ACE Alumni Update – Matthew

When did you serve with ACE and what did you do during your term?

I joined ACE-Flagstaff in August 2017, serving until March 2018. I lived in near Buffalo Park. My main project was the Legends of Superior Trail project in Arnett Canyon. I also spent time on Mount Graham in Southern Arizona. Beyond that, I did brief projects in Broken Bow, OK, Pecos National Monument in New Mexico, and Pine, AZ.

I mainly focused on trail-building and invasive species removal. A lot of raking, crushing, digging, and walking with my friends. These experiences were very gratifying, and I still look back upon them often.

How did that experience impact you and/or inspire you in your career path?

ACE gave me the opportunity to participate in community service and nature conservation. At that point in my life, I was unsure of where my career path would go. I lacked experience in conservation, and needed an opportunity to give more to the national conservation movement.

Signing up for ACE changed the course of my life. I developed a stronger connection to the natural world, as well as an understanding of the complexities of the human-environment nexus. ACE motivated me to continue in an environmental career, for both environmental and civil reasons. Interacting with locals on the trails showed to me how important experiences in the outdoors can be for our community. It inspired me to keep working towards providing a healthy natural world for present and future generations.

My career path has had a few turns in the six years since I worked with ACE. But the ACE experience remains the pivotal experience that oriented my vision for myself.

The most fruitful part of my ACE experience was the friendships. I developed strong bonds with people that I am still close with today.

What are you up to now? 

I work as a process engineer for a wastewater company. I work with my team to design and perform maintenance on bacterial water treatment systems, where bacteria digest pollutants in wastewater. This process yields cleaner wastewater, and sometimes generates biogas that can be used as an energy source.

What advice would you give others who may be considering the conservation field?

I do not work directly in conservation, but in an environmental field. It may feel difficult and sometimes prohibitive to get involved in environmental fields.  My advice to those interested in the conservation field: get involved in whatever capacity you can, big or small. 

Whether it’s volunteering on a Saturday morning or changing careers, all conservation experiences are valuable. If you aren’t ready or able to change careers into conservation, go to a clean-up or volunteer at your local outdoor space. You will get a sense of what the work entails, and meet like-minded people. As well, you will be investing time and energy in helping your community.