Alumni Career Feature
Dale Shughart
We feature alumni with interesting careers from a variety of career areas. To find out more about the alumnus profession contact them via the e-mail provided. Or if you are interested in being featured, e-mail us at alumni@pct.edu.
Dale Shughart
- Dale Shughart, A.A.S., Forest Technology 1999
- Bingaman & Son Lumber, Inc.
- shugdalele@peoplepc.com
Dale’s Background
Wildlife and the outdoors always attracted Dale Shughart. During high school he started to explore an education in wildlife management and forestry. He knew Penn College had a great reputation for hands-on education and job placement. After a little more research, he was convinced that Penn College would prepare him for a successful career. Dale decided to pursue his interest in the outdoors and attend Penn College where he majored in Forest Technology.
Bingaman & Son Lumber, Inc.
Bingaman & Son Lumber, Inc. processes approximately 40 million board feet a year, supplying its world-wide customers with variety kiln-dried Appalachian hardwoods. Dale is the Sawmill Manager at the company’s Mill Hall location, Pine Creek Lumber Company. The hands-on class work at Penn College gave Dale a solid foundation of skills that enables him to be successful in this position. A variety of responsibilities accompany his position. He is accountable for the day to day operations of the saw mill. He must ensure that maximum efficiency and effectiveness is achieved to produce a quality product.
Advice
Dale offers some advice to those interested in the forestry field. Obtain a solid hands-on education and gain as much experience in the field as you can. He says the combination of education and experience is priceless when it comes to establishing your career. He also recommends learning about all jobs in the field of forestry. Research the responsibilities of all positions and absorb as much as you can. From the forester to the salesperson, due to the collaboration of so many different positions, a general knowledge of each is crucial when working together.
Future
Dale enjoys the challenges and variety his work presents. He is very knowledgeable and stays up-to-date on the trends of his industry. As new technologies are developed and foreign countries are processing lumber for less, industry competition will continue to test Dale’s skills. He must continue to explore processes that create an advantage over the competition and keep his saw mill running productively. Dale plans to continue in saw mill management but, some day, would like to explore the area of lumber sales.
