A Career Rooted in Nature and Safety: Dawson Westurn
A Career Rooted in Nature and Safety: Dawson Westurn
Dawson Westurn’s admiration for the outdoors originated long before he found himself at Texas Tech University working toward a degree in natural resource management with a concentration in conservation science. His appreciation for all things nature developed from a young age, as Westurn’s childhood was centered around the Boy Scouts of America.
Once he completed his degree, the Texas native headed to the West Coast after accepting a job with ACRT Pacific, where he has grown to appreciate the industry. As a vegetation management inspector, Westurn shares that his job often requires walking around to look at trees – typically alone – something he views as a perk.
“Being alone outdoors with your thoughts is such a benefit of this job,” explains Westurn. “Your decisions are your own out there and you have to take care of yourself, but at the same time, you have the freedom to look at all this beautiful landscape and explore these different places in California. I’ve seen so many beautiful sites that I would have never gone to beforehand.”
It didn’t take long before Westurn immersed himself in the organization and its culture of safety. Early on in his career, Westurn served as an Area Safety Representative (ASR) and eventually transitioned to a role with the ACRT Pacific Safety Committee.
Westurn continues to build upon his career through the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point Utility Vegetation Management program. He was also recently selected to participate in the ACRT Services Honors Program, a multi-day leadership program dedicated to training up-and-coming employees throughout the organization.
Westurn holds several credentials including, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, ISA Certified Utility Specialist, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ), TCIA Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP), and is CPR-certified.
Dawson’s career and education reflect a strong commitment to natural resource management, utility vegetation management, and safety advocacy.
