above: “A former classmate sent me this old picture.  It’s probably from 1989, during a climbing lab.  It’s a little grainy as we didn’t have 10MP cameras back then.  But no doubt, a classic for sure.”

Todd Jones, a native Adirondacker, alumnus, and recent addition to our Board of Trustees, is an all-around personable guy who grew up on Paul Smith’s campus.  Todd is all about the experience that we offer at Paul Smith’s College and our one-of-a-kind feel. Todd is currently the COO of ACRT, a company focusing in Independent Vegetation Management. He has ventured up the corporate ladder ever since joining ACRT right out of college in 1994 as a Utility Forester.

Todd is a father, a hard worker, and a man of many interests. Todd enjoys backpacking and snowboarding, as well as fishing and exploring his re-developed interest in playing the guitar. He is deeply involved in the arboriculture world and has much advice and many helpful stories to offer to our student body, on such topics as Paul Smith’s strengths, the importance of marketing, and the role of trustees.

***

Victoria Abbott: I have learned that you are a longstanding employee at ACRT Inc. You began as a Utility Forester in 1994 and are now the Chief Operations Officer of the company.  That is quite an accomplishment.  What are/were your keys to success?

Todd Jones: I always tell people that there is no secret to it.  I kept my head down, did my job as best I could, and never shied away from opportunity.  I’ve had to make a few sacrifices along the way.  Opportunity doesn’t always show up on your own doorstep.  Sometimes you have to go elsewhere to find it.  I have relocated five times during my career at ACRT, and several of those relocations were not exactly appealing at the time.  Too often I think people feel as though they are entitled to have opportunities presented to them that are easy and don’t require much discomfort.  While I won’t say this never happens, more often than not, that’s not the way things work these days.

VA: What are your current hobbies and interests? Are there any other organizations that you represent (past or present)?

TJ: When I lived on the West Coast I was an avid snowboarder and backpacker.  The Midwest isn’t necessarily known for either, so I’ve had to adjust.  Having a young daughter has changed the equation as well.  We spend a lot of time camping at various state parks and fishing from our canoe.  I started playing the guitar again, after many years off, and I also really enjoy playing recreational ice hockey.  At my age, it’s good for me to get out and skate a few times a week.  It sure beats going to the gym in my opinion.

VA: Your father, Ron Jones, was a long-standing member of our IT Staff at Paul Smith’s.  Is your family originally from the Adirondacks? What created your relationship with Paul Smith’s College and what was your encouragement to become a student?

TJ: I was born in Malone and moved to Paul Smith’s when I was about 10 years old. I graduated from Saranac Lake High School.  My family lived on campus up on Faculty Hill. I essentially grew up on campus. I know all the little nooks and crannies of the main campus and the surrounding ‘external’ campus as well. I spent a lot of time out in those woods, in all directions. It’s a part of who I am still. That connection went a long ways towards me wanting to be a student at PSC.

VA: How and when did you become a trustee of Paul Smith’s College, and what has been your specific role as a trustee?

TJ: I attended my first meeting in August of 2014. So, in comparison to others, I have not been a trustee all that long. Shortly after becoming a trustee, Dr. Mills retired and Cathy took charge. I don’t know how I would explain my role specifically, except to say that I am an alum with links to an industry greatly in need of qualified grads.

VA: You are one of the few trustees that is also an alum. Of the 30 total trustees, only two are alumni. Do you believe this makes your connection as a trustee stronger or more valuable to the institution?

TJ: I hope so, but I also think that the trustees, as a group, have a very important fiduciary responsibility that transcends any benefit of being an alum.  When important matters are at hand, whether or not you are an alum is secondary.  Decisions have to be considered from a fiduciary perspective first.

VA: In the past year, much has changed at Paul Smith’s College (that most of us can agree) is for the better. What aspect(s) of change do you believe will be most beneficial to the college?

TJ: What do I believe is the most exciting project that you have worked on to date?  I believe being involved in the marketing strategy has been very exciting.  I’ve always felt that PSC has an amazing story to tell folks, both locally and beyond, but it has been tragically under-marketed for quite a long time.  It’s encouraging to see Cathy recognizing this and making the investment to leverage the PSC brand.

VA: What do you believe students should know about the Board of Trustees that they may not know already?

TJ: Maybe it’s common knowledge but from the folks I’ve spoken to, I’m not certain it is, so it bears repeating.  The trustees are all volunteers that do not receive compensation.  We all donate our time and efforts, as well as contributions to the annual fund, simply because we love PSC and what it stands for!

VA: I have read your article “Paul Smith’s College: The College of the Adirondacks: Smitties — a College Worth Profiling” posted in Press Releases & Editorials for ACRT.  We absolutely appreciate the zeal that you added of your admiration for our college and of our overall work ethic and structure.  Do you have any advice for students aspiring for careers in the Natural Resources field on how to best articulate their skills and qualifications?

TJ: That article was also published in the Utility Arborist’s Association’s bi-monthly newsletter.  It has a national distribution so that article went far beyond just the ACRT website.  Nonetheless, I meant what I said.  But the cliché thing to say here is that employers like experience.  Certainly they do, but the world is changing rapidly today.  Today’s employers are also looking for well-rounded employees with a wide range of skills; not all just related to the field.  Technical capabilities are huge, as are public relations skills.  Emphasize those two areas in your development, alongside you field skills.

VA: What was your most valuable resource at the college during your time as a student?

TJ: I utilized the library quite a bit.  Things are different now, obviously, with the Joan Weill Adirondack Library.  That was never there in my time as a student.  I would have never left the place.

VA: What do you believe has been the most satisfying outcome of your experience and education at Paul Smith’s College?

TJ: PSC is very widely known and held in high regard.  Even in an obscure industry like Utility Arboriculture – people know about Paul Smith’s everywhere you go.  Outside of that, I thought I would share a quick story: I was recently traveling on the west coast and was using the restroom in between flights at the San Francisco airport.  I happened to be wearing a long sleeve PSC T Shirt.  A gentleman stopped me as I was leaving the restroom and shook my hand, asking me if I was an alum.  I told him yes, class of 1990.  He had graduated in the 60s.  While it would be inappropriate to give a name or position, it is safe to say that he is a fairly high level guy in the forestry world.  We had a brief but very passionate discussion about PSC and then went our separate ways.  That single moment, I think, tells a very powerful story about PSC and its impact on people.

Todd Jones, Alumni of Paul Smith’s College, 1990, A.A.S., Urban Tree Management