Tom Levar enjoys the woods and woodpiles of lifeTom Levar enjoys the woods and woodpiles of lifeHe’s the Borealis Hobbitus of NRRI, and like the trees in the forests he works in, Tom Levar gains great satisfaction helping businesses start and sustain while watching careers thrive and grow.
About his job, Levar says, “I strive to leave the wood pile higher. In a practical sense, our team uses all our ‘tools’ to induce trees to grow quickly and sustainably, to serve our forestry constituents and meet NRRI’s mission.”
This “woodpile” philosophy can be extended to life, says Levar, since much of our life is filled with our profession.
“Life is like a campsite…..a wonderful time to discover the wonders and enjoy the surprises,” Levar explains. “After all, it’s always better when you visit a campsite with a good woodpile, left by someone thoughtful.”
Levar first came to NRRI in 1984 as a consultant, remained with the Peat Program until 1992, left for private industry and then returned in 1999 to the Forestry Program. His expertise is in soils and horticulture. His professional experience helps him to understand “linkages” across technical disciplines and practically solve challenges related to natural resource management.
Levar lives with his wife, LaVonne and three sons, Caleb, Dan and Sam in Hermantown and “up north.” He enjoys “outdoor frolicking”—gardening, camping, hunting, fishing, reading and construction projects. He claims to have a good memory because of his ability to recall useless trivia and has a passion for living a life of significance. Levar is often bored with blathering (especially political) and always looks for opportunities to help others reach their potential.
A list of Tom's Favorites...