In 2013 Brad Koontz graduated from the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources with a major in Natural Resource Planning (now Sustainability, Ecology, and Policy). After a year of work as a mentor for college students in Massachusetts, Brad was looking for a change of scenery. He moved west with five friends from UVM, all fellow avid skiers, and arrived in Bozeman, Montana in 2014. 11 years later, he has built a life there while working at the .
Brad shares more about his post-graduation journey and how he found confidence in his value as a “generalist” in the Q&A below.
What brought you to the Rubenstein School and the Natural Resources major?
I actually started as a chemistry major at UVM thinking I would utilize that in something environmentally related. However, I realized I didn’t really like chemistry and just had a great AP Chem teacher in high school. I switched to Natural Resource Planning quickly and realized my interest was in the social side of environmental issues. I really enjoyed thinking about how people interact with nature and found I was less interested in field research or being in a lab.
That intersection between people and environment seems to be a big part of your job today, can you talk about working at Montana Conservation Corps (MCC)?
I’ve been at MCC for 10 years. I started as an administrative assistant, which was mostly clerical work, and whenever I found myself with some idle time, I’d ask other staff if they needed help. I got to know the people and programs at MCC well through that outreach and eventually that led to them creating a new position for me – Statewide Program Coordinator. As I gained experience on the program side of MCC’s work, that led to another promotion to Statewide Program Manager, which is the role I’ve had for seven years now.
What types of programs does MCC offer and what are you managing?
We have four main programs (all of which have opportunities for current and graduating students by the way): Adult Field Crews for people ages 18–35, camping backcountry and working on conservation projects; Youth Crews made up of high school students paired with adult leaders; Tribal Crews which focus on culturally relevant conservation work for Indigenous youth; and Individual Placements, which are internship-style roles with partner organizations. I do a lot of behind the scenes work to keep the programs running smoothly and providing resources to our participants. I also help host trainings for our crew leaders and visit project sites whenever needed (which extend into a few neighboring states).
You’ve spent most of your career so far with MCC, what keeps you engaged in the work?
The mission is really motivating. Seeing the impact our programs have on the participants reminds me why I do this. MCC also has great people and a great work culture, I’ve been treated well there. Coming out of college I didn’t have a clear career path in mind; I was a generalist with a broad understanding of a lot of different areas of environmental work, and I was self-conscious about that for a while, feeling like I had less value because I didn’t have a specialty. At MCC I’ve had some great supervisors who mentored me and helped me realize my value to be able to work across a lot of different programs and the whole organization. I need to know a lot of things about a really diverse set of programs and people. The advancements I’ve made at MCC helped me build confidence and helped me grow into an experienced generalist.
What skills have you found most valuable in your work and career progression?
The ability to work across teams is such a transferable skill. It has been a big part of each role I’ve had and it’s one that is an important part of our leadership trainings. Technical skills are important, but I think there is a general understanding with most jobs that people will need time to learn the tools, systems, and operational processes. Fundamental skills like communication and conflict management need to be there from the start and they will serve you well in any job. You might not need to know how to operate a chainsaw everywhere you work, but you do need to know how to effectively communicate with people everywhere you work.
Is there anything you’ve learned in your career that has been particularly helpful to you?
I’ve learned a lot by shadowing people who are more experienced than me and showing an interest in their work. Over the years, my supervisors have been really generous with their knowledge and they’ve been willing to take extra time to show me how they do things to help grow my skillset. It has taught me the importance of sharing knowledge and skills, not hoarding them, and planning for people to grow and change. It’s a great model for mentorship, but it’s also practical from a succession planning standpoint.
What advice would you give to current students who are preparing for post-graduation?
Well, I want to acknowledge that the job market looks a lot different right now than it did when I graduated. But some advice that I think applies regardless is—don’t feel pressured to have it all figured out. Try different things and remember that learning what you don’t like is just as valuable as discovering what you do.
When I was first job searching, I worked seasonal jobs while I was just looking for organizations that seemed interesting to me, and I started in an entry level to get my foot in the door (which took me multiple tries). As I built relationships and proved myself, I got new opportunities. Don’t worry too much about just trying to “network.” Building genuine relationships are more important and valuable. Also be kind to yourself and each other. I’m 34 and I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. Your path will unfold.
