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Joel R. Panzer - Ranch Geographer
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"I was in fourth or fifth grade and we had a geography test, " says Joel R. Panzer, an Environmental Planner for a ranch in Carmel California, "We had to name a peninsula and I remembered a peninsula was land surrounded by water on three sides - so I wrote that New Jersey was a peninsula." Well Panzer has come a long way since then and hadn't discovered geography yet. Then he went to college. "When I was an undergraduate majoring in industrial arts at Trenton State, I took a course on New Jersey geography," says Panzer, "I was drawn to it because, I had spent most of my life in New Jersey and I was able to see New Jersey from a different perspective." After taking a few more geography courses, Panzer decided to major in geography and minor in environmental studies and earth science. Courses in these minors reinforced and expanded his physical geography coursework. "I think my education was superb," says Panzer, "Even years later the concepts are still with me." After his undergraduate work, Panzer went on to graduate school. "I got a really broad base in a wide variety of subjects as an undergraduate," says Panzer, "This is exactly what I needed for graduate school and beyond." "I don't think I would have advanced as far in my career as I did without the education I received at Trenton State," he continues. Panzer took the opportunity to have internships while in college and his internship with the Butte County planning department is probably the job experience that landed him his first job. "The experience was valuable, looked good on a resume, and taught me skills that I was able to use later," says Panzer. Once he obtained his Master of Arts degree in Geography from California State University, Chico, Panzer worked in land use for the Planning Department for five years. After he finished working at the Planning Department, Panzer took a job on a 20,000-acre ranch in Carmel, California called Ranchos San Carlos and has worked there since 1990. Management oversight, natural, and cultural resources protection of the ranch are Panzer's main duties. Panzer ensures that all activities on the Ranch are in compliance with the federal, state, and local land use permits. "The most satisfying thing about my job is that I am employed in a position where I use my educational training as a geographer," says Panzer, "This background helps me on a daily basis as I deal with issues involving natural and cultural resource management and the political and regulatory environment associated with land use issues." Since Panzer's education has been such a great foundation for his work, he offers this advice. "Take a wide variety of courses in freshman and sophomore years," says Panzer, " One geography course led me to a career that has stayed with me for twenty years now." "Get an internship, try a variety of course work, learn what you like and excel in," he continues, "Learn good social skills and communication skills." Joel R. Panzer is proof that when you really learn something - it stays with you forever. |