. So, I pretty much just changed T-shirts as companies came and went, and I stayed here so I’d be close to my daughters after going through a divorce.
What stands out to you the most that has changed over the past almost five decades?
I’ve seen the industry change a lot over the last 49 years, but a lot of it is safety. When I first started in 1977, we were using manila rope. We did have scare straps, but we didn’t need to use them once we had our climb line tied in. Now, climbers need to be tied in twice. ACRT has probably the best safety program I’ve ever worked under. We really emphasize safety, and no job has to be done that can’t be done safely.
What advice would you give someone who’s considering entering this industry?
I love working outside. We’re never in the same spot. I’ve been over our area so much, I know every nook and cranny of every alley and everywhere the power lines go.
After all these years, what’s your favorite part of the job?
When I was younger, I worked in factories with punch cards and all that. I don’t like that. I like being outside.
It’s nice being by myself. When I was a foreman for a tree crew, I always had to worry that nobody got hurt. Out here, I’m by myself. I worry about me. We check in with each other and make sure we’re safe, especially if we’re going to be out of cell service, but mostly we’re doing our job by ourselves.
I also enjoy the customers and working for ACRT and Idaho Power. I’ve got great leadership at ACRT with Operations Manager Matt Shaw and Senior Consulting Utility Forester KC Hepworth, and at Idaho Power with Craig Westling, who I’ve worked with for 20 years now.
Any moments that stand out to you as especially rewarding?
A lot of times when I’m up in Salmon, I’m up in the woods, and all these beautiful ponderosa pines and I’m walking a line out, I just think sometimes, I can’t believe they pay me to do this. It’s beautiful.
You’ve said ACRT is the best company you’ve worked for. What sets it apart?
The safety aspect. They worry about us. I think ACRT truly worries about us. I think they care about us. The equipment’s always maintained. I think in 10 years I’ve had probably four or five different trucks. Anything we need, we can get it. If I need bug spray, I can go get bug spray. If I need something from Matt, he’ll send it out.
A lot of companies don’t want to spend any money. I haven’t found that with ACRT. They want us to be able to do our job as efficiently as we can, and they provide what we need.
