The agency wished a fond farewell Thursday, June 11 to longtime employee Michelle Johnson, who worked for the Forestry Commission for 36 years. More than 100 people – co-workers, friends, retirees, family – came to the headquarters for a potluck luncheon honoring Michelle, who was accompanied by her mother Annette and sister Lisa, and regaled her with heartfelt memories, stories, love and appreciation.
While more than a few people have worked for the Forestry Commission for more than three, even four, decades, Michelle was unique in that she was a touchstone for literally every employee in the agency for most of that time. As the agency photographer, videographer, archivist, webmaster and newsletter editor for much of her career, she was in the singular position to have met and talked with every new hire: she took everyone’s photos on their first day of work, made everyone’s ID cards and included their bios in Tree Country.
Michelle was seemingly everywhere, from the mountains to the coast and many times all in the same day. She documented everything in photographs and videos: trainings, educational activities, special events, employee biographies, work processes… you name it.
She produced public service announcements, promotional videos and ad hoc content of infinite variety. She made personnel maps, updated the website every day and monitored all incoming email to the agency, be they media inquiries, requests for service or general questions.
If dedication earned frequent-flyer miles, Michelle would own an airline by now. I&E staff tried estimating the number of photographs Michelle has taken, or at least saved to agency files, but it was too many for our computers to calculate in such a small time. Safe to say it’s hundreds of thousands. It took two weeks to copy all of her files – more than several thousand terrabytes’ worth – to a single repository, and we’ve still yet to grasp the size of her photo and video library.
A career spanning 41 hurricanes, five major ice storms, 50,000-plus wildfires and more than 8,800 work days also is not without its share of firsts: Michelle not only designed the Forestry Commission’s first website, but she also became the agency’s first FAA-licensed drone pilot.
And while it wasn’t a first, another crowning achievement was her selection as the 2024 State Forester’s Distinguished Service Award winner. Going above and beyond was the way Michelle did everything and for which she was noted in State Forester Scott Phillips’ comments at the awards ceremony: “Her day-to-day performance advances the agency’s mission by virtue of her exemplary service-minded approach to her work. As service is a key component of both our agency’s Vision statement and Values, Michelle’s entire Forestry Commission career is a testament to the distinguished service that this award both honors and hopes to inspire among all employees.”
After everyone ate – the celebration spilled out into overflow areas because there were so many people – Director of Communications Doug Wood kicked off the storytelling with a humorous PowerPoint show about the year Michelle was hired, including nostaligic tidbits about the cost of groceries, the news of the day and various agency circumstances – we still had fire towers! – at that time. One of those happenings was Hurricane Hugo, a particularly busy time for the Forestry Commission that actually set the stage for Michelle joining the agency. Wood’s presentation was followed by remarks from State Forester Scott Phillips, who presented her with a customized Dean Carson-crafted wooden box that contained a generous collection of retirement contributions from hundreds of employees past and present and that was inscribed with the following message:
Dearest Michelle,
Rarely does one person do so much… for so many… and for so long.
You’ve been a touchstone for every person in the agency for 36 years,
and it’s hard to believe you won’t be a part of our everyday lives anymore.
While we celebrate your well deserved and long-overdue retirement,
we lament your absence, which leaves a hole in our collective heart.
With enduring love and appreciation,
your Forestry Commission family
A long procession of friends and family stood up to share their recollections of and gratitude for Michelle, but the highlight of the festivities was a video that she had created and narrated herself, a 15-minute, poignant, funny and at times serious and somber retrospective of the memories, people and events that ultimately shaped her career. Please take a few moments to watch this classic!
Very few eyes in the crowd – most notably Michelle’s – were dry afterward, appropriately punctuating the occasion and capping off a wonderful celebration.
We miss you, Michelle!
