Testimonials

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Ryan is a consummate professional whom I worked with during forest certification auditing over multiple years. These can be stressful, high intensity, intellectually challenging, and physical exhausting. Ryan was an exceptional contact. He had on time deliveries, was a clear and concise communicator, detail oriented, and just a genuine nice guy. Discussions with Ryan in that unique space between forest ecology and operational implementation of forest management was a true a pleasure. Ryan is great to work with and it's been an honor getting to know him over the years.

Beth Jacqmain, Director of Quality Assurance at SCS Global Services 

Ryan was a co-worker and later my direct supervisor in the Planning Section at the PA Bureau of Forestry. We worked closely together on the 2016 PA State Forest Management Plan and the first-ever PA Bureau of Forestry – Shale Gas Monitoring Report, which received a high level of scrutiny from the natural gas industry and environmental groups. Ryan did a great job of bringing people together to work toward a common goal, even when there were parties with opposing viewpoints or objectives. One of Ryan’s strengths is his ability to stay open to new ideas and be receptive to constructive criticism or differing perspectives. He can bring divergent ideas together to find creative solutions and forge them into a positive outcome.

Zack Roeder, former colleague at PA DCNR - Bureau of Forestry

Ryan Szuch is one of the most professional people that I have worked with over my long career in conservation. We worked together at the PA DCNR - Bureau of Forestry for many years. As head of the Planning Section, Ryan had to grasp and integrate a multitude of disciplines into a cohesive strategy to move the organization forward. This included multiple, and sometimes divergent, resources such as timber management, water resources, oil and gas production, recreational use, wildlife habitat, and so on. Ryan is able to consider multiple options and determine strategic directions to move an organization forward for the future. He has the rare skill to listen, learn, adapt and be strategic when developing potential outputs and direction.

Dan Devlin, former PA State Forester

I worked with Ryan in his time at PA DCNR and found him to be self motivated, knowledgeable on the various aspects of land conservation, and very willing to problem solve when existing options seemed limited.

Ellen Ferretti, Executive Director of North Branch Land Trust

Ryan has a unique combination of technical skills, human-centered leadership skills, and integrity. His ability to build effective, goal-oriented teams is exemplary. When I think of Ryan, I think of performance and results.

Nate Reagle, former colleague at PA DCNR - Bureau of Forestry

In our collaboration on the Pennsylvania Conservation Workforce Survey, Grow Conservation’s industry knowledge, professionalism, and thoughtful input were very much appreciated. Ryan provided thoughtful attention to detail and valuable insight on assessing survey results.

Carolyn Hill, Founder of Chill Fire Productions

Ryan is an effective conservation professional – working together during his time at PA DCNR, we protected some incredible places that are now public lands for generations to enjoy. Ryan’s attention to detail, creativity, and determination were key components in ensuring successful conservation projects. I highly recommend working with Ryan to find solutions to challenging and complex conservation projects. 

Kyle Shenk, Northeast Regional Director, The Conservation Fund