November 30, 2016
Kansas Forest Service welcomes new district forester and new geographic information systems student
Submitted by Jennifer Williams
The Kansas Forest Service welcomes new District 1 forester Ryan Rastok to northeast Kansas. His office is in Oskaloosa. Rastok is an eastern Kansas native, and is eager to work with the landowners in District 1 to promote the health and productivity of the forested areas in northeast Kansas.
Rastok was raised in the Lawrence area and graduated from the University of Kansas in 2010 with a double major in environmental science and geography. He has professional work experience as a climbing arborist, environmental consultant, invasive forest insect survey specialist, forest entomology researcher, municipal arborist and a city forester. Rastok attended the University of Arkansas where he earned a master's in entomology with an emphasis in forestry. Rastok spends his time outside of work with his family, climbing trees professionally and recreationally, running, canoeing, writing, reading, socializing, and collaborating with friends and colleagues on a variety of professional and personal projects.
Abbey Marcotte joins the Kansas Forest Service as a geographic information systems student in the state office in Manhattan.
A Manhattan native, Marcotte has enjoyed attending college in her hometown close to her family, friends, and her dog, Pedro. She is currently a senior at K-State working toward a bachelor's in geography and a minor in mass communications.
Marcotte is working in ArcMap to map windbreaks in the tree canopy. Some of her hobbies include traveling, hiking, graphic design, spending time at the lake and watching K-State sports.