Seth Carpenter Holds True to His Philosophy of 'Moving With Intent'

Heather, Myles, Nolan and Seth hike in the Oregon Cascades.

William "Seth" Carpenter is not only a forester by training and a self-described "tree grower at heart" - he's also the fourth generation in his family to work in the forest products business. He grew up in New Jersey loving the outdoors and says he always liked having his hands in the dirt - and in a lot of different activities.

"My dad was always a believer in having a diverse set of skills," Seth says. "I've heard that from him my whole life."

So when Seth moved out West to attend the University of Montana, he studied for bachelor's degrees in both forestry and business. After graduating, he started his Weyerhaeuser career in 2009 as a silviculture forester in Coos Bay, Oregon.

"I knew there was a lot of potential for me to grow my career here," he says. "So before my wife Heather and I got married in 2015, we talked about the possibility of moving away from Oregon. I'm very curious by nature and the type of person on a constant quest to learn new things."

Which is why after more than a decade in Oregon, Seth and his family moved from Coos Bay to Ruston, Louisiana, where he now works as Winnfield area manager.

Seth and Nolan explore the sand dunes on the Oregon coast.

A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO GROWTH

During his time in Coos Bay, Seth shifted from silviculture to region forester and eventually took on an assignment as a silviculture alternatives manager. In that role he worked on an innovative project designed to minimize herbicide usage without impacting future value - using empirical field research and new technology to apply herbicides in specific target zones. It was a 24-month temporary role, and Seth and Heather had a new baby on the way when he accepted it.

"I knew the work could end up being a real dial mover for the company," he says. "But because it was just a short-term project, it was also a calculated risk. I wasn't sure what I'd do once the assignment was done."

During an Individual Development Plan discussion with his manager at the time, Seth identified some career gaps and decided to do something about them.

"I'd been interested in Southern Timberlands for a while," Seth says. "And I needed to get experience in direct people leadership."

So Seth kept an eye on his horizon to determine his next steps.

The Carpenters hike in Lassen National Park in California.

THUMBS UP TO SWITCHING THINGS UP

A position opened in our North Louisiana Timberlands that intrigued him, and the timing aligned for his personal life. Heather had just completed some of her work to become a nurse; one son would be entering kindergarten, and the other son was going into ninth grade. It was also an opportunity to move his family closer to grandparents on the East Coast - Heather is from North Carolina, and Seth's parents live in Maine.

Seth applied for the job, then visited Ruston with Heather.

"When we got on the plane to go back home, we looked at each other and agreed that it would be either 'thumbs up or thumbs down,' with no middle of the road," he says. "We both had to be on board because no move is worth sacrificing our family relationship. We both put our thumbs up."

Though they'd be leaving both personal and professional friends, the Carpenters were excited about new opportunities and adventures in Louisiana. Seth was eager to expand his knowledge into Southern Timberlands, and the whole family looked forward to being closer to extended family.

Seth moved to Louisiana ahead of Heather and their boys in 2021. At the time, our Timberlands offices were still shut down due to COVID.

"It was a tough time to move, between the pandemic and being in Louisiana for eight months before Heather and the boys could join me," he says. "But I got a lot of support from my new team. I particularly appreciated the advice to travel back to see my family at least once every four weeks. Those trips gave all of us something to look forward to."

To overcome the professional learning curve and other hurdles that inevitably come with a new job in a new location, he worked hard to ask questions and not be afraid of making mistakes.

"I think one of the keys to moving and changing jobs is that you have to go in with your eyes and ears open," he says. "It's important to be adaptable, flexible and authentic."

Seth and Heather enjoy a kid-free lunch in Ruston, Louisiana.

ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO INNOVATE

Seth says he's always considered himself curious by nature, and the move has fed his curiosity - while serving as a reminder that no one can possibly know everything.

"When you've held the same position and lived in the same place for a long time, it's easy to get comfortable in the mechanics of decision making," he says. "This move has forced me to start at the beginning, without biases. I've had to listen and ask a lot of questions, so it's also taught me to rely on others and trust the team. That motivates me because I like to look for ways to innovate, to deliver value, to eliminate barriers and set my team up for success."

While there are many differences between Coos Bay and Ruston - and between Western and Southern Timberlands - he says he's found there are more similarities than anything.

"Good people are good people. We all want the best for the company, our families and communities we work in."

ADVICE FROM SETH

• Don't just move; move with intent. Go with a focus, a purpose and a passion. If you don't have all that, it's not the right thing to do.
• Be open with your family and your leaders about what you want.
• Think about timing. The best time to make a move is when your professional life aligns with your personal life.
• Focus on what is truly important. Stay forward looking and have a goal in mind.

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