An avid hunter and fisherman all his life, Michael Heatherly knew he wanted a career that would keep him outdoors. But it wasn’t until his time at Auburn University that it all came together: forestry. Heatherly received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry while at Auburn, but he took on opportunities to join the industry well before the degree was in hand.
He began with an internship at Sizemore & Sizemore, Inc., which led to his first job there upon graduation. He started as a field technician, assisting foresters in the field with forest management activities, before moving up to become a Sizemore & Sizemore forester himself. Today, Heatherly serves as a real estate qualifying broker and management forester.
Though based in Tallassee, he’s responsible for managing private timberland across central Alabama and overseeing forest management activities on more than 50,000 acres. “I really enjoy meeting with landowners, learning about their objectives, and putting a plan in place for the property to carry it through,” Heatherly said. Also important to Heatherly is industry involvement. In 2022, he was recognized with the “Outstanding Young Forester” Award from the Society of American Foresters – Alabama Division and the “Forest Conservationist of the Year” from the Alabama Wildlife Federation.
“One award was landowner nominated and one was peer nominated, and it means a lot to me that they both felt I was deserving of those awards,” he said. “It’s incredibly special.”
(April 2024)