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Both work in the Kurland region and their work is very closely linked on a daily basis. Both take care of roads and the transport of timber on them – Zane Baltaiskalnas ensures that the roads are always in order, while Marta Rizena coordinates the movement of timber transporters.
Roads and timber trucks
“An infrastructure specialist is like an all-purpose soldier whose job has to do with roads.” First of all, it’s about daily maintenance: surface care, leveling, snow removal, cutting shoots and grass, various repairs. We are the ones who plan all of this work in the specific area, commission the person carrying it out, check and accept the work. The second phase is the construction of new roads, where we manage the entire process from design onwards. And there is also the restoration of forest drainage systems. The work is very varied and there is no routine. Every day can be different – one day I can go to the forest alone, the next day I can meet with construction workers, and the third day I can put on a dress and go to the office to do paperwork,” says Zane Baltaiskalnas about his work.
Zane Baltaiskalnas, senior forest infrastructure specialist. (Photo: Latvian National Forests)
While Zane, as an infrastructure specialist, has to spend a lot of time outside the office, Marta Rizen, who is responsible for overseeing 16 timber trucks, spends her working day at the computer and solving all sorts of transportation problems. “Logisticians don’t actually go into the forest, we spend the day in the office.” You could say that my colleague Zane is my eye in the forest because we often call and advise each other on where the loggers should go and how they can do it better . If something happens, I’ll call Zane and ask her to run out to see what’s going on. But I myself sit at the computer and check what is happening with our service providers – the wood transporters. If there are problems, they call me, for example if the road is not cleared after a big snowstorm or the car has slipped into a ditch. Then I’ll call Zane and ask her if she knows of a tractor that could pull it out.”
Logistics specialist Marta Rizen. (Photo: Latvian National Forests)
Zane adds to what Marta said: “And when the thaw and the solution begins, then at some point I will be the head of the forest roads who will say – now we are temporarily closing the traffic!” Because the job of an infrastructure specialist is there in understanding when it is necessary to stop traffic so as not to damage the road.”
Logistics specialists not only monitor the work of timber transporters, but also the fulfillment of customer contracts. At the beginning of the heating season, special attention must be paid to the supply of firewood to private individuals, as there are few specially trained wood truck drivers and therefore these deliveries must be planned very carefully in order to be completed on time. A very important skill is communication skills because you have to know how to ensure that everyone involved in a task is informed about everything.
Jump on a moving train
Zane has been working at LVM since January 2, 2018. She herself admits that her story of how she got into LVM is quite strange, because after completing the 12th grade there were two choices that had nothing to do with each other, namely medicine or forests. “I can say a lot of thanks to my brother because at that point he had already completed two years of training as a forester. He said: What other medicine, you have to go to the forest! And so I trained as a forester. During my studies I did an internship at LVM and even then I thought that this was the company I wanted to work for. However, I didn’t start at LVM immediately after finishing my studies, but instead worked for a while in the forestry consulting service center for private forest owners. However, I realized that this was not my area of expertise at all, so I quit my job without even knowing what I would do next. And then, in less than a month, this position at LVM became available, albeit only for a year, replacing a colleague on parental leave. I decided to try it anyway. During the interview I immediately admitted that I was a trained forestry engineer and knew nothing about road construction, but I learned quickly. Many thanks to my colleagues who have never held back on advice, because starting work in the field of infrastructure is like jumping on a train that is going at full speed because everything is already in full swing there and there is no time for slow thinking and leisurely.” When the first year came to an end, Zane received an offer to continue working as a new staff position became available in the structure. Of course she gladly accepted. “This is where I really belong because I don’t see myself in any other position, at least at the moment.”
Unlike Zane, Marta didn’t have to jump on a bandwagon, but also learned exactly what she does now: logistics. After graduating from university, she worked as a customs declarant and worked in this direction until economic sanctions against Russia came into force due to the war in Ukraine. “Then I realized I was having less and less work and I should think about looking for another job. There was a position available at LVM – but only for one year – and I applied. Well, this first year is coming to an end, but my contract has been extended. It’s really nice that your work is valued and you are given the opportunity to continue working.”
Values: Stability, colleagues and growth opportunities
What do Zane and Marta like best about LVM? “Definitely stability. The private sector is very “interesting” in this sense – there, for example, it can happen that you don’t receive your salary on the agreed date. As a mother of two children, it is also important to me that the company is family-friendly and offers flexible working hours. No one is going to scold you if you run somewhere to take classes because you can deal with that later,” Zane says.
Marta adds: “And colleagues are also very valuable – we help each other as best we can.” Sometimes, for example, our cooperation partners – managers of timber transporters – can help us with advice because they have a lot of experience in forestry operations and their recommendations are helpful support the entire logistics process. It’s really great to have supportive colleagues! When I started working, I was immediately told that there was plenty of growth opportunity in the company and that there was no reason to stop. If there is a new position and you have the opportunity to send in your resume. Here everything is truly in your hands and anything is possible.”
Promotional item in cooperation with the Latvian State Forests.
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