Amber Sprinkle

I felt inspired that first summer working in the woods. Hearing the community’s appreciation for the work we were doing made me feel like I was part of a team actively making a difference.

‍

Over the years, in various roles, I have organized timber sales, fought wildland fire, overseen ski area permits, managed federal programs, and so much more. Recently, I had the opportunity to be part of a software development team. In my previous positions, I had heard firsthand the frustrations people had with the process to pick up permits. The software development team built a pilot application that allowed people to get permits online instead of having to take time out of their day coming into an office to get a permit. It was so rewarding to bring forward the public concerns and help build the solution. The Christmas tree online permits pilot successfully ran for two seasons. The agency continues to prioritize technology modernization among many other important initiatives. I feel encouraged for what will come next, and how the Forest Service continues to evolve and stay relevant, meeting the needs of our public lands and the people who enjoy them.

‍

In all the roles I’ve had over the last two decades, I’ve received the most joy connecting with countless people who all have one thing in common – caring about our public lands. I am grateful to be a Project Manager at the Mt. Hood National Forest in Sandy, Oregon where we work to ensure that our national forests are something that we can enjoy and thrive in. My role in this is small but meaningful, as is everybody’s.

‍